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Film and Video Editors: Career Overview
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 Tasks Do Film and Video Editors Do?
Typical responsibilities of film and video editors cover:
- 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.
- Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible.
- Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary.
What Film and Video Editors Need to Know
Effective film and video editors draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Film and Video Editors Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Content Creator
- Contract Video Editor
- Cue Selector
- Digital Media Coordinator
- Digital Video Editor
- Editor
- Electronic News Gathering Editor (ENG Editor)
- Film Editor
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 321,974 film and video editors working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +10.0% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Film and Video Editors Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $89,576 |
| Hourly median | $43.07 |
| 10th percentile | $54,019 |
| 25th percentile | $71,798 |
| 75th percentile | $107,354 |
| 90th percentile | $125,132 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Film and Video Editors Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $102,450 |
| District of Columbia | $100,270 |
| Virginia | $88,310 |
| Massachusetts | $85,150 |
| California | $83,200 |
| New Jersey | $82,850 |
| Maryland | $80,990 |
| Alabama | $70,310 |
| Washington | $66,110 |
| New Hampshire | $65,360 |
| Utah | $62,860 |
| Oregon | $62,020 |
| Vermont | $60,620 |
| Connecticut | $60,440 |
| Nevada | $59,990 |
| Minnesota | $59,100 |
| Illinois | $58,620 |
| Michigan | $58,550 |
| Nebraska | $57,810 |
| Florida | $57,570 |
| Texas | $57,400 |
| Colorado | $56,510 |
| North Carolina | $55,460 |
| Wisconsin | $54,660 |
| Tennessee | $52,600 |
| Georgia | $52,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,340 |
| Ohio | $51,230 |
| Louisiana | $49,930 |
| Arizona | $49,920 |
| Iowa | $49,690 |
| Missouri | $49,670 |
| South Carolina | $49,630 |
| Mississippi | $48,470 |
| Oklahoma | $48,350 |
| Indiana | $47,540 |
| Hawaii | $47,260 |
| New Mexico | $46,600 |
| Kentucky | $46,580 |
| South Dakota | $46,510 |
| Arkansas | $46,000 |
| West Virginia | $45,970 |
| North Dakota | $44,270 |
| Montana | $42,550 |
| Alaska | $42,210 |
| Kansas | $41,920 |
| Maine | $41,300 |
| Idaho | $38,610 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,490 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for film and video editors vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $92,526 | 22.3% | 1.88 |
| Far Western US | $80,191 | 37.7% | 2.48 |
| New England | $67,110 | 4.6% | 1.41 |
| Rocky Mountains | $55,334 | 5.1% | 1.36 |
| Southwest | $54,956 | 5.4% | 0.43 |
| Great Lakes | $54,837 | 7.0% | 0.49 |
| Southeast | $54,164 | 14.1% | 0.74 |
| Plains States | $51,907 | 3.3% | 0.54 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $102,060 | 3,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $101,130 | 1,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $95,630 | 350 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $91,500 | 690 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $83,200 | 6,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $83,100 | 370 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $80,800 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $79,900 | 190 |
Industry Breakdown
Most film and video editors are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 18,900 | $76,440 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 5,200 | $61,140 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,220 | $62,600 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 910 | $100,290 |
| Educational Services | 720 | $50,820 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 410 | $72,990 |
| Retail Trade | 360 | $67,480 |
| Wholesale Trade | 280 | $76,760 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Film and Video Editors Use
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: AJAX (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Cascading style sheets CSS (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: Hypertext markup language HTML (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for film and video editors is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Time Pressure
- Spend Time Sitting
Education and Training
Entry-level film and video editors positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Video Game Designers (Supplemental)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Primary-Short)
- Graphic Designers (Primary-Long)
- Producers and Directors (Primary-Short)
- Media Programming Directors (Supplemental)
- Media Technical Directors/Managers (Primary-Short)
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (Supplemental)
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists (Supplemental)
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-4032.00 (Film and Video Editors).
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