Film and Video Editors salary in the U.S.
Film and Video Editors in the U.S. earn a median of $75,420 a year ($36.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $148,550 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $86,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for film and video editors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,280 | $19.37 |
| 25th percentile | $52,720 | $25.35 |
| Median | $75,420 | $36.26 |
| 75th percentile | $105,310 | $50.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,550 | $71.42 |
| Average (mean) | $86,130 | $41.41 |
Half of film and video editors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,285 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,142.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,900.77 |
| Weekly | $1,450.38 |
| Hourly | $36.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,420 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Film and Video Editors salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $103,440 | 3,710 |
| District of Columbia | $98,830 | 370 |
| Massachusetts | $92,130 | 550 |
| California | $88,490 | 8,110 |
| Colorado | $84,620 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $83,550 | 600 |
| New Jersey | $82,890 | 620 |
| Virginia | $78,740 | n/a |
| Maryland | $78,380 | 250 |
| Utah | $76,240 | 370 |
| Alabama | $74,410 | 120 |
| Illinois | $72,460 | 310 |
| Oregon | $72,300 | 360 |
| Louisiana | $66,870 | 80 |
| Washington | $66,870 | 450 |
| Nevada | $65,720 | 320 |
| Vermont | $63,080 | 100 |
| Kentucky | $62,330 | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $61,250 | 100 |
| Texas | $61,220 | 1,040 |
| Florida | $60,430 | 1,490 |
| North Carolina | $60,020 | 400 |
| Michigan | $59,100 | 360 |
| Missouri | $57,950 | 380 |
| Tennessee | $57,880 | 560 |
| Ohio | $56,410 | 340 |
| Nebraska | $55,810 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $55,210 | 100 |
| Idaho | $54,080 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $53,430 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $53,150 | 200 |
| Georgia | $51,280 | n/a |
| Kansas | $50,900 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $50,410 | 50 |
| New Mexico | $49,400 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $48,480 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $48,440 | 30 |
| Indiana | $46,780 | 450 |
| Arizona | $45,840 | 350 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,490 | 110 |
| Montana | $42,520 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $39,090 | 30 |
| Alaska | $38,800 | 30 |
Best-paying metro areas for film and video editors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,930 | 740 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $104,590 | 3,430 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $93,600 | 250 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $91,750 | 560 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $88,910 | 430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $84,780 | 30 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $83,550 | 220 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $83,480 | 220 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $83,230 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $83,210 | 6,010 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $80,480 | 220 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $79,810 | n/a |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $79,560 | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $79,040 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $78,660 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most film and video editors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,010 | $83,210 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3,430 | $104,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 740 | $109,930 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 560 | $91,750 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 430 | $88,910 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 390 | $60,470 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 360 | $61,950 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 350 | $65,000 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 300 | $59,280 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 290 | $45,750 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 280 | $65,830 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 280 | $75,420 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 260 | $65,360 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 250 | $78,210 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 250 | $93,600 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Audio and Video Technicians | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Photographer | $44,660 | $21.47 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Sound Engineering Technician | $73,130 | $35.16 |
| Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other | $70,720 | $34.00 |
| Lighting Technician | $68,060 | $32.72 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-4032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a film and video editors make in the U.S.?
The median salary for film and video editors in the U.S. is $75,420 a year, or $36.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $148,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid film and video editors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of film and video editors in the U.S. earn at least $148,550 a year. The top 25% earn $105,310 or more.
What is the starting pay for film and video editors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,280 a year, and a quarter of film and video editors earn $52,720 or less.
How many film and video editors work in the U.S.?
About 25,610 film and video editors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.