What you should know about a video editor’s pay and whether they receive a good salary will be covered.

A teenager today can easily edit videos. If you want to become a professional video editor, it is frequently crucial to ascertain real-world figures. As a result, you need to understand how much video editors make as well as the contributing factors.

No matter if you’re a freelancer or employed by a company, charging fairly for your services will help you stay in business and earn a consistent living.

Learn more about everything video editing in the following paragraphs, including the education and experience needed to enter the field, the demand for film editors, and industry insider knowledge.

How Much Do Video Editors Make?

Video editors can choose from a few different career paths. In a movie studio, they can work as film editors during post-production. Often, the career path starts out with an unpaid internship or apprenticeship.

You can become a senior editor or assistant editor as you gain more experience. Film editors occasionally decide to transition into directing. The pay increases with each of these career advancements.

According to the BLS, a video editor in the US can expect to make an average yearly salary of $67,250. The average annual base salary, according to the employment website Indeed.com, is $53,025. Base pay is listed as $55,950 annually on Glassdoor.com.

Around $20,000 per year is mentioned for benefits by both Indeed and Glassdoor. Benefits are not specified as being part of the BLS’s calculation.

The more experience you have working in the field of video editing, the more money you can make. For editors with between one and two years of experience, the base salary is $46,635, while for those with between six and nine years, it is $81,742.

For those with 0–3 years of experience, Glassdoor lists a salary of $48,346 and for those with 7–9 years, it lists a salary of $63,168. The longer you work, the greater your benefits become.

There are averages in these numbers. The numbers differ when you look at specific job postings for video editors on the websites. Indeed posted a job in April 2022 with Sinclair Broadcast Group paying $33,258 annually, NBCUniversal $75,000, and Nexstar Media Group $35,302. A position with Toman Media that paid $57,679 was advertised on Indeed.

Average Hourly Rates for a Video Editor

The pay for video editors varies depending on their experience, gigs, and location. The average hourly wage for video editors in the US is $40, according to statistics.

While those with experience can earn upwards of $80,000 annually, video editors with less experience can make between $35,000 and $40,000 annually.

On the other hand, depending on the level of experience, freelance film editors will charge between $14 and $80 per hour. Depending on the type of client and the type of work that is required at that time, a video editor’s hourly rate can range from $20 to $40.

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Job Prospects in Video Editing

The majority of video editors work in the film and television industry, though some also find employment in marketing or advertising departments. Some editors are employed by businesses, while others are independent contractors.

In 2020, 30,000 people were employed as video editors in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By 2030, the field is expected to expand by 29%.

What Do Video Editors Do?

Editors of videos put together footage and cut it in captivating, entertaining, and visually appealing ways. They choose the cuts, audio, and graphics that best convey a video’s story and translate the director’s vision into the finished product using their creativity and technical expertise. They might edit videos for:

• Film, TV, and animation
• Broadcast productions
• Marketing and advertisements
• Social media content creators

Video editing requires effective communication. There is a lot of back and forth when it comes to their jobs and their clients. It can be monotonous to approve new changes, edit existing footage, and rewrite those sections. Nevertheless, it’s all a part of the process, and these encounters can aid you in getting more video editor jobs in the future.

What Skills Do I Need to Become a Video Editor?

Technical Skills

A wide range of technical skills, including cutting, keyframing, color grading, and audio mixing, are required of video editors. They must also be comfortable with non-linear video editing software, including:

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Final Cut Pro
• Adobe After Effects
• CyberLink PowerDirector 365
• iMovie

While it takes years of practice to become a master video editor, you can learn the fundamentals of editing with these programs in just a few months. As a way to stay competitive, it’s also critical to stay up to date with technological developments.

Self-sufficiency

During some stages of a project, editors are left in charge of deciding how they want to cut the movie without consulting the other members of the crew. It’s essential to be self-motivated and productive on your own.

Collaboration

On the other hand, you must work well with others as a team. “I think the most rewarding part of the process is when you start working with directors and producers and really start feeling collaborative about it,” says video editor John Petaja (“Invasion,” “Hunters,” “Mr. Robot”). A collaborative mindset is necessary because synergy gives video projects life.

Patience

To select the best takes from hours of raw footage, video editors are in charge of searching through the material. The shooting ratio—the quantity of footage shot in relation to the length of the finished product—can be of astronomical proportions depending on the production.

For example, George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” reportedly condensed 480 hours of footage into 2 hours. You can anticipate working around the clock to find the best shots, clean them up, match them with the right audio, and create coherent sequences if you’re working on a production like that.

Creativity

As they work, the editor should have a plan (or a few plans) of what they’re aiming to accomplish. Create storyboards in your head to help direct your path.

Enthusiasm

It can be a very chaotic workplace for a film editor. You can get through the bad days and make the good days even better with enthusiasm for your work and the movie project.

Training to Become a Video Editor

One of the best ways to train for a career change is to become a video editor by enrolling in classes. When learning new information, some people prefer in-person classes, but those aren’t always offered.

Similar configurations apply to live online classes, which feature a remote instructor who can respond to inquiries and take over your monitor with your permission to demonstrate procedures. Available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends, training is either part-time or full-time.

The best way to get ready for a career change into a technical field like video editing is to sign up for a boot camp or certificate program. These are lengthy training programs that cover video editing in much more detail than tutorials can.

They can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. A professional-quality sample video portfolio that you can show to potential employers will be provided to you as you leave the training session.

Getting a Job as a Video Editor

After completing a course in video editing, you can start your job search. Putting together a solid portfolio and then networking are the two most crucial steps in the job search process.

Build a Professional-looking Portfolio

In addition to knowing that you can deliver on time, are knowledgeable in your field, are dependable, and are a pleasure to work with, potential clients want to know that you can produce the specific type of content they require.

A portfolio of example videos demonstrates your capabilities to clients. Update your website regularly with examples of your most recent work. It enhances your reputation and makes you easier to find.

Put Some Effort into Networking

Finding employment as a video editor requires networking. Establish relationships with directors and other editors so that they will review your work and keep you in mind for future projects. To expand your network, join professional groups on Meetup or LinkedIn.

Conclusion: Video Editing Salary

Learning video editing is simple, making a new career possible. Contrarily, the typical pay for a video editor is $55,740. Given that most jobs in video editing are available, it is crucial to understand the importance of location.

An in-house editor position with a salary may be the best option for you if consistency and stability are your top priorities. You won’t have to be concerned with finding your next job to make ends meet if you have a role like this.

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