For years, the film and television industries were the main employers of Video Editors, but this is changing. Many companies are beginning to catch on to the trend of video marketing on social media and are beginning to hire Video Editors to create content for them. This practice shows no signs of slowing down.
Careers in Video Editing
Video editing training can lead to jobs in the motion picture and television industry, or in various businesses. Corporations use Video Editors to work on company training films or hire people to edit commercials. Music videos are another possibility. Many businesses use videos on social media to sell products, and these businesses often contract for services. Also, vlogging, producing self-shot and edited video content, is becoming a way to earn a living on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
There are some corporate jobs for Video Editors, but many work freelance. This involves putting together a portfolio of work to show to prospective clients, and advertising on platforms like Craigslist, Angie, UpWork, or Thumbtack. Video Editors often work alone or as part of a small team, and can work long hours to meet a project deadline. The median annual salary for a Video Editor in the United States is $67,250. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 30,000 people working as Video Editors in the US in 2020, and the field is expected to grow quickly, with a projected increase of 29% by 2030.
Qualifications for a Job in Video Editing
If you are interested in getting hired as a Video Editor, you will need to learn how to use editing and animation software. A knowledge of photography is a good idea, too. You will also need good communication skills, the ability to tell a good story with a sense of narration and timing, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines.
Another important qualification for most Video Editors is a good understanding of social media and how digital marketing works. 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. Video is increasingly used in other aspects of businesses, too, like human resources, operations, management, and customer support.
Industries that Hire Video Editors
Below is a list of ten industries that often hire Video Editors. This is by far not an exhaustive list. Any industry could hire Video Editors for projects, but these are some of the most common.
Film and Television
Major movie and television studios employ numerous Video Editors. They work as part of the post-production team. The Editor cuts together the raw footage to follow the director’s vision. By employing techniques like cutting, changing chronology, transitions, speed changes, and special effects, video editing techniques take a collection of different shots and weave them into a narrative that captures and holds the attention of an audience.
Music
Music studios and recording companies hire Video Editors to create videos to showcase artists and their songs, as well as advertise for the company.
Marketing and Advertising Agencies
Marketing and advertising agencies hire Video Editors to create advertisements according to the brand and preferences of their clients. Some companies also make In-house videos for employees on company procedures, training, and human resource issues.
Media Companies
There are many jobs for Video Editors with media companies. These businesses are different from traditional advertising agencies in that they produce content to sell to anyone who wants to buy it. Video Editors at media companies create videos about entertainment, breaking news, and amusing content designed to be shared on social media.
Education
Online classes are very popular and Video Editors are needed to help create videos that can keep students engaged and motivated. Asynchronous classes (learning material that is filmed once and can be watched over and over) are also a popular way for people to sell products today.
Health Care
More and more hospitals and insurance companies are using videos to educate the public about health care issues. From the proper use of prescription drugs to when certain health screenings should be scheduled, Video Editors are hired to get the message out. There is also a big market for training and human resources videos in this industry.
Real Estate
This is an industry you might not think of in terms of video editing, but walkthroughs and virtual tours are becoming more and more popular for selling homes or renting properties. It’s important to capture the best aspects of the properties and minimize the worst.
Hospitality
Hotels and restaurants hire Video Editors to record and sell an experience. These videos need to present the hotel in its best light: decorated for a wedding or a holiday, shots of the pool or spa, and lots of footage of guests having fun. Restaurant videos might showcase the wait staff, chef, and kitchen crew as well as shots of the delicious food.
Finance
It might be difficult to imagine videos on finance, but there are many opportunities in this industry. Advertisements for services are often very creative, high quality, and interesting, and this is another business that uses many in-house training videos.
Manufacturing and Engineering
The manufacturing and engineering area has a wide variety of opportunities for Video Editors. Companies use videos to introduce new products, advertise current items, and inform potential customers of the history, background, and mission of the company. These videos often feature interviews with company leaders and employees interspersed with shots of the products or manufacturing process.
Review Companies
One of the recent newcomers to the advertising area are review companies. These platforms encourage people to upload reviews of restaurants, attractions, contractors, and other businesses to help others make choices about where to eat, what to see, or what plumber to hire. These companies use videos to attract reviewers to their site.
Training to Become a Video Editor
In addition to film and television production, the number of industries using videos for advertising and training is growing fast. 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.
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.