Media and Communication Equipment Workers

How to become a Film and Video Editor

Official title: Film and Video Editors

Also called: Editor, Film Editor, News Editor, News Video Editor, News Videotape Editor, Non-Linear Editor, Online Editor, Tape Editor, Television News Video Editor, 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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Film and video editors and camera operators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to film or broadcasting.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Digital Video Editor.
Apprenticeship: Digital Video Editor.
College: Communications & Media degrees, Offered by 31 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $75,420 a year The middle half earn $52,720 to $105,310.
About 39,400 people work in this job now, and about 40,800 are projected by 2035. (+3.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Film and Video Editor?

Film and video editors and camera operators typically need a bachelor's degree in a field related to film or broadcasting.

How much does a Film and Video Editor earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $75,420 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $52,720 to $105,310.

Is a Film and Video Editor a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 39,400 to about 40,800 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Film and Video Editor?

Usually. 69% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Film and Video Editor?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.