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.
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The Daily Work of Film and Video Editors Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of film and video editors span:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective film and video editors rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Content Creator
- Contract Video Editor
- Cue Selector
- Digital Media Coordinator
- Digital Video Editor
- Editor
- Electronic News Gathering Editor (ENG Editor)
- Film Editor
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 321,974 film and video editors working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +10.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Film and Video Editors
| 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 |
Where Film and Video Editors Earn the Most
Earnings for film and video editors differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| 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
The bulk of film and video editors work in these industries:
| 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.
Tools and Technology
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
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
Most film and video editors positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future film and video editors often complete programs in:
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
3 programs across 2 majors
Visual and Performing Arts
2 programs across 1 majors
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
2 programs across 2 majors
References
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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