ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Photo Editor Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

SAIC

Video Editor

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

As a Video Editor, you will thrive in a collaborative, creative environment and work closely with Core Creative producers to help develop custom solutions for our visual concepts, as well as use ...

New

FSAP and PETA

AV Editor-Videographer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$25 - $28.13/hr

... photo shoots o Create effects, titles, and other motion graphics o Take responsibility for the ... editing experience, including but not limited to experience with Adobe Creative Cloud • ...

Tribune Media

Photographer Video Editor

Richmond, VA · On-site

The WRIC Photographer/Video Editor operates video and editing equipment to produce images or scenes for newscasts and other programming. Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.

ISTE+ASCD

Associate Editor, Journalism

Arlington, VA · On-site

POSITION SUMMARY The Associate Editor coordinates digital content production, editorial tracking, and writing support across multiple organizational platforms. Driven by creativity and a strong ...

Jpixx

Shooter & Editor Freelancers

Virginia Beach, VA · On-site

With exceptional camera work, motion graphics, video editing and design, our work targets a diverse audience who value authenticity and crave an emotional connection bringing everyday people and ...

CJK Group

Associate Managing Editor II

Glen Allen, VA · On-site

Associate Managing Editor (Remote) KGL. Be part of something greater. Your career awaits...join us! Job Summary The Associate Managing Editor oversees journal editorial and/or production operations ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPhoto Editor JobsPhoto Editor Jobs in Virginia

Photo Editor information

See Virginia salary details

$5

$21

$37

How much do photo editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for photo editor in Virginia is $21.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.20 and $29.57 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a photo editor do?

A photo editor is responsible for selecting, editing, and enhancing images to meet the needs of publications, brands, or clients. Their work often involves adjusting color, cropping, retouching, and ensuring images align with the intended message or aesthetic. Photo editors may also coordinate with photographers, oversee photo shoots, and manage image databases. The role requires both technical skills with editing software and a creative eye for visual storytelling.

What are some common challenges faced by Photo Editors when working with a diverse range of photographers and clients?

Photo Editors often encounter the challenge of balancing creative vision with client expectations, especially when working with photographers who have distinct artistic styles. Effective communication is crucial to ensure that the final images align with both the publication's brand and the client's needs. Additionally, managing tight deadlines and coordinating feedback from multiple stakeholders can require strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Building trust and fostering collaboration with photographers and clients helps streamline the editing process and achieve the desired results.

What Does a Photo Editor Do?

As a Photo Editor, you may find yourself working in a wide variety of industries, including news, book publishing, advertising, website development, and the arts. You may be asked to airbrush photos for advertising or select and edit images to go with a story. You may work with photographers to discuss the objectives of a project and collaborate to achieve it.

How do you become a photo editor?

To become a photo editor, you typically need a bachelor's degree in photography, graphic design, or a related field, along with strong skills in photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. Gaining experience through internships or freelance work and building a professional portfolio are important steps in establishing a career in photo editing.

Are editors still in demand?

Photo editors are still in demand as visual content remains essential for marketing, media, and digital platforms. Skills in editing software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, along with a strong portfolio, can improve job prospects in this evolving field.

Is photo editing a good career?

Photo editing is a viable career that involves enhancing and manipulating images using software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. It requires creativity, technical skills, and attention to detail, and can offer opportunities in fields such as advertising, publishing, and freelance work. Success often depends on building a strong portfolio and staying updated with industry trends.

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

To thrive as a Photo Editor, you need a strong eye for visual composition, attention to detail, and proficiency in digital editing, often supported by a degree in photography, design, or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and other image management systems is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this role. These skills ensure high-quality visual content, efficient workflow, and alignment with client or publication standards.

How much can a photo editor make?

Photo editors' salaries vary based on experience, location, and industry, but the median annual wage in the United States is around $45,000 to $65,000. Freelance photo editors may earn more or less depending on project volume and rates, while those working for media companies or advertising agencies often have steady salaries and benefits. Skills in editing software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom can influence earning potential.
More about Photo Editor jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Photo Editor jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Photo Editor jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Photo Editor jobs in Virginia? For Photo Editor jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Photo Editor jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Photo Editor jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Photo Editor jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Photo Editor job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Photo Editor jobs in VA? For Photo Editor jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Photo Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Photo Editor job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 9% Internship, 55% Full Time, and 36% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $45,584 per year, or $21.9 per hour.
English Editor

