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Documentary Editing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Proven experience editing wedding films or comparable event/documentary work (portfolio required -- include highlight reel links with your application) * Proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut ...

Approximately 3 - 5+ years of professional editing experience across documentary, commercial, branded, narrative, or related content environments * A portfolio or reel demonstrating strong ...

Senior Video Editor, Big Business

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$80 - $90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Business Insider is hiring a Senior Editor to join Big Business, the company's most-watched documentary series about the world's most fascinating and newsworthy industries--from retail and ...

New

Video Editor

Boston, MA · Remote

$60 - $85/hr

Most of our work is multicam, with real interview audio and a lot of documentary-style b-roll. We're looking for freelance editors to bring on project by project. You'd get a shoot's worth of footage ...

Video Editor

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$60 - $85/hr

Most of our work is multicam, with real interview audio and a lot of documentary-style b-roll. We're looking for freelance editors to bring on project by project. You'd get a shoot's worth of footage ...

Video Editor

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Demonstrated professional experience editing scripted non-fiction or format-driven video content * Experience in digital series, documentary, or structured non-fiction episodic environments preferred

Senior Video Editor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

Experience * 5+ years of professional video editing experience, with a strong portfolio ... documentary. * Hands-on experience with sound design, audio mixing, and colour grading. * Basic ...

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Documentary Editing information

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$11

$31

$57

How much do documentary editing jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for documentary editing in the United States is $31.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.39 and $39.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is documentary editing?

Documentary editing is the process of assembling, organizing, and refining recorded footage, interviews, audio, and other elements to create a cohesive and compelling nonfiction film or video. Editors work closely with directors and producers to shape the narrative, determine pacing, and ensure that the story is both engaging and accurate. This role often involves making creative decisions about what content to include or omit, as well as incorporating graphics, sound, and music to enhance the final product.

What are typical challenges faced by documentary editors when shaping a story from raw footage?

Documentary editors often encounter the challenge of organizing large amounts of unscripted footage into a compelling, coherent narrative. They must balance the director's vision with the available material, sometimes working with incomplete or evolving storylines. Tight deadlines, last-minute changes, and collaborating closely with directors, producers, and sound designers are also common aspects of the role. Strong communication and creative problem-solving skills are essential for overcoming these challenges and producing a polished final product.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a documentary editor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Documentary Editor, you need a strong grasp of storytelling, video editing principles, and experience with non-linear editing software, often supported by a degree in film, media, or related fields. Proficiency with tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, or Final Cut Pro, as well as knowledge of formats and post-production workflows, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, time management, and collaboration are crucial soft skills that help editors craft compelling narratives and work well with directors and producers. These skills and qualities are vital for producing engaging, coherent documentaries that effectively communicate their message and meet production deadlines.

What is the difference between Documentary Editing vs Video Editing?

AspectDocumentary EditingVideo Editing
CredentialsOften requires editing experience, film or media backgroundRequires editing skills, often with specific software knowledge
Work EnvironmentFilm or documentary production settingsVaries from corporate videos to social media content
Industry UsagePrimarily in film, television, and documentary projectsAcross multiple industries including marketing, entertainment, and corporate

Documentary editing focuses on shaping real-life footage into compelling stories, often requiring a deep understanding of storytelling and factual accuracy. Video editing is broader, encompassing various types of video content, from commercials to social media clips. While both roles require editing skills, documentary editing emphasizes narrative construction within factual contexts, making it more specialized.

More about Documentary Editing jobs

What cities are hiring for Documentary Editing jobs?

Cities with the most Documentary Editing job openings:

What states have the most Documentary Editing jobs?

States with the most job openings for Documentary Editing jobs include:

Infographic showing various Documentary Editing job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 73% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,728 per year, or $31.6 per hour.

Research Editor, Center for Digital Editing

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago


University Of Virginia rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 35 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

208th of 619 rated colleges and universities


Job description

The Center for Digital Editing seeks a collaborative and detail-oriented professional to support its documentary editing and digital publishing initiatives. Working across multiple scholarly projects, this position contributes to the preparation, publication, and preservation of historical documentary editions through a combination of editorial, technical, and metadata-related responsibilities. The role supports the creation and dissemination of scholarly resources by performing editorial research, document preparation, metadata development, XML encoding, and digital publication activities, while collaborating with technical staff to enhance publishing infrastructure and workflows.
Key Responsibilities
• Catalog, transcribe, proofread, and prepare historical documents for publication.
• Conduct data entry, quality control, and editorial review activities to ensure accuracy and consistency across project datasets.
• Research, draft, and revise annotations and other scholarly editorial content.
• Generate and maintain descriptive, administrative, and technical metadata at both project and cross-project levels to support discovery, interoperability, and long-term preservation.
• Perform XML encoding and volume-to-XML conversion activities in accordance with established editorial and technical standards.
• Assist in the development, testing, maintenance, and enhancement of digital publication workflows and systems.
• Collaborate with project developers to customize and manage Drupal-based publishing environments and related digital infrastructure.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of editorial and technical standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Consult with historians, archivists, librarians, and other stakeholders to identify emerging scholarly and community needs and inform future development efforts.
• Contribute to documentation, training materials, and workflow improvement initiatives.
• Support the Center's broader research, publication, and digital humanities activities as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Demonstrated ability to conduct detailed editorial work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Experience with research methodologies, historical documents, and scholarly publishing.
• Familiarity with metadata standards, XML technologies, and digital humanities methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a collaborative environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
This position will remain open until filled. This is an exempt level, benefited position. The University will perform background checks on all hires (if required) prior to employment. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. For this role, the University will not sponsor or consider candidates requiring sponsorship for employment visas now or in the future. This is a Restricted position.
Please apply online , and search for R0084880. Complete an application online with the following documents:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field; multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.
Internal applicants: Search and apply for jobs on the UVA Internal Careers website .
• Ability to work effectively with interdisciplinary teams, including scholars, librarians, archivists, and technical staff.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with documentary editing, scholarly publishing, or digital humanities projects.
• Familiarity with XML encoding standards (e.g., TEI) and metadata frameworks.
• Experience with Drupal or other content management systems.
• Knowledge of historical research methods and archival resources.
• Experience working with digital publication platforms and workflows.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education: Bachelor's degree required.
Experience: 3+ years of relevant experience required.
Licensure: None.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment .

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About University of Virginia

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The University of Virginia is distinctive among institutions of higher education. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University sustains the ideal of developing, through education, leaders who are well-prepared to shape the future of the nation.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Charlottesville, VA, US

Year founded

1819