Film and Video Editors
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Speciality
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Overview
Edit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.
Highlights
Undergraduate program resulting in the highest median salary ($74K): English Language and Literature
Largest undergraduate program (15.3% of workers): Film Video and Photographic Arts
Explore Pathways
Titles for this career often contain these words
EditorNewsVideoTapeVideotapeCueSelectorDigitalMediaCoordinatorElectronicGatheringENGFilmMovieNonLinearOnlineOpticalEffectsLayoutPersonTelevisionDuplicatorTransferrer
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Responsibilities and activities

Film and video editors and camera operators typically do the following:

  • Shoot and record television programs, films, music videos, documentaries, or news and sporting events
  • Organize digital footage with video-editing software
  • Collaborate with a director to determine the overall vision of the production
  • Discuss filming and editing techniques with a director to improve a scene
  • Select the appropriate equipment, such as the type of lens or lighting
  • Shoot or edit a scene based on the director’s vision

Many camera operators supervise one or more assistants. The assistants set up the camera equipment and may be responsible for its storage and care. Assistants also help the operator determine the best shooting angle and make sure that the camera stays in focus.

Likewise, editors often have one or more assistants. The assistants support the editor by keeping track of each shot in a database or loading digital video into an editing bay. Assistants also may do some of the editing tasks.

Most operators prefer using digital cameras because the smaller, more inexpensive instruments give them more flexibility in shooting angles. Digital cameras also have changed the job of some camera assistants: Instead of loading film or choosing lenses, they download digital images or choose a type of software program to use with the camera. In addition, drone cameras give operators an opportunity to film in the air, or in places that are hard to reach.

Nearly all editing work is done on a computer, and editors often are trained in a specific type of editing software.

The following are examples of types of camera operators:

Cinematographers film motion pictures. They usually work with a team of camera operators and assistants. Cinematographers determine the angles and types of equipment that will best capture a shot. They also adjust the lighting in a shot, because that is an important part of how the image looks.

Cinematographers may use stationary cameras that shoot whatever passes in front of them, or they may use a camera mounted on a track and move around the action. Some cinematographers sit on cranes to film an action scene; others carry the camera on their shoulder while they move around the action.

Some cinematographers specialize in filming cartoons or special effects. For information about a career in animation, see special effects artists and animators. Other cinematographers function as a film’s artistic director. For information about these workers, see art directors.

Studio camera operators work in a broadcast studio and videotape their subjects from a fixed position. There may be one or several cameras in use at a time. Operators normally follow directions that give the order of the shots. They often have time to practice camera movements before shooting begins. If they are shooting a live event, they must be able to make adjustments at a moment’s notice and follow the instructions of the show’s director. The use of robotic cameras is common among studio camera operators, and one operator may control several cameras at once.

Videographers film or videotape private ceremonies or special events, such as weddings. They also may work with companies and make corporate documentaries on a variety of topics. Most videographers edit their own material.

Many videographers run their own business or do freelance work. They may submit bids, write contracts, and get permission to shoot on locations that may not be open to the public. They also get copyright protection for their work and keep financial records.

Many editors and camera operators, but particularly videographers, put their creative work online. If it becomes popular, they gain more recognition, which can lead to future employment or freelance opportunities.

