Video Editing Salary: How Much Do Video Editors Earn?

If you are looking for a job where you can use your creativity and technical skills, video editing is a great choice. You can make a good living editing videos for film and television studios and advertising agencies or freelance as an event videographer.

Job Prospects in Video Editing

Most Video Editors work in the motion picture and television industry; others work in advertising or the marketing departments of businesses. Some editors are hired by companies, and others work freelance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS), reported that the video editing field is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS OOH).

What Do Video Editors Do?

Video Editors use digital editing and animation tools to create finished films and videos. They work as part of a team to cut raw footage together to tell an interesting and compelling story. They can also add special effects, a soundtrack, and animation. Marketing videos on social media are becoming increasingly popular, with 60% of companies using video as a marketing tool and 94% planning to continue the practice. 

How Much Do Video Editors Earn?

In terms of career path, Video Editors have some choices. They can work as Film Editors in post-production in a film studio. The career path often begins with an internship or apprenticeship, which is sometimes unpaid. As you gain more experience, you can move into a job as an assistant editor or senior editor. Some Film Editors eventually choose to become Directors. Each of these career steps comes with a higher salary. 

The BLS lists the median annual salary for a Video Editor in the United States at $70,980. Employment website Indeed.com reports the average yearly base salary as $53,025. Glassdoor.com lists base pay at $55,950 per year. Both Indeed and Glassdoor give figures of around $20,000 annually for benefits. The BLS does not mention if benefits are included in their figure.

The longer you work in the video editing field, the more you will be able to earn. Indeed reports a base salary of $46,635 for editors with 1 to 2 years of experience and $81,742 with 6 to 9 years. Glassdoor lists $48,346 for 1 to 3 years of experience and $63,168 for 7 to 9 years. Benefits also increase the longer you work.

These figures are averages. When you look at individual job advertisements for Video Editors listed on the sites, the numbers vary. In April, 2022, Indeed listed a job with Sinclair Broadcast Group offering $33,258 a year, NBCUniversal at $75,000, and Nextstar Media Group at $35,302. Indeed listed a job with Toman Media that paid $57,679.

Other Jobs for Video Editors

Some other jobs for Video Editors include Wedding Videographer and Real Estate Videographer. Indeed lists pay for these jobs between $25 and $75 an hour. A job for a Video Editor/Content Creator for a medical group advertises $20 to $30 an hour. 

Freelance Video Editors

Video Editors who are self-employed are generally referred to as freelancers. There are two types of freelancers: on-site and off-site. On-site freelance video editors are hired by companies to be part of a production team for a particular project or a limited period of time. They work on-site at the company’s facilities with the company’s equipment. Off-site video editors are also hired for a particular project, but they do the work in their own studios on their own equipment. Freelance pay varies greatly, but it starts at around $20 an hour and goes up to $100 depending on the assignment and company.

Remote Work

As with many other tech fields, remote work is becoming more common. Remote jobs can be full-time permanent positions or temporary contract work. As with other jobs in video editing, salaries start at $20 an hour and go up from there, with $25 to $30 being common.

Training to Become a Video Editor

If you are interested in training to switch careers and become a Video Editor, taking classes is one of the best ways to do that. Some people prefer in-person classes when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.

The best way to prepare for a career shift to a technical field like video editing is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run for a few weeks to a few months and will cover video editing in much more depth than tutorials can. Another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality sample video portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.

Getting a Job As a Video Editor

Once you have completed a video editing course, you can begin to look for a job. The most important parts of a job search are compiling a good portfolio and then doing some networking.

Build a Professional-looking Portfolio

Potential clients want to know that you can deliver on time, know what you are doing, and are trustworthy and easy to work with, but first and foremost, they want to know that you can create the kind of content they want. Having a portfolio of sample videos shows clients what you can do. Keep your website up-to-date with samples of your latest jobs. It helps people find you and builds your reputation.

Put Some Effort into Networking

Networking is crucial to finding work as a Video Editor. Make connections with filmmakers and other editors so they will check out your work and keep you in mind for future assignments. Join professional groups on LinkedIn or Meetup to grow your network.

Conclusion

It’s easy to learn video editing and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop’s video editing courses. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online video editing courses and attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other courses in video editing in your area.