Film editors are responsible for editing videos from raw footage into final cuts, such as a feature film, movies, or television episode, to realize the director's vision.
They arrange scenes, takes, and materials to form an effective narrative, creating motion graphics, completing color corrections, putting special effects, and mixing audio and sound effects. As required by producers or clients, they encode final videos into the desired length and format.
Film editors are proficient in using film production and video editing software, such adobe premiere, final cut pro, and other specialized tools and editing techniques.
Below is an overview of the salary for film editors, including pay ranges, averages, and factors that affect their wages.
As of July 8, 2025, the average salary of film editors in the United States is $60,300 per year and $29 per hour, with rates ranging from $21 to $34.
Meanwhile, the average weekly and monthly salaries for film editors are $1,160 and $5,025, respectively.
According to Salary.com report, the salary range for film editors starts at $43,679 and can reach as high as $70,999 per year, with most earning between $51,600 and $65,900. The pay range is affected by factors like education, level of experience, and location.
Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
10th Percentile | $21 | $840 | $3,640 | $43,679 |
25th Percentile | $25 | $992 | $4,300 | $51,600 |
50th Percentile (Median) | $29 | $1,160 | $5,025 | $60,300 |
75th Percentile | $32 | $1,267 | $5,492 | $65,900 |
90th Percentile | $34 | $1,365 | $5,917 | $70,999 |
Experience level, place of work, and skills are important factors that can affect the pay for most film editors. Here are the effects of these factors:
The pay for the workers in the film industry, such as film editors, increases as the experience level advances. An entry-level film editor earns $57,673. A senior film editor gets paid $60,725, while an expert level with over 8 years of experience gets paid $63,278 on average.
Levels | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
---|---|---|
Entry Level Film Editor | <1 | $57,673 |
Intermediate Level Film Editor | 1–2 | $57,912 |
Senior Level Film Editor | 2–4 | $60,725 |
Specialist Level Film Editor | 5–8 | $63,107 |
Expert Level Film Editor | 8+ | $63,278 |
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, film editors working in motion picture and video industries earn up to 26% more than those working in professional, scientific, and technical services in 2024.
Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
---|---|
Motion Picture and Video Industries | $76,950 |
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $61,140 |
Film editors with more acquired skills get higher pay. Data from Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report suggests that content development skills can give the highest pay increase of 7.36%, followed by copyediting skills with 6.78%.
Some important skills with higher salary increase also include writing styles guides, project coordination, content management system, and content marketing.
Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
---|---|---|
Content Development | 6.12% | +7.36% |
Copyediting | 1.81% | +6.78% |
Writing Style Guides | 18.25% | +6.72% |
Project Coordination | 1.71% | +6.55% |
Content Management System | 21.66% | +6.42% |
Content Marketing | 1.71% | +6.39% |
The salary of film editors varies for each state and city in United States. This is because geographic location affects pay through the local economy, cost of living, and industry presence.
Based on Salary.com’s salary data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average pay for film editors in the United States, at $66,800 per year.
State | Average Annual Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $65,300 |
Alabama | $55,400 |
Arkansas | $54,500 |
Arizona | $58,800 |
California | $66,500 |
Colorado | $61,500 |
Connecticut | $64,500 |
District of Columbia | $66,800 |
Delaware | $61,100 |
Florida | $57,100 |
Georgia | $58,200 |
Hawaii | $63,000 |
Iowa | $57,700 |
Idaho | $56,300 |
Illinois | $61,500 |
Indiana | $57,900 |
Kansas | $57,400 |
Kentucky | $56,800 |
Louisiana | $57,400 |
Massachusetts | $65,600 |
Maryland | $62,200 |
Maine | $58,800 |
Michigan | $59,400 |
Minnesota | $61,700 |
Missouri | $57,300 |
Mississippi | $53,800 |
Montana | $57,000 |
North Carolina | $57,300 |
North Dakota | $59,600 |
Nebraska | $56,800 |
New Hampshire | $61,000 |
New Jersey | $65,400 |
New Mexico | $55,900 |
Nevada | $59,700 |
New York | $64,100 |
Ohio | $58,700 |
Oklahoma | $55,800 |
Oregon | $61,300 |
Pennsylvania | $60,000 |
Rhode Island | $62,500 |
South Carolina | $56,500 |
South Dakota | $54,800 |
Tennessee | $56,400 |
Texas | $58,800 |
Utah | $57,800 |
Virginia | $60,700 |
Vermont | $59,200 |
Washington | $65,400 |
Wisconsin | $59,300 |
West Virginia | $54,300 |
Wyoming | $57,800 |
Salary.com also reported that the city of San Jose, California is the highest-paying city for film editors with $76,100 per year or $37 per hour.
A career path in film editing usually requires a bachelor's degree in fields related to film, broadcasting, or arts and communications. Attending a film school immerses editors in visual effects, cinematography, screenwriting, visual story-telling, and general film theory.
Here is a rundown of significant ways they can raise their pay:
As of July 8, 2025, the following are the reported salaries for film editors from five top salary-reporting sites, averaging $72,110.80 (unweighted) across these sources.
$60,300/year
$82,590 /year
$79,136 /year
$72,620 /year
$65,728 /year