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Film and Video Editors in California

Thinking about a career as a Film and Video Editors in California? Here’s what you need to know. 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. Excludes “Sound Engineering Technicians” (27-4014).

What do Film and Video Editors Make in California?

The film and video editors working in California, the median annual wage is $83,200 per year (or about $40.00/hour).Earnings range from $46,170 at the 10th percentile to $167,290 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$46,170	$22.20
25th percentile	$63,850	$30.70
Median (50th)	$83,200	$40.00
75th percentile	$122,080	$58.69
90th percentile	$167,290	$80.43

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California relative to the national average — is 2.70, indicating that film and video editors are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, film and video editors earn a median of $89,576 per year ($43.07/hour), lower than the California median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 321,974 film and video editors nationwide. In California alone, around 9,110 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 250 film and video editors.

Top California Metros for Film and Video Editors

The largest metro-area employers of film and video editors in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	6,730	$83,200
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1,020	$101,130
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	350	$95,630
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	190	$79,900
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	150	$50,250
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	110	$64,950
Fresno, CA	60	$62,610
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	50	$50,870
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	40	$80,800

Top States for Film and Video Editors Employment

The table below shows the states where the most film and video editors work.

State	Number Employed
California	9,110
New York	4,060
Florida	1,190
Texas	1,100
Georgia	1,000
Pennsylvania	790
New Jersey	740
Washington	620
Colorado	590
Tennessee	560
Utah	530
Connecticut	510
Illinois	500
Ohio	500
Oregon	490
Michigan	480
Massachusetts	450
North Carolina	410
District of Columbia	400
Nevada	390

Highest-Paying States for Film and Video Editors

The highest-paying states for film and video editors.

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

Skills

Key film and video editors skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for film and video editors, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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.
• Verify key numbers and time codes on materials.
• Manipulate plot, score, sound, and graphics to make the parts into a continuous whole, working closely with people in audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments.
• Program computerized graphic effects.
• Study scripts to become familiar with production concepts and requirements.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Thinking Creatively
• Getting Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Processing Information

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software In-demand technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software

Related Careers

Careers similar to film and video editors include:

• Video Game Designers
• Special Effects Artists and Animators
• Graphic Designers
• Producers and Directors
• Media Programming Directors
• Media Technical Directors/Managers

Also Known As

Content Creator, Contract Video Editor, Cue Selector, Digital Media Coordinator, Digital Video Editor, Editor, Electronic News Gathering Editor (ENG Editor), Film Editor, Filmmaker, Movie Editor, Multimedia Specialist, News Editor, News Video Editor, News Videotape Editor, Non-Linear Editor.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 27-4032.00