Film and Video Editors
Film and Video Editors (SOC 27-4032) earn a median $75,420 a year ($36.26 an hour) in the United States, with 25,610 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What film and video editors do
Film and video editors edit moving images on film, video, or other media. They sometimes work alongside a producer or director to arrange images into the finished production, and sometimes edit soundtracks or align them with the images. They view footage one sequence at a time to get to know it, string raw footage together into a continuous whole following scripts or other directions, and choose and combine the best shots of each scene into a logical, smooth sequence. They trim segments of film to set lengths and reassemble them in sequence, cut between camera angles at chosen points in scenes, add music, dialogue, and sound effects, and run computer editing, electronic titling, and video switching equipment. They also review assembled films or videotapes on screens or monitors to check that they are correct. Alternate titles include digital video editor, film editor, and ENG editor. Sound engineering technicians are excluded and counted separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Contract Video Editor, Cue Selector, Digital Media Coordinator, Digital Video Editor, Editor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.37 | $25.35 | $36.26 | $50.63 | $71.42 | $41.41 | 25,610 |
| Annual | $40,280 | $52,720 | $75,420 | $105,310 | $148,550 | $86,130 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where film and video editors earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $26.92 | $36.53 | $49.73 | $65.21 | $82.83 | $51.85 | 3,710 | 0.38 | 2.33 |
| Annual | $55,990 | $75,990 | $103,440 | $135,640 | $172,280 | $107,850 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $28.84 | $36.30 | $47.51 | $58.97 | $62.67 | $46.29 | 370 | 0.52 | 3.18 |
| Annual | $59,990 | $75,510 | $98,830 | $122,650 | $130,350 | $96,280 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $27.35 | $37.85 | $44.29 | $54.29 | $62.18 | $45.93 | 550 | 0.15 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $56,880 | $78,730 | $92,130 | $112,910 | $129,330 | $95,530 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.20 | $29.24 | $42.54 | $61.84 | $81.64 | $47.81 | 8,110 | 0.45 | 2.70 |
| Annual | $42,020 | $60,810 | $88,490 | $128,630 | $169,810 | $99,450 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $24.44 | $28.22 | $40.68 | $49.88 | $63.00 | $42.45 | 380 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $50,830 | $58,700 | $84,620 | $103,740 | $131,030 | $88,300 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $20.20 | $29.24 | $42.54 | $61.84 | $81.64 | $47.81 | 8,110 | 0.45 | 2.70 |
| Annual | $42,020 | $60,810 | $88,490 | $128,630 | $169,810 | $99,450 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $26.92 | $36.53 | $49.73 | $65.21 | $82.83 | $51.85 | 3,710 | 0.38 | 2.33 |
| Annual | $55,990 | $75,990 | $103,440 | $135,640 | $172,280 | $107,850 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $23.00 | $24.46 | $29.05 | $37.99 | $50.39 | $33.19 | 1,490 | 0.15 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $47,830 | $50,880 | $60,430 | $79,030 | $104,810 | $69,040 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.32 | $21.54 | $29.43 | $38.64 | $55.90 | $33.51 | 1,040 | 0.07 | 0.45 |
