How much does a Film and Video Editors make?

The median annual wage for Film and Video Editors is $75,420 ($36 per hour). Pay ranges from about $40,280 at the 10th percentile to $148,550 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Film and Video Editors?

The average (mean) annual salary is $86,130, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Film and Video Editorss the most?

New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $103,440.

Is Film and Video Editors a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 26K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Film and Video Editors do?

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.; 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..

Film and Video Editors Salary

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 26K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$75,420

Median hourly

$36

Average annual

$86,130

Typical range

$40,280–$148,550

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$40,280

25th$52,720

Median$75,420

75th$105,310

90th$148,550

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Film and Video Editors is $75,420 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $36 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production.

Most earn between $40,280 and $148,550 a year. There are roughly 26K people employed as film and video editors in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Film and Video Editors.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $36.26
Daily: $290
Weekly: $1,450
Bi-weekly: $2,901
Monthly: $6,285
Annual: $75,420

$75,420 a year is around the 50th percentile for Film and Video Editorss. The median is $75,420.

Film and Video Editors — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$19.40	$40,280
25th percentile	$25.40	$52,720
Median	$36.30	$75,420
75th percentile	$50.60	$105,310
90th percentile	$71.40	$148,550
Average (mean)	$41.40	$86,130
Employment	25,610 people

Key skills

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Reading Comprehension
Speaking
Active Learning
Complex Problem Solving
Writing
Judgment and Decision Making
Time Management
Monitoring

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1New York$103,440
2District of Columbia$98,830
3Massachusetts$92,130
4California$88,490
5Colorado$84,620
6Connecticut$83,550
7New Jersey$82,890
8Virginia$78,740
9Maryland$78,380
10Utah$76,240
11Alabama$74,410
12Illinois$72,460

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$109,930
2New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$104,590
3Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$93,600
4Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$91,750
5Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$88,910
6Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$84,780
7Waterbury-Shelton, CT$83,550
8San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$83,480
9Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$83,230
10Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$83,210
11Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$80,480
12Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$79,810

Related job titles

Employers advertise Film and Video Editors roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Film and Video Editors does

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
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.
Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary.
Program computerized graphic effects.
Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities.
Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.
Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Film and Video Editors make?: The median annual wage for Film and Video Editors is $75,420 ($36 per hour). Pay ranges from about $40,280 at the 10th percentile to $148,550 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Film and Video Editors?: The average (mean) annual salary is $86,130, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Film and Video Editorss the most?: New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $103,440.
Is Film and Video Editors a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 26K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Film and Video Editors do?: Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.; 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..