Film and Video Editors Salary

The median film and video editors salary in the United States is $75,420 per year ($36.26/hour). Salaries range from $40,280 at the entry level to $148,550+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 25,610 film and video editors jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asVideo EditorFilm Editor
Median Salary
$75,420
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.26
per hour
Employment
25,610
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$40,280
25th percentile
$52,720
Median
$75,420
75th percentile
$105,310
90th percentile
$148,550

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+4%
As fast as average

Annual Openings

3,600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Film and Video Editors Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for film and video editorss.

Film + video editors assemble raw footage into finished pieces β€” features, TV, docs, commercials, YouTube, social. Entry $42-58k; mid-career staff editors $65-95k; senior editors on TV/streaming reach $150-260k+; commercial + episodic feature editors with credits earn $200-500k+ per project. IATSE Local 700 union rates for scripted TV/features set floors.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Premiere Pro + Avid Media Composer + DaVinci Resolve
Avid = feature/TV. Premiere = docs/commercials/YouTube. Resolve = color + increasingly editing. Fluency in your niche non-negotiable.
Story structure + pacing
Understand three-act structure + scene shape + rhythm + tension. Not just cutting technical, telling stories.
Sound design + audio
Pro Tools basics + audio cleanup + music selection + mix prep. Sound is 50% of edit.
Color + finishing
Understand color grading pipeline + LUTs + delivery specs. Not the colorist but coordinate with them.
Media management
File organization + transcoding + proxy workflows + backups. Show discipline = career survival.
Motion graphics + VFX basics
After Effects for titles + graphics + basic VFX. Communicate with VFX supervisors.
Client + director collaboration
Present cuts + take notes + defend choices + iterate. Read the room + facilitate creative discussion.

How to Become a Film and Video Editors

  1. 1
    Build a reel + get formal training
    Film school or self-taught + shoot/edit personal shorts. Reel is 60-90 seconds of your best work.
  2. 2
    Start as assistant editor
    AE role at production company + post house + reality TV. Learn workflow + build relationships. $42-58k entry.
  3. 3
    Get union eligible + join Local 700 or 200
    IATSE Local 700 (Motion Picture Editors Guild) sets rates + benefits + pension for scripted TV/features. Requires 30 days of union work in a year.
  4. 4
    Move to editor credit
    3-5 years as AE to first editor credit on a small doc or reality show. Union editor scale $2,900-$4,200/week base.
  5. 5
    Specialize + build reel
    Scripted TV vs commercial vs docs vs YouTube β€” different tracks + different pay. Follow the money + build reel in your niche.

Career Progression

Assistant Editor
0-4 yrs$42-72k ($1,600-$2,500/week union)
  • β€’Media management + logging
  • β€’Sync + prep footage
  • β€’Setup edit sessions
  • β€’Support editor + producer
Next: Editor at 3-6 years.
Editor (staff or freelance)
3-8 yrs$65-115k staff Β· $2,900-$4,500/week union scripted
  • β€’Cut scenes/episodes
  • β€’Present rough + fine cuts
  • β€’Direct assistant editors
  • β€’Sound + music selection
Next: Senior Editor at 8-12 years.
Senior Editor / Lead
8-15 yrs$115-195k+ Β· $3,800-$6,500/week + episodic bonuses
  • β€’Lead editor on features/series
  • β€’Cross-cut with director + showrunner
  • β€’Mentor AEs + editors
  • β€’Post supervision decisions
Next: Supervising Editor / Editorial Producer at 15+.
Supervising Editor / Show Editor
15+ yrs$185-500k+ per project Β· $6,000-$12,000/week + credits
  • β€’Own post-production
  • β€’Manage editor teams
  • β€’Direct client relationships
  • β€’Emmy + industry awards
Next: Post Producer + Documentary Filmmaker + Director.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through your editing process on a scene.technical
Read/review footage + script + break down by beat + assemble + refine pacing + sound + music + finish + turnover.
Q2. How do you handle director feedback that hurts the cut?situational
Listen fully + understand root concern + try their approach + present alternates if it doesn't work + document decisions.
Q3. What's your Avid/Premiere workflow?technical
Media management + proxies + bins organized by scene/type + backups + version control + naming conventions.
Q4. How do you choose music for a scene?technical
Emotional beat + tempo match + rise/fall + lyric vs instrumental + budget/licensing. Iterate with picture.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Editor credit on 3+ major projects + specialty in [scripted/docs/features] + moving toward Supervising Editor.

Resume Template β€” Assistant Editor (0-4 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Assistant Editor (0-4 yrs)
  • β–ΈAE on Emmy-nominated documentary β€” managed 380 hours of footage + 12 sync teams over 8 months.
  • β–ΈCut 45 short-form pieces (trailers + social + BTS) generating 8M+ views across YouTube/Instagram.
  • β–ΈEstablished Avid project workflow adopted by post house for 4 subsequent series.
  • β–ΈPromoted from PA to AE in 14 months on strength of self-cut portfolio pieces.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Weak reel or dated cuts.
  • βœ—Poor media management discipline.
  • βœ—Cant take director + client notes.
  • βœ—Weak sound + music instincts.
  • βœ—Cant hit tight deadlines.
  • βœ—No specialty focus or reel targeting.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Union scale (IATSE 700) sets floor for scripted TV/features.
  • βœ“Commercial editing = $2,500-8,500/day + reel-driven.
  • βœ“Feature editor with credits = $2,000-6,000/week + first-look deals.
  • βœ“Emmy + Cannes Lion + BE Awards = premium.
  • βœ“Reality/unscripted = lower rates but steadier work.
  • βœ“YouTube/creator economy = production company + freelance $65-125/hr.
  • βœ“Metro (LA/NYC) = required for feature/TV career.

Film and Video Editors Resume Review β€” $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired film and video editorss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

  • βœ“ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
  • βœ“ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
  • βœ“ Missing skills / keywords flagged
  • βœ“ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
  • βœ“ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Film and Video Editors Career Kit β€” $19

  • βœ“ All 15 interview questions with expert answers
  • βœ“ 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
  • βœ“ Interview format intel for 7 top employers
  • βœ“ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
  • βœ“ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
  • βœ“ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
  • βœ“ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
  • βœ“ Detailed salary negotiation script
  • βœ“ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
  • βœ“ Downloadable PDF for offline access
  • βœ“ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
βœ“ 7-day money-back guarantee β€” no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

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Film and Video Editors Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$39K
$103Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

New York
$103K
+37%
District of Columbia
$99K
+31%
Massachusetts
$92K
+22%
California
$88K
+17%
Colorado
$85K
+12%
Connecticut
$84K
+11%
New Jersey
$83K
+10%
Virginia
$79K
+4%
Maryland
$78K
+4%
Utah
$76K
+1%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
New York$103,440+37.2%
District of Columbia$98,830+31.0%
Massachusetts$92,130+22.2%
California$88,490+17.3%
Colorado$84,620+12.2%
Connecticut$83,550+10.8%
New Jersey$82,890+9.9%
Virginia$78,740+4.4%
Maryland$78,380+3.9%
Utah$76,240+1.1%
1–10 of 42

Film and Video Editors Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$109,930+45.8%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$104,590+38.7%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$93,600+24.1%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$91,750+21.7%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$88,910+17.9%
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$84,780+12.4%
Waterbury-Shelton, CT$83,550+10.8%
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$83,480+10.7%
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$83,230+10.4%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$83,210+10.3%
1–10 of 77
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A film and video editors earning $75,420/year would need 790 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 849 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how film and video editors salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Film and Video Editors salary trend (2011–2024) β†’