@MountainCacher88 wrote:

I actually wouldn't mind to start out doing a few of these if it involved being able to say I wanted to do a single report edit each day. I'm not sure I'd be a good fit, though. My writing isn't exactly tip-top. I tend to make simple grammar errors, overuse commas, under-use commas, goof up on hyphens, not know where the apostrophes go.... and so forth and so on. 0_o

MC, the two MSCs I did editing for were ACL and Ardent (as an IC). With each, they wanted a commitment to 10-20 hours a week (though I know that Ardent's editors are all probably looking for other work right about now). Anyway, there were times it took for-evuhhhh to get a report edited. At times I had to contact a shopper several times to get all of the necessary information to submit the report--I would ask 4-5 questions about information and they would reply with answers to 1-2 of my questions, so I would email again, and then they perhaps did not check their email for a few days...that and those times I just could not make heads or tails of what the shopper was trying to convey and had to reread it over and over again before rearranging everything to make sense (of what I thought they were trying to say). And that's not even including correcting the grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. At any rate, both of those MSCs paid $5 a report to start, which is just not nearly enough pay for the amount of work involved (think about $2 per hour).

MC, you don't give yourself enough credit. You have nice writing skills. And there are available online resources for when you are not sure. But do yourself a favor and stay sane: you will be much nicer to your spouse by not subjecting yourself to the misery of being an editor.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

It's really restricting with the time it takes to travel + working 40 hours. You'd have to have a really well paying job....

I am required to be in LA about 8 months out of the year for my job and am free to travel the rest of the time, but between the MSing and work emails, I'm pretty exhausted after a few weeks of travel and need to come home at times to reset. The longest I've stayed out of town was 6 weeks.

It’s not as restricting as we’re thinking, especially if your main home is paid off or you’re having someone else pay for it (renting it out). Then add on if you’re not in debt, have your vehicle paid off, etc.

I’ve seen two answers to my question. Walesmaven says “…many, many hours to reach $18,000.” SteveSoCal says the high end is probably close to $50,000 and $18,000 seems pretty low. Does anyone else have a number?

Yeah, $5 a report is the common payment, and I wrote that in my post. I don't know who was offering $18,000 but that's not good pay, in my opinion (neither was $5 a report). Both MSCs made it out to seem much better when luring me into doing it and didn't mention any of the negatives I discovered after. I make more money on a part-time basis as a shopper and merchandiser than I ever could have working full-time as an editor. But if that's what you want to do, go for it.

@beolein wrote:

I’ve seen two answers to my question. Walesmaven says “…many, many hours to reach $18,000.” SteveSoCal says the high end is probably close to $50,000 and $18,000 seems pretty low.

This would be similar to asking, "What does a food server make?" You are going to get a variety of answers because a server at Applebees probably makes a lot less than a server at Ruth's Chris, and that job can range from working one night per week to putting in 50 hours per week. Then you have to consider that some are salaried employees where others are IC's. IC's should earn a larger per hour rate for all things to be equal, since they do not collect benefits and are required to pay self-employment tax.

So....do you want to be a full-time professional editor for a high-end company and make the best possible salary, or do you want to have a side job where you take reports freelance for $5 per to earn some extra money?

Thanks SteveSoCal. I want to work full time, 40 hours a week, for they company that posted the job.

You also should note that if you are being paid per report, there are days of the month (especially near the end of a month) when there is very little work.

I would say that for the one company that I did the most editing, making $100 per day was about the maximum I could make without frying my brain. So to make $50,000 per year, you would have to do this amount of work seven days per week. And again, there were days when there was not that amount of work available.

@beolein wrote:

Thanks SteveSoCal. I want to work full time, 40 hours a week, for they company that posted the job.

Then perhaps you should ask the company that posted that job. What you are doing is saying "I saw a job posted by a company I won't name and I was wondering if you people who aren't affiliated with said company and don't know which company it is would tell me the salary for not similar jobs, but this particular job."

Agreed with both of the above posts. The salary you make with ANY job is basically dependent on your skill level and negotiating skills, as well as what the company expects to pay.

IMHO, It would be touch to find a well paying position that would lock you in at exactly 40 hours and a 5-day week. When I was working FT as an editor, I was regularly sitting around the tree on Christmas day with a laptop and doing work while also getting some time with my family in. Days off were rare.....

@beolein wrote:

Thanks SteveSoCal. I want to work full time, 40 hours a week, for they company that posted the job.

$18,000 a year is about $9 an hour.

You'd make more money working at Wal-Mart depending on your state's minimum wage.

I think for a lot of people there's an appeal in working from home. It saves on commute time and expenses, but it was miserable for me a single person with no kids.

If the $9 per hour is as an IC, know that it's potentially closer to $6 after self employment taxes and such though...and not receiving any benefits.

Doesn't Wal-Mart keep there employees under F/T so that the can withhold benefits? I think most fast food jobs pay better than that.

Yes, Wal-Mart keeps their employees at under 32 hours I brlieve. They also offer classes to their employees on how to apply for food stamps.

If you're stuck on proof-reading, perhaps you should not limit yourself to proof-reading jobs just in mystery shopping. Another area may be more lucrative.

Right, I have a medical transcription degree I don't use, too. It was more enjoyable doing that, but I still make more money doing what I do now with less hassle.

OK, you'd make more money (anywhere that gives you 40 hours and benefits - Target, Staples, Costco, etc) since minimum wage is over $9 in most states.

Better?

Alas, minimum wage in Michigan is $8.90.

beolein, I agree with those that you really need to contact the company you are interested in working with to see what is involved. While many MSCs hire editors/schedulers as ICs, there are some that hire employees. Those who hire employees may hire hourly or salary.

Although some may not let you mystery shop with other companies, I know others do (I can, and I have had schedulers help me out on shops before). Most let you work from home, but others require you to be at their HQ's office (hello, from my desk at such an office!).

I wouldn't worry about feeling awkward asking follow up questions to any advertised position. It's common, and I'm sure they're expecting it.

Are you salaried or IC? Or paid a set amount for each report?

I make $1 to $5 per MS report. Sometimes it's $2 per hour. Sometimes it's $9.

The brain does burn out fast when constantly reading nonsensical strings of words, "sentences" without punctuation, and the like. When "no" answers aren't explained, we have to explain it or send it back to the shopper to be sure. We're lucky if, as stated above, half of the problems are answered when the report is returned again. Everything that's been said about editing here is so true.

In my experience, however, I don't know how anyone can earn $18k per year, much less $50k, editing mystery shops. I never have but would love to know how to.

Nevertheless, I would prefer to work at home that stand in Walmart all day, not to mention the drive to and from.

I signed up to be a fitness/nutritional expert for a company, answering online chat requests. I can't see myself doing that over 40 hours a week, answering the same questions over and over again. Sitting in one spot is too boring.

I recently got a job as a manager at a restaurant and it's more fast paced and time seems to fly by, especially during rush hours. I'd prefer this job over being stuck behind a desk, but that's just me.