Salary
Median salary: $67,250 annually
Half of those employed in this career earn between $47,240 and $100,830.
$67K$0$50K$100K$150K$200K
Context: Median Salary
How do salaries for this career compare to other jobs' salaries?
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Salary growth for television, video, and film camera operators and editors
Is this job likely to reward you for sticking with it through pay raises and promotions? The higher a job’s “experience quotient,” the more you are likely to get as you stay there.
Experience quotient percentile
Take a minute to look at how much you might expect your salary to increase with each five years' experience, as well as how the numbers working at each age change. Does this seem to be a job for the young or the old, or could it be a career offering steady salary growth for many years?
Salary distribution
$64K$56K$66K$26K$68K$68K$41K$49K$0$50K$100K$150K20-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64
Number employed
02K4K6K8K10K12K20-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-4950-5455-5960-64
About Film and Video Editors
How do benefits for this career compare to other jobs? The availability of health care, especially employer provided health care, and pension plans can add significantly to the value of compensation you receive in a career. These charts compare how this career compares to other careers with regard to health care and pension plans.
Employee has health insurance
Employer is providing health insurance
Employer-provided pension plan is available
Worker concerns
Some jobs are more stressful than others, and some are just plain dangerous. The following list gives the percentages of film and video editors who report hazardous or difficult situations typically occurring at least once a week.
  • Time Pressure (99%)
  • High Conflict Frequency (34%)
SOURCES:
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Personality and skills
Can you see yourself in the ranks of Film and Video Editors? Here are the skills and traits that could lead to success.
Communication skills
Film and video editors and camera operators must communicate with other members of a production team, including producers and directors, to ensure that the project goes smoothly.
Computer skills
Film and video editors must use sophisticated editing software.
Creativity
Film and video editors and camera operators should be able to imagine what the result of their filming or editing will look like to an audience.
Detail oriented
Editors look at every frame of film and decide what should be kept or cut in order to maintain the best content.
Hand–eye coordination
Camera operators need to be able to move about the action while holding a camera steady.
Physical stamina
Camera operators may need to carry heavy equipment for long periods, particularly when they are filming on location.
Visual skills
Film and video editors and camera operators must see clearly what they are filming or editing in the postproduction process.
Education pathways to this career
Education attained by film and video editors
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), film and video editors typically hold a bachelor's degree.
Sometimes the typical education identified by the BLS differs a bit from the reality of the how much education current workers actually have. The donut shows the education level held by people currently working as television, video, and film camera operators and editors as reported in responses to the American Community Survey.
Details: Education and training recommended for film and video editors

Most editor and camera operator positions require a bachelor’s degree in a field related to film or broadcasting, such as communications. Many colleges offer courses in cinematography or video-editing software. Coursework involves a mix of film theory with practical training.

Film and video editors and camera operators must have an understanding of digital cameras and editing software because both are now used on film sets.

Details: Licensing and certification recommended for film and video editors

Editors may demonstrate competence in various types of editing software by earning certification, which is generally offered by software vendors. Certification requires passing a comprehensive exam, and candidates can prepare for the exam on their own, through online tutorials, or through classroom instruction.

