Two earthworm species (Eisenia foetida and Amynthas morrisi) were inoculated in dryland and paddy soil mixed with 15% paper mill sludge for 30 days. Effects of earthworm on soil chemical and biological properties were evaluated, which included pH and Eh value, contents of organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon, contents of total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and their available contents, the ratio of C and N, contents of microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration rate, metabolic quotient, microbial quotient, and activities of catalase, urease, invertase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis. PCA results showed that: effects of earthworms on the chemical and biological properties of soil mixed with paper mill sludge depend on soil types and earthworm special species (P < 0.05). ANOVA results showed that: (1) in dry land treatments, compared with the control, 0.22 and 13 units of soil pH and Eh values and 22.8% contents of organic carbon were reduced by E. foetida significantly, respectively (P < 0.05). In the meantime, E. foetida reduced contents of microbial biomass carbon, activities of catalase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, urease and acid phosphatase by 43.8%, 12.4%, 48.4%, 44.0% and 40.7%, respectively, but increased FDA hydrolysis by 57.4% as well (P < 0.05). Compared with the control, 16.5% reduction of available N contents and 12.4%, 33.9% and 45.5% reduction of activities of catalase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and urease were shown by A. morrisi (P < 0.05). In addition, compared to A. morrisi, reductions of 0.17 and 10 units, 24.9% and 2.26 ratio of soil pH and Eh values, organic carbon content and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen were observed significantly by E. foetida, respectively (P < 0.05). Higher of soil metabolic quotient and FDA hydrolysis were shown in E. foetida than A. morrisi treatments. (2) in paddy soil, compared with the control, 20.9% and 1.02 units increase of soil organic carbon and C:N ratio were shown in E. foetida treatments significantly, but 6.11% and 33.8% decreases of total K contents and soil respiration rate were observed as well(P < 0.05). For A. morrisi treatments, 13.2% and 10.8% increases of soil available K contents and catalase activities was observed significantly (P < 0.05), but 46.7% and 34.4% decreases of β-glucosidase activities and FDA hydrolysis were observed as well. Moreover, in paddy soil treatments, 15.7% and 0.84 units increase of organic carbon contents and C:N ratio were shown in E. foetida than A. morrisi treatments, but 11.4%, 36.5% and 5.51% decrease of total K contents, respiration rate and catalase activities were observed as well (P < 0.05). In summary, earthworm had significant effects on the chemical and biological properties in soil amended with the paper mill sludge. In dry land soil with higher contents of organic matter and lower contents of clay, earthworm accelerated organic matter decomposition, released organic carbon, reduced microbial biomass and the related enzyme activities in organic matter decomposition and nutrient transformation, but increased the potential overall microbial activity. In paddy soil with lower contents of organic matter and higher contents of clay, earthworm contributed to soil organic carbon storage, but had less effect on soil nutrient contents and microbial characteristics. To compare with A. morrisi, E. foetida had stronger abilities on accelerating soil organic matter decomposition, releasing organic carbon and enhancing microbial activities in dry land soil, but increasing organic carbon storage in paddy soil. A. morrisi had stronger ability on potassium cycling than E. foetida in paddy soil. The paper mill sludge was rich in organic matter and poor in nutrient contents in our study. According to proportion, other organic matters rich in nutrient contents should be chose and used together with sludge in the further agricultural application. It is recommended that more studies should be performed in plot and field experiment according to soil types and earthworm species as well.