English Editor

Middle East Broadcasting Networks

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

Job Announcement
English Editor
About MBN
Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) is the premier Arabic-first media organization that connects the Middle East and the United States. The company is in the midst of an exciting digital transformation and looking for energetic and talented people who care about journalism and the Middle East to join us on this journey.
We provide original and indispensable reporting, perspectives and commentary on the Middle East and how America's engagement impacts the region. MBN delivers content in both Arabic and English across multiple platforms, in formats including written articles, short-form video, newsletters, podcasts, data trackers and social media.
Our target audience is decision-makers, influencers, and residents of key capitals across the Middle East, as well as the next generation of globally engaged, digitally connected youth.
About the Role
MBN reports and writes in both English and Arabic, with much of its original sourcing and reporting now coming out of Washington, DC. The English Editor sits at the center of that operation, shaping work filed in English by MBN's DC and international correspondents and, when needed, adapting Arabic-origin reporting for English-language audiences. The role calls for someone who understands that Arabic and English are not parallel systems - they carry different sentence logic, rhetorical rhythms, cultural registers, and audience expectations. Whether a story originates in English or in Arabic, the editor makes it land with the same force and authority. That requires more than language skills. It requires cultural literacy in both directions: an instinct for how English-speaking readers receive and trust, and an understanding of how Arabic-speaking journalists think and frame.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The following tasks are considered essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions:
  • Edits English-language reporting filed by MBN's Washington, DC and international correspondents - sharpening clarity, accuracy, tone, structure, and platform fit, and ensuring each piece meets MBN's editorial standards.
  • Writes and edits English headlines, subheads, social captions, and newsletter subject lines, recognizing that each platform has its own copy conventions and audience behaviors. Ensures English-language discoverability across search, social, and newsletters reflects the quality of the underlying journalism.
  • Maintains a consistent editorial voice across all English-language products - newsletters, website, podcast scripts, and social content.
  • Collaborates closely with correspondents, producers, and editors across the newsroom - in DC and abroad - on story development, framing, and editorial decisions, working in both English and Arabic as needed.
  • Adapts Arabic-origin reporting and commentary for English-language and Western audiences - preserving the argument, sourcing, and editorial intent of the original while applying the structure, rhythm, and register English-language journalism demands. Exercises independent editorial judgment on when a piece requires added context, background, or explanation that an Arabic-speaking reader would not need but an English-speaking audience requires to receive the story with full force - without diluting the original or distancing the reader from the source.
  • Identifies cultural references, idiomatic constructions, and framing conventions in Arabic-origin material that require recontextualization for English-language audiences, and makes those adjustments without losing the authenticity of the source or the voice of the journalist who filed it.
  • Serves as the final editorial check on all English-language content before publication - for accuracy, tone, legal exposure, and consistency with MBN's editorial standards. This includes verifying that sources, places, and institutions are rendered correctly in English, particularly proper nouns that transliterate differently across Arabic dialects and regions.
  • Owns and maintains MBN's English-language style guide - covering tone and voice across platforms, conventions for spelling Arabic names and places, transliteration standards, and usage rules tailored to a newsroom publishing for both English- and Arabic-speaking audiences.
  • Uses AI and machine-translation tools to accelerate preliminary translation, transcription, and drafting workflows, treating their output as a starting point rather than a finished product.
  • Applies editorial judgment to AI- and machine-translation output - identifying mistranslations, flattened nuance, hallucinated facts, awkward phrasing, and tone errors, and rewriting where the technology falls short.

Other Duties:
Perform additional job-related duties and take on new responsibilities as needed based on organizational requirements and circumstances.
Qualifications and Requirements:
Candidates are required to have:
  • Bachelor's degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Translation, Middle Eastern Studies, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • 5+ years of professional editing experience in journalism, digital media, publishing, or international news environments.
  • Native-level or near-native English-language editing and writing skills with exceptional command of grammar, syntax, tone, and journalistic style.
  • Professional fluency in Arabic, with the ability to accurately interpret nuance, framing, cultural references, and editorial intent in Arabic-language journalism.
  • Demonstrated experience editing and adapting bilingual or translated content for English-language audiences while preserving the meaning and voice of the original.
  • Strong grounding in English-language journalism standards and editorial structure.
  • Experience editing content across multiple formats and platforms, including websites, newsletters, podcast scripts, social media, and multimedia products.
  • Strong attention to detail, particularly in fact-checking, transliteration consistency, source verification, and copy accuracy.
  • Knowledge of Arabic transliteration standards and experience ensuring consistency in the spelling of Arabic names, locations, organizations, and institutions in English.
  • Strong editorial judgment and understanding of legal, ethical, and reputational considerations in international journalism.
  • Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines in a fast-paced, digital-first newsroom environment.
  • Experience covering Middle East affairs, international news, or cross-cultural reporting is highly desirable.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted editing and machine-translation tools, and sound judgment about when to rely on them and when to override them.

MBN is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.

Apply