How much does a film and video editor make?

The median pay is $36.26 per hour — roughly $75,500 a year, with the real range running from about $19.37/hr (10th percentile) to $71.42/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a film and video editor?

The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

What does a film and video editor actually do all day?

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers. Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment. Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.

Arts & Media

Film and Video Editors

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.

What it pays
Film and Video Editors earn a median of $36.26/hr — about $75,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $19.37/hr; the top 10% earn $71.42/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.
Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.
Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.
Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.
Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the day is spent working solo; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 29.3% of film and video editors are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are creative, organized and detail-focused and hands-on.

Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.

Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a film and video editor make?: The median pay is $36.26 per hour — roughly $75,500 a year, with the real range running from about $19.37/hr (10th percentile) to $71.42/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a film and video editor?: The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: considerable preparation (Job Zone 4 of 5).
What does a film and video editor actually do all day?: Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers. Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment. Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.