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Endangered Language Documentation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Be able to read and write the English language fluently. * Must be able to pass a pre-employment ... Produces written documents to document technical and legal matters. * Responds to emergency ...

FIREFIGHTER

Weslaco, TX · On-site

$54K - $61K/yr

Be able to read and write the English language fluently. * Must be able to pass a pre-employment ... Produces written documents to document technical and legal matters. * Responds to emergency ...

Firefighter

Weslaco, TX · On-site

$54K - $61K/yr

Be able to read and write the English language fluently. * Must be able to pass a pre-employment ... Produces written documents to document technical and legal matters. * Responds to emergency ...

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Endangered Language Documentation information

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How much do endangered language documentation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for endangered language documentation in the United States is $35.98, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.04 and $50.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is endangered language documentation?

Endangered language documentation is the process of systematically recording, analyzing, and preserving languages that are at risk of disappearing. This work involves collecting data such as audio recordings, written texts, and grammatical descriptions to ensure that the language’s unique features, stories, and cultural knowledge are not lost. Documentation is crucial for revitalization efforts and provides valuable resources for linguists, educators, and community members. By capturing a language before it disappears, documentation helps maintain cultural diversity and heritage for future generations.

What are some common challenges faced when working on endangered language documentation projects?

One common challenge in endangered language documentation is building trust and establishing effective communication with native speakers, who may be few in number and wary of outsiders. Additionally, fieldwork can involve travel to remote locations with limited resources or technological infrastructure. Documentation specialists often need to adapt to varying levels of community engagement and may face logistical issues such as limited funding or time constraints. Collaborating closely with local communities and linguists is essential to ensure accurate, respectful, and sustainable documentation efforts.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Endangered Language Documentation, and why are they important?

To excel in Endangered Language Documentation, you generally need a background in linguistics, phonetics, and fieldwork methods, often with an advanced degree in linguistics or anthropology. Familiarity with audio/video recording equipment, transcription software (such as ELAN or Praat), and data management systems is important. Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and adaptability are crucial for building trust with language communities and navigating diverse fieldwork contexts. These skills enable accurate, ethical documentation and preservation of languages at risk of extinction, ensuring valuable linguistic and cultural knowledge is recorded for future generations.

What is the difference between Endangered Language Documentation vs Language Archivist?

AspectEndangered Language DocumentationLanguage Archivist
Required CredentialsLinguistics, Anthropology, or related degrees; fieldwork experienceLibrarianship, Archival Science, or Information Management degrees
Work EnvironmentFieldwork in communities, research institutionsArchives, libraries, museums, digital repositories
Employer & IndustryUniversities, research institutes, cultural organizationsLibraries, archives, cultural heritage institutions
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on documenting and preserving endangered languagesFocus on managing, preserving, and providing access to language collections

While both roles involve language preservation, Endangered Language Documentation emphasizes fieldwork and recording endangered languages, whereas a Language Archivist focuses on managing and maintaining language collections in archives. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in language preservation fields.

Infographic showing various Endangered Language Documentation job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 88% In-person, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,847 per year, or $36 per hour.
PostDoctoral Researcher

PostDoctoral Researcher

University of Colorado

Colorado Springs, CO • On-site

Part-time

Medical

Posted 11 days ago


University Of Colorado rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 28 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

149th of 534 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Post-doctoral Researcher

The Center for Research Frontiers in the Digital Humanities (CRFDH)

Elevate Your Career at UCCS: Innovate, Inspire, and Impact in the Rockies!

Who We Are

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is a premier educational institution that prides itself on academic excellence, research, and community engagement and is actively seeking a Post-doctoral Researcher to join our team! UCCS is committed to academic excellence, professional development, and fostering an environment that supports innovation and student success.

At the base of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is captivated by its stunning landscapes, making it a paradise for nature lovers. This city is more than its scenery-a mosaic of history, arts, and a vibrant tech scene. We invite you to join a community that cherishes outdoor adventure as much as forward-thinking growth, an exceptional setting for both career and lifestyle.

Salary/Pay Range: $ 24,500 annually per .49 FTE. Compensation will be commensurate upon experience and qualifications.  This is a .49 FTE position and will not be eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance.  This position is eligible for paid sick leave. Information on benefits, including eligibility, is located at: http://www.cu.edu/employee-services 

This position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions.

Benefits at a Glance

  • Want to know your total compensation? Use our calculator to get the complete picture!
  • CU advantage

Summary

The postdoctoral researcher will assist in ethnolinguistic data collection, interview transcription, data analysis, and other relevant tasks related to the documentation of the endangered language. An in-depth knowledge of polysynthetic languages and Northwest Native American cultures is highly valued. We particularly encourage members of Indigenous communities.

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

  • 50%  Ethnolinguistic data collection

  • 30%  Language transcription and documentation

  • 15%  Data analysis

  • 5%    Grant, abstract, and article writing

This position is dependent on the availability of external grant funding. Funding is currently expected to last until on or around August 31, 2028.

Tentative Search Timeline

  • Priority will be given to applications submitted by June 3, 2026
  • Potential interview dates: June 4, 2026 - June 5, 2026
  • Potential start date: June 15, 2026

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, UCCS does not discriminate based on sex in our employment or compensation practices.

  • Must have a PhD in Native American Studies, Anthropology, Linguistic or similar field.

  • Candidate should demonstrate experience of working with American Indigenous communities.

  • Candidate should have experience transcribing and translating audio data.

  • Candidate should have experience analyzing language-based video, audio and textual data.

  • Candidate should have experience writing reports and journal articles

  • Candidate should have experience with indigenous data sovereignty

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the established essential functions and meet the physical and environment demands described satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, physical and environmental conditions required of the employee on the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, physical and environmental demands.

Applicants with disabilities: If you have a mental or physical impairment, which limits one of your major life activities (e.g. walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, breathing, or learning) and require special accommodations for testing or interviewing, it is your responsibility to notify the office scheduling the interview or test at least 3 working days before the interview or test date.  If you need special accommodations at the work site, you must notify the appointing authority or Human Resources.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has implemented a misconduct history check program with respect to final candidates for specific appointments. The misconduct history check program is intended to allow UCCS to collect and review information about a candidate's conduct at their previous institutions, specifically conduct related to sexual misconduct, harassment, and/or discrimination - before making hiring decisions. All final candidates to these appointments are required to complete an Authorization to Release Information and provide contact information for their previous institutions.


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