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Documentary Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Distant Moon Film Editor | Leesburg, VA Distant Moon is an award-winning production company seeking a Film Editor to help shape documentary, commercial, and narrative projects from assembly through ...

An extended edit up to 45 minutes -- a fuller documentary-style cut covering the ceremony, toasts, first dances, and key events in sequence Requirements * Proven experience editing wedding films or ...

Video Editor This is a full-time, in-person position located in Indianapolis, Indiana. About Us ... Experience in digital series, documentary, or structured non-fiction episodic environments ...

The Role Peregrine is looking for an exceptional Video Editor to join our growing creative team and ... Edit documentary-style customer stories, brand films, employee profiles, product launches, event ...

Senior Video Editor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

... documentary for YouTube, you know how to shape footage into something that moves people. This role ... Experience * 5+ years of professional video editing experience, with a strong portfolio ...

Edit documentary-style customer stories, brand films, employee profiles, product launches, event ... What We Look For * Significant professional editing experience across documentary, branded ...

Edit documentary-style customer stories, brand films, employee profiles, product launches, event ... What We Look For * Significant professional editing experience across documentary, branded ...

The Role Peregrine is looking for an exceptional Video Editor to join our growing creative team and ... Edit documentary-style customer stories, brand films, employee profiles, product launches, event ...

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Documentary Editor information

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How much do documentary editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for documentary editor 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 a documentary editor?

A Documentary Editor is responsible for assembling raw footage, shaping the narrative, and refining the visual and audio elements of a documentary film. They work closely with directors and producers to ensure the story is compelling, cohesive, and aligns with the project's vision. This role involves selecting the best takes, cutting scenes for pacing, adding effects, and integrating music or sound design. Documentary editors must have strong storytelling skills, technical proficiency with editing software, and the ability to craft engaging narratives from real-life footage.

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

To thrive as a Documentary Editor, you need expertise in video editing, storytelling, and narrative structure, typically supported by a background in film, media, or communications. Proficiency in editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or Avid Media Composer is essential, and certification in these programs is often preferred. Strong communication, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with directors and producers are critical soft skills in this role. These qualities ensure the ability to craft compelling stories that align with the documentary's vision and engage viewers.

What are some typical challenges a documentary editor faces during a project?

Documentary Editors often encounter challenges such as working with large volumes of raw footage, managing tight deadlines, and balancing creative input from multiple collaborators. You may need to shape a compelling narrative from unscripted content, which requires both technical skill and creative problem-solving. Additionally, editors must adapt to changes in story direction as new material emerges or feedback is provided by the production team. Successfully navigating these challenges is key to delivering a polished final product that tells an engaging and coherent story.

How much does a documentary editor make?

The average salary for a documentary editor ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Experienced editors with skills in editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Avid Media Composer tend to earn higher wages, especially when working on high-profile or long-form documentaries.
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What states have the most Documentary Editor jobs?

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Infographic showing various Documentary Editor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 72% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 23% 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 22 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

210th of 623 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