Education level of Television, video, and film camera operators and editors
About 64% of television, video, and film camera operators and editors have at least a bachelor's degree.
Education attained by television, video, and film camera operators and editors
None
High School
Some College
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree
Professional Degree
Doctorate
Top college degrees
Here are the top college degrees held by the 63% of people in this job who have at least a bachelor's degree. Some of degrees may link to multiple programs due to the way Census classifies college majors. Click on a program to learn more about career opportunities for people who major in that field.
  1. Film Video and Photographic Arts
  2. Mass Media
  3. Communications
  4. Journalism
  5. Visual and Performing Arts
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College majors held by television, video, and film camera operators and editors
This table shows the college majors held by people working as television, video, and film camera operators and editors. If you see "**" before the name of a degree/program, that means this field is one that the Department of Education believes is preparatory for this career. However, you can see from this list that those recommendations are far from your only path to this job!
Salary comparison for bachelor's only
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Career salary (tail) versus Career/Major salary (dot)
Does the bachelor's-only salary rise or fall with this major?
$46K$74K
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Median
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Salary for all workers
For people with this career and major
Median
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Middle 80%
Education for Career and Major
Bachelor's
Master's
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Workers with this career/major
Percentage in this career with this major
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The link between degrees and this career
With the following sankey diagram, you can follow the top ten bachelor's degrees held by people working as television, video, and film camera operators and editors, and then, in turn, you can see the 10 occupations that hire the most of each degree's graduates. We hope this provides ideas for similar jobs and similar fields of study.
Expand degrees
Film Video and Photo...Mass MediaCommunicationsJournalismFine ArtsEnglish Language and...Communication Techno...Computer Networking ...Drama and Theater Ar...Business Management ...All other degreesThis jobTop 10 majors
Where are the jobs
State-by-state employment numbers
Some careers tend to be centered in specific parts of the country. For example, most jobs in fashion are in New York or California. Let's see if your dream job is easy to find in your dream location! We have a few choices for viewing the data that can help you get a full employment picture.
Select a state to see local area details
Number of Television, video, and film camera operators and editors per 1,000 workers (ACS)
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORUTWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICANVCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFLPR
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Job density versus job count
Which states hire the most film and video editors? We wonder if that's a fair question since states come in all sizes, so instead let's start with the question of which states have the highest density of people working as film and video editors. You can choose to view the number of jobs per state if you prefer.
Salaries by state
Let's get a feel for where film and video editors earn the highest salaries. There are several choices for which data we consider and how we view that data, and each can lead to different conclusions, so please read on...
Median salary versus state ratio
We use two methods to compare salaries across states:
  • In-state comparisons: the ratio of median (middle) salaries for television, video, and film camera operators and editors compared to the median salary for all people working in each state, or
  • Median salary: the unaltered median salaries for television, video, and film camera operators and editors.
We hope the ratio allows perspective about how salaries may compare to the regional cost-of-living.
The darkest shading corresponds to states in which television, video, and film camera operators and editors earn the highest salary when compared to other jobs in the state. We think this figure might be a better indicator than the actual salary for your buying power as a state resident.
Select a state to see local area details
Location-adjusted median salary for Television, video, and film camera operators and editors (ACS for all specialties)
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORUTWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICANVCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFLPR
Employment
25% of Television, video, and film camera operators and editors are working part time.
We’ve found that some jobs have a huge number of part-time workers, and typically that is because they are unable to find full-time work or the job itself can’t provide full-time hours. With 25% part-time workers, this occupation has a higher percentage of part-time workers than 77% of careers.
25%0%20%40%60%80%100%
Employer types
This donut shares the break-down of workers by employer type, giving us a picture of what employers most typically hire for this career.
Employers of undefined (ACS)
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Local government
State government
Federal government
Self-employed incorporated
Self-employed not incorporated
Working without pay
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Distribution: Salaries of television, video, and film camera operators and editors by type of employer
Here are the salary distributions based on employer type.
$50K$53K$46K$45K$42K$45K$58K$0$50,000$100,000$150,000Self-employed not incorporatedSelf-employed incorporatedState governmentLocal governmentPrivate not-for-profitPrivate for-profitAll
Gender
Television, video, and film camera operators and editors and gender
With 16% women, this occupation has a lower percentage of women than 71% of careers.
Gender of Television, video, and film camera operators and editors
Men (84%)
Women (16%)
Distribution: salaries by gender
Does gender greatly influence your salary in this career? The closer the bars are, the less discrepancy there is.
$43K$51K$0$100K$200K$300KWomenMen
We only include salary data when the survey error is less than 20%, so you may see only partial information for some categories.
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Context: Women in the workforce
How does this career compare to other careers with regard to the percentage of women in the career.
16%0%20%40%60%80%100%
Context: Salary inequity
The median salary for all full-time male workers in the US exceeds the full-time median salary for women by 19%. The situation is a little better for television, video, and film camera operators and editors, with the median salary for men 19% higher than the median salary for women.
19%0%20%40%60%80%100%
Race/Origin
Race and origin of Television, video, and film camera operators and editors
This donut shows the distribution of race and origin among those employed as Television, video, and film camera operators and editors.
Race/origin of television, video, and film camera operators and editors
White (82% )
Black (7% )
Other (4% )
Asian (3% )
Multiracial (3% )
Hispanic (1% )
American Indian (0% )
Pacific Islander (0% )
Distribution: salaries by race/origin
Some careers might have a pay disparity based on race or origin, the closer the below bars are the less of a discrepancy is present.
$46K$50K$53K$68K$0$20K$40K$60K$80K$100K$120KAsianWhiteBlackMultiracial
We only include salary data when the survey error is less than 20%, so you may see only partial information for some categories.