If you are wondering what video editing job pays the most, the answer is: that depends. Several factors can influence how much a Video Editor gets paid. Salary depends upon the amount of experience, job title, size of the company, and where you are located. Video editing is definitely a field that pays well, has a high amount of job satisfaction, and is projected to grow quite a bit in the next ten years.
Job Outlook for Video Editors
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 30,000 people were working as Video Editors in the United States in 2020. The field is projected to grow by 29% by 2030.
Salaries for Video Editors
The the BLS lists the median annual salary for a Video Editor as $67,250. Employment website Indeed.com reports the average yearly base salary as $54,105, and Glassdoor.com lists base pay at $48,557 per year. Both Indeed and Glassdoor give figures of around $20,000 annually for benefits. The the BLS does not mention if benefits are included in their figure.
Experience Pays
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.
Climbing the Career Ladder
A Video Editor's salary is also affected by seniority and job title. Glassdoor lists the average salary for a Video Editor as $72,706 including benefits, and a Senior Video Editor averages $85,629 per year. Editors sometimes choose to move into directing or producing, which can carry much higher salaries depending upon where you work.
Corporate Jobs
It is a fact that larger companies pay better than smaller ones. The numbers vary when you look at individual job advertisements for Video Editors listed on the sites. In April 2022, Indeed listed a job with Sinclair Broadcast Group offering $33,258 a year, NBCUniversal at $75,000, and Nexstar Media Group at $35,302. NBCUniversal has 35,000 employees, while Sinclair has 8,400 and Nexstar has 12,400.
Best Cities for Video Editing
What you earn can also depend upon where you live. Indeed.com lists the highest paying U.S. cities for Video Editors:
- New York, NY - $61,138
- Washington, DC - $60,383
- Atlanta, GA - $58,187
- Chicago, IL - $53,398
- Los Angeles, CA - $48,771
- Las Vegas, NV - $47,766
- Dallas, TX - $42,851
- Orlando, FL - $38,270
- Phoenix, AZ - $36,588
The top ten states for Video Editor salaries are California, Arizona, Texas, New York, Georgia, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Connecticut.
Freelance Video Editors
Video Editors who are self-employed are generally referred to as freelancers. The the BLS reported that 36% of the Video Editors in 2020 worked freelance. There are two types of freelancers: on-site and off-site. Companies hire on-site freelance video editors 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 around $20 an hour and goes up to $100 depending on the assignment and company. Glassdoor lists the average yearly base pay for a freelancer as $42,628.
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.
A Great Demo Reel
Even beyond training, a great demo reel goes a long way to getting a job as a Video Editor. Potential clients want to know that you can deliver on time, know what you are doing, and are trustworthy and easy to work with. 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.
A Strong Network
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. Attend film festivals and conferences and showcase your work.
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.