How to become a film and video editor
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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not..A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
What 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.
- 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.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
Is film and video editor a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 48% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- New York $103,440
- District of Columbia $98,830
- Massachusetts $92,130
- California $88,490
- Colorado $84,620
Film and Video Editors salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.