Occupation · SOC 27-4032
Film and Video Editors
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.
Median wage
$70,980
$39,170–$145,900
Projected growth
+3.9%
Average growth
Annual openings
170
per