Occupation · 2026 assessment

Documentary film Researcher

The Documentary film Researcher role combines repeatable operations with decisions that require professional context. The index measures task exposure to AI, software automation and robotics—not the probability that the occupation disappears.

Moderate risk level Search jobs ↗
How risk may change

A forecast estimate, not a guaranteed scenario.

45%2026
49%2028
54%2030
61%2035

Which tasks are exposed

Risk applies to individual tasks—not to a person or an entire occupation.

TaskRisk
Transcription, subtitles and initial tagging72%
Preparing summaries and drafts70%
Basic editing and technical processing65%
Classifying and publishing content64%
Verifying facts, sources and context39%
Real-world reporting and editorial accountability27%

Task map

AI replaces ↔ AI augments

Each task is positioned by AI capability and the degree of human involvement still required.

  1. 1Transcription, subtitles and initial taggingAI 72% · human 54%
  2. 2Preparing summaries and draftsAI 70% · human 48%
  3. 3Basic editing and technical processingAI 65% · human 59%
  4. 4Classifying and publishing contentAI 64% · human 50%
  5. 5Verifying facts, sources and contextAI 39% · human 58%
  6. 6Real-world reporting and editorial accountabilityAI 27% · human 69%

Why technology can change this work

  • transcription, editing and first-pass review can be automated
  • AI generates text, voice, images and video
  • aggregators automate personalized distribution

What protects the occupation

  • access to people and real-world events
  • editorial accountability and fact checking
  • authorial voice, investigation and reputation

United States · before tax

Average pay and outlook

Estimated nominal monthly pay. The scenario reflects sector, demand and task resilience; it is not a guarantee of income.

2026$6 350per month
2035$8 600scenario estimate
2026: $6 35020262027: $6 55020272028: $6 80020282029: $7 00020292030: $7 25020302031: $7 50020312032: $7 75020322033: $8 00020332034: $8 30020342035: $8 6002035
Find jobs ↗The partner link may contain referral parameters. Data benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ↗

Job search and transitions

Find work with a lower risk index

Compare adjacent paths and open a current search for the selected occupation.

Skills you already have

  • source work
  • editing
  • storytelling
  • fact checking

Skills to build

  • synthetic-content verification
  • AI production
  • multimedia storytelling
  • digital-rights management
CurrentDocumentary film Researcher · 45%
→
Keepsource work · editing · storytelling
→
Addsynthetic-content verification · AI production · multimedia storytelling

Sources and update

Updated: 2026-09-25 · Assessment confidence: Medium

International Labour Organization · 2025Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure

Nearly 30,000 tasks; a global assessment of GenAI exposure across detailed occupational groups.

World Economic Forum · 2025The Future of Jobs Report 2025

A survey of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies.

O*NET Resource Center · 2026O*NET Database

Occupational, task, skill and work-context structure.