| Annual | $36,030 | $44,800 | $61,220 | $80,360 | $116,280 | $69,690 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 850 | 0.14 | 0.85 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $32.09 | $42.29 | $52.85 | $62.06 | $79.23 | $56.08 | 740 | 0.31 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $66,750 | $87,960 | $109,930 | $129,080 | $164,790 | $116,640 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $29.68 | $37.99 | $50.29 | $65.21 | $82.83 | $53.04 | 3,430 | 0.36 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $61,730 | $79,030 | $104,590 | $135,640 | $172,280 | $110,330 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $27.09 | $29.88 | $45.00 | $49.88 | $63.36 | $44.78 | 250 | 0.15 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $56,350 | $62,160 | $93,600 | $103,750 | $131,780 | $93,150 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $28.84 | $33.10 | $44.11 | $51.78 | $62.16 | $44.45 | 560 | 0.18 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $59,990 | $68,850 | $91,750 | $107,690 | $129,300 | $92,460 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $27.30 | $39.34 | $42.75 | $49.06 | $61.35 | $44.85 | 430 | 0.16 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $56,780 | $81,830 | $88,910 | $102,050 | $127,620 | $93,280 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.95 | $28.45 | $40.01 | $62.55 | $82.69 | $47.18 | 6,010 | 0.96 | 5.82 |
| Annual | $41,500 | $59,170 | $83,210 | $130,110 | $171,990 | $98,130 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $29.68 | $37.99 | $50.29 | $65.21 | $82.83 | $53.04 | 3,430 | 0.36 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $61,730 | $79,030 | $104,590 | $135,640 | $172,280 | $110,330 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $32.09 | $42.29 | $52.85 | $62.06 | $79.23 | $56.08 | 740 | 0.31 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $66,750 | $87,960 | $109,930 | $129,080 | $164,790 | $116,640 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $28.84 | $33.10 | $44.11 | $51.78 | $62.16 | $44.45 | 560 | 0.18 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $59,990 | $68,850 | $91,750 | $107,690 | $129,300 | $92,460 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $27.30 | $39.34 | $42.75 | $49.06 | $61.35 | $44.85 | 430 | 0.16 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $56,780 | $81,830 | $88,910 | $102,050 | $127,620 | $93,280 | ||||
Top industries employing film and video editors
Motion Picture and Video Industries employ 51.9% of film and video editors nationally (13,280 jobs) at a median $79,570 a year ($38.25 an hour), followed by Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (9.3%) and Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (3.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 13,280 | 51.9% | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers NAICS 516200 | 2,390 | 9.3% | $83,550 | $40.17 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services NAICS 541800 | 950 | 3.7% | $69,800 | $33.56 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations NAICS 516100 | 890 | 3.5% | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services NAICS 541600 | 760 | 3.0% | $69,460 | $33.39 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (25,610). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $62,680 for film and video editors in May 2021 and $75,420 in May 2025, with employment of 28,030 and 25,610.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $62,680 | $30.13 | 28,030 |
| May 2022 | $63,520 | $30.54 | 32,080 |
| May 2023 | $66,600 | $32.02 | 29,240 |
| May 2024 | $70,980 | $34.12 | 28,860 |
| May 2025 | $75,420 | $36.26 | 25,610 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
44 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $49.73 | $103,440 | $55,990 | $172,280 | 3,710 | 0.38 | 2.33 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $47.51 | $98,830 | $59,990 | $130,350 | 370 | 0.52 | 3.18 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $44.29 | $92,130 | $56,880 | $129,330 | 550 | 0.15 | 0.92 |
| 4 | California profile | $42.54 | $88,490 | $42,020 | $169,810 | 8,110 | 0.45 | 2.70 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $40.68 | $84,620 | $50,830 | $131,030 | 380 | 0.13 | 0.81 |
| 6 | Connecticut profile | $40.17 | $83,550 | $47,560 | $134,390 | 600 | 0.36 | 2.15 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $39.85 | $82,890 | $49,070 | $170,410 | 620 | 0.15 | 0.88 |
| 8 | Virginia profile | $37.85 | $78,740 | $56,730 | $107,690 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Maryland profile | $37.68 | $78,380 | $51,850 | $124,090 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.54 |
| 10 | Utah profile | $36.65 | $76,240 | $39,000 | $110,000 | 370 | 0.21 | 1.29 |
| 11 | Alabama profile | $35.78 | $74,410 | $18,610 | $95,940 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.36 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $34.84 | $72,460 | $46,710 | $116,720 | 310 | 0.05 | 0.30 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $34.76 | $72,300 | $34,040 | $134,130 | 360 | 0.18 | 1.11 |
| 14 | Louisiana profile | $32.15 | $66,870 | $44,910 | $87,940 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.25 |
| 15 | Washington profile | $32.15 | $66,870 | $40,130 | $131,150 | 450 | 0.13 | 0.77 |
| 16 | Nevada profile | $31.60 | $65,720 | $48,020 | $115,680 | 320 | 0.21 | 1.24 |
| 17 | Vermont profile | $30.33 | $63,080 | $42,380 | $175,460 | 100 | 0.34 | 2.08 |
| 18 | Kentucky profile | $29.97 | $62,330 | $45,330 | $83,920 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.18 |
| 19 | New Hampshire profile | $29.45 | $61,250 | $39,380 | $109,080 | 100 | 0.15 | 0.89 |
| 20 | Texas profile | $29.43 | $61,220 | $36,030 | $116,280 | 1,040 | 0.07 | 0.45 |
| 21 | Florida profile | $29.05 | $60,430 | $47,830 | $104,810 | 1,490 | 0.15 | 0.91 |
| 22 | North Carolina profile | $28.86 | $60,020 | $31,200 | $103,160 | 400 | 0.08 | 0.49 |
| 23 | Michigan profile | $28.41 | $59,100 | $41,600 | $107,210 | 360 | 0.08 | 0.50 |
| 24 | Missouri profile | $27.86 | $57,950 | $35,670 | $90,590 | 380 | 0.13 | 0.79 |
| 25 | Tennessee profile | $27.83 | $57,880 | $40,820 | $72,470 | 560 | 0.17 | 1.03 |
| 26 | Ohio profile | $27.12 | $56,410 | $28,280 | $91,110 | 340 | 0.06 | 0.37 |
| 27 | Nebraska profile | $26.83 | $55,810 | $43,270 | $81,800 | 120 | 0.11 | 0.69 |
| 28 | Oklahoma profile | $26.54 | $55,210 | $34,800 | $79,510 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.37 |
| 29 | Idaho profile | $26.00 | $54,080 | $38,170 | $77,280 | 100 | 0.11 | 0.67 |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $25.69 | $53,430 | $34,210 | $95,680 | 240 | 0.08 | 0.50 |
| 31 | Minnesota profile | $25.55 | $53,150 | $46,520 | $89,080 | 200 | 0.07 | 0.40 |
| 32 | Georgia profile | $24.66 | $51,280 | $33,280 | $131,220 | ** | ** | ** |
| 33 | Kansas profile | $24.47 | $50,900 | $22,120 | $84,870 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.31 |
| 34 | Mississippi profile | $24.23 | $50,410 | $46,920 | $52,700 | 50 | 0.04 | 0.24 |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $23.75 | $49,400 | $46,300 | $79,440 | 160 | 0.19 | 1.12 |
| 36 | Arkansas profile | $23.31 | $48,480 | $38,260 | $65,720 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.36 |
| 37 | West Virginia profile | $23.29 | $48,440 | $34,570 | $66,240 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.29 |
| 38 | Indiana profile | $22.49 | $46,780 | $37,720 | $68,540 | 450 | 0.14 | 0.86 |
| 39 | Arizona profile | $22.04 | $45,840 | $38,430 | $82,280 | 350 | 0.11 | 0.66 |
| 40 | Montana profile | $20.44 | $42,520 | $25,230 | $60,360 | 110 | 0.22 | 1.35 |
| 41 | South Dakota profile | $18.79 | $39,090 | $35,360 | $54,460 | 30 | 0.07 | 0.44 |
| 42 | Alaska profile | $18.65 | $38,800 | $38,230 | $65,340 | 30 | 0.09 | 0.57 |
| – | Pennsylvania profile | * | * | * | * | 850 | 0.14 | 0.85 |
| – | South Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 160 | 0.07 | 0.41 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-4030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-4032 Film and Video Editors.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-4032, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-4032.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.