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Freelance Archivist Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

AAAS

Contract Support Specialist

Washington, DC · On-site

Manage vendor and freelancer agreements supporting Custom Publishing, Product Development, and ... Move contracts through the lifecycle from drafting through archiving, ensuring timely movement of ...

[solidcore]

Coordinator, Creative & Design

Arlington, VA · On-site

$59K - $61K/yr

... and archiving of completed projects * Build, update, and organize the Canva/Photoshop template ... freelance portfolio strongly preferred * Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop ...

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Freelance Archivist information

See Reston, VA salary details

$29.6K

$75.7K

$123.8K

How much do freelance archivist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance archivist in Reston, VA is $75,718.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,700.00 and $86,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance archivist?

A Freelance Archivist is a professional who organizes, preserves, and provides access to historical or important records on a contract basis. They work independently with museums, libraries, businesses, or individuals to manage collections, digitize documents, and develop archival systems. Their work ensures that valuable information remains accessible and well-maintained. Unlike full-time archivists, they take on short-term projects or ongoing freelance work.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a freelance archivist?

As a Freelance Archivist, your daily responsibilities often include assessing, organizing, and preserving physical and digital collections for various clients such as museums, businesses, or private individuals. You may digitize records, create metadata, implement filing systems, and develop finding aids to ensure easy retrieval of information. Frequent communication with clients is necessary to clarify project goals, set timelines, and provide progress updates. This role requires balancing independent tasks with collaborative input from stakeholders to ensure the archival materials meet specific preservation and access needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance archivist?

To thrive as a Freelance Archivist, you need a background in archival science, information management, and meticulous organizational skills, often supported by a degree in library science or a related field. Familiarity with digital archiving software, metadata standards, and content management systems, as well as certifications such as the Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) credential, are valuable. Excellent communication, adaptability, and time management skills help freelancers effectively liaise with diverse clients and manage multiple projects. These abilities ensure accurate preservation and accessibility of records, while building a reputation for reliability and expertise in a competitive field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Archivist jobs in Reston, VA?

The most popular types of Archivist jobs in Reston, VA are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Archivist jobs in Reston, VA?

For Freelance Archivist jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Archivist jobs in Reston, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Archivist jobs in Reston, VA are:

Freelance Archivist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Archivist job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 56% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 39% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,718 per year, or $36.4 per hour.

Senior Video Editor / Video Producer

Washington, DC • On-site

Cato Institute
Social Sciences and Humanities Research • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Cato Instituteexternal

$90K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
The Cato Institute is seeking a Senior Video Editor to lead day-to-day production for its in-house AV team. This role owns the editorial and visual execution of Cato's multimedia output - podcast videos, policy documentaries, event coverage, interview series, explainer videos, and social content - and sets the technical and creative standard the rest of the team works to. The ideal candidate combines strong editing craft, motion graphics fluency, and sound judgment about how to turn dense policy material into work that holds a general audience's attention.
This is a hybrid position in Washington, DC.
The salary range for this role is $90,000 - $150,000 per year. Compensation is based on the successful candidate's educational background, experience, and skills.
About Cato
The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization - a think tank - dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato's Letters , a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution - individual liberty, limited government, and free markets - turn out to be even more powerful in today's world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people; it is an indispensable framework for the future.
The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Responsibilities
  • Own the edit on Cato's highest-visibility projects - documentaries, flagship interview series, and major event coverage - from ingest through final delivery, setting pacing, structure, and visual tone.
  • Lead motion graphics design system-wide: animated lower thirds, title sequences, data visualizations, and other on-screen elements, ensuring visual consistency across every format.
  • Serve as the primary editorial partner to producers, researchers, and senior communications staff, advising on story structure and visual strategy - not just executing direction.
  • Set and maintain Cato's on-screen brand standards, and train/guide other editors, freelancers, or interns on those standards and workflows.
  • Manage the post-production pipeline end to end: media ingest, archiving, version control, and file organization across concurrent projects.
  • Handle color correction and audio mixing to a broadcast-ready standard; troubleshoot technical issues in the signal chain as needed.
  • Adapt and reformat finished content across platforms (YouTube, social, broadcast, web), optimizing for each platform's specs and audience behavior.
  • Help evaluate new tools, plugins, and workflow improvements to keep the team's output competitive with larger newsrooms and production houses.
  • Manage relationships with freelance editors or outside vendors on overflow projects, as needed.

Requirements
Education/Experience
  • 5+ years of professional video editing experience, with a track record in news, documentary, policy, or nonprofit media environments.
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects; motion graphics work should be a core strength, not a secondary skill.
  • Strong command of the broader Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) and comfort picking up new tools quickly.
  • Demonstrated ownership of full post-production workflows, including experience managing archives and multi-format delivery pipelines.
  • Experience mentoring, directing, or reviewing the work of junior editors or freelancers.
  • A personal interest in or familiarity with libertarian or classical liberal ideas, free-market economics, or related policy areas is a plus, though not required.

Skills
  • Excellent communication skills and the judgment to work directly with senior staff and subject-matter experts on editorially sensitive material.
  • A strong reel demonstrating both narrative editing and motion graphics work is required.
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple productions across different stages simultaneously.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to excellence in production work.

To Apply
Please submit the following materials:
  • Cover letter
  • Résumé
  • Example of work (description of your contribution to the project and any other relevant details)

Benefits
All Cato employees are offered the following benefits:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Generous vacation and sick days
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employer-provided life and disability insurance
  • 401(k) employer match
  • Transit/ Parking benefits
  • Pet discount plan

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position does not offer visa sponsorship.

Apply