Film and Video Editors
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $75,420/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +4% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 3,600 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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's the median pay for Film and Video Editors?
The median pay for Film and Video Editors is $75,420 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Film and Video Editors?
Employment for Film and Video Editors is projected to change +4% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Film and Video Editors?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Film and Video Editors?
About 3,600 openings per year, on average, over the decade.