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Digital Photo Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Staff Photo Editor

New York, NY ยท On-site

$113K - $115K/yr

The New York Times Magazine is looking for a photo editor to conceptualize, assign and produce ... Expertise in electronic image handling, digital tools and programs Preferred Qualifications

Photo Editor, The Free Press

Manhattan, NY ยท On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

The Free Press is hiring a full-time Photo Editor to support daily newsroom production and elevate ... In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, the company ...

The Free Press is hiring a full-time Photo Editor to support daily newsroom production and elevate ... In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, the company ...

Comfort collaborating with video, photo, audio, streaming, and digital editors, and experience adapting editorial content across formats and online platforms * Familiarity with reviewing editorial ...

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Digital Photo Editor information

See salary details

$31.5K

$61.1K

$113K

How much do digital photo editor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for digital photo editor in the United States is $61,071.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,500.00 and $75,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a digital photo editor do?

A Digital Photo Editor is responsible for enhancing, retouching, and manipulating images using specialized software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. They adjust colors, correct imperfections, crop images, and sometimes combine elements from multiple photos to achieve the desired visual effect. Digital Photo Editors work closely with photographers, graphic designers, and clients to ensure images meet the specific requirements of publications, advertising campaigns, or online platforms. Their work is essential for producing high-quality visual content in media, marketing, fashion, and e-commerce industries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a digital photo editor?

To thrive as a Digital Photo Editor, you need expertise in photo manipulation, color correction, and retouching, usually backed by a degree in photography, graphic design, or related experience. Proficiency with industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and familiarity with digital asset management systems is crucial. Attention to detail, creativity, and strong communication skills help editors interpret creative briefs and collaborate effectively with photographers and clients. These skills ensure high-quality visual content that aligns with brand standards and project objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by digital photo editors when working on tight deadlines?

Digital Photo Editors often face the challenge of balancing quality with speed, especially when working under tight deadlines for publications or marketing campaigns. It is crucial to maintain attention to detail and ensure consistency in color correction and retouching, even when time is limited. Editors must also be adept at prioritizing tasks, communicating effectively with photographers and creative teams, and adapting quickly to last-minute changes or feedback. Developing efficient workflows and mastering editing software shortcuts can help manage these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Digital Photo Editor vs Photo Retoucher?

AspectDigital Photo EditorPhoto Retoucher
Primary RoleEnhances and manages entire photo collections, including color correction, cropping, and overall editingFocuses on detailed retouching to remove imperfections and improve specific areas of an image
Skills & ToolsAdobe Photoshop, Lightroom, image management softwareAdvanced retouching techniques, skin smoothing, object removal
Work EnvironmentPhoto studios, media agencies, freelanceAdvertising, fashion, portrait photography

While both roles involve editing images, a Digital Photo Editor manages overall photo quality and organization, whereas a Photo Retoucher specializes in detailed image corrections and enhancements. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or service provider.

How do you become a digital photo editor?

To become a digital photo editor, you typically need a strong understanding of photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, along with skills in color correction, retouching, and composition. A relevant degree or certification in photography, graphic design, or a related field can be beneficial, and building a portfolio of edited images helps demonstrate your skills to potential employers.

How much do digital photo editors get paid?

Digital photo editors typically earn between $40,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and skill level. Entry-level editors may start lower, while experienced professionals with advanced skills in software like Adobe Photoshop can earn higher salaries.

Is photo editing a good career?

A career as a digital photo editor involves enhancing and retouching images using software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. It can be a rewarding profession for those with strong artistic skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in editing tools, often offering freelance or full-time opportunities in media, advertising, and photography industries.
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What cities are hiring for Digital Photo Editor jobs?

Cities with the most Digital Photo Editor job openings:

What states have the most Digital Photo Editor jobs?

States with the most job openings for Digital Photo Editor jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Digital Photo Editor jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Digital Photo Editor jobs are:

Infographic showing various Digital Photo Editor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,071 per year, or $29.4 per hour.

Staff Photo Editor

The New York Times

New York, NY โ€ข On-site

$113K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world. That means independent journalism is at the heart of all we do as a company. It's why we have a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries. It's why we focus deeply on how our readers will experience our journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination. And it's why our business strategy centers on making journalism so good that it's worth paying for.
The New York Times Magazine is looking for a photo editor to conceptualize, assign and produce photography across platforms. Excellent news judgment, sophisticated visual taste, and experience in a fast-paced and highly collaborative environment are required.
You have a strong passion for photography, journalism, and visual storytelling, particularly on digital platforms. You will assign and research photography covering a wide array of subject matter and photographic genres with an understanding of the magazine's style and sensibility. Also, you have a commitment to innovation and be able to work in different story forms. You will also have experience in working with photojournalists in the field and an extensive knowledge of photographers around the world.
This is an in-office position based in New York and includes regular attendance in the office four days each week. There may be some flexibility to work remotely per your departmental guidance.
Responsibilities:
  • Initiate and develop photographic ideas for special issues, photo essays, features, with particular focus on digital storytelling and presentation
  • Commission, edit and publish images across platforms, including mobile, print and social
  • Produce a high standard of photography across genres
  • Work closely with photo editors, writers, editors, and designers
  • Research and license high-quality imagery from archives and stock agencies
  • Demonstrate support and understanding of our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission to seek the truth and help people understand the world
  • You will report to the Director of Photography

Basic Qualifications:
  • 5+ years experience at a magazine or equivalent in a visual curation role
  • Demonstrate strong editorial judgment working with editors and the legal department for all vetting, copyright, legal and ethical questions
  • Experience researching and sourcing existing photography
  • Experience producing visual work in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
  • Expertise in electronic image handling, digital tools and programs

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Knowledge and enthusiasm for all photographic genres and video, social media landscape, including digitally innovative formats and multimedia presentations
  • Strong organizational, communication and collaborative skills
  • Experience with video production and editing
  • Refined visual taste and exceptional news judgment
  • Willingness to work nights and weekends when projects and deadlines require it

#LI-Hybrid
This position is represented by the NewsGuild of NY.
REQ-020271
Additional Compensation and Benefits
For roles in the U.S., dependent on your role, you may be eligible for variable pay, such as an annual bonus and restricted stock. Benefits may include medical, dental and vision benefits, Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s), a company-matching 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase plan, paid vacation, paid sick days, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement and professional development programs.
For roles outside of the U.S., information on benefits will be provided during the interview process.
The annual base pay range for this role is between:
$113,945.85-$115,000 USD
Candidate Use of GenAI Tools:
We're excited to learn more about you and your experience. To keep our hiring process as fair and authentic as possible, we ask that you submit your own work and not use GenAI tools to generate substantive content during the application and interview process.
If you're an engineering candidate, we'll let you know what specific GenAI tools you are permitted to use for your technical assessment.
The New York Times Company is committed to being the world's best source of independent, reliable and quality journalism. To do so, we embrace a diverse workforce that has a broad range of backgrounds and experiences across our ranks, at all levels of the organization. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)'s Know Your Rights Poster is available here.
The New York Times Company will provide reasonable accommodations as required by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Individuals seeking an accommodation for the application or interview process should email reasonable.accommodations@nytimes.com. Emails sent for unrelated issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.
For information about The New York Times' privacy practices for job applicants, click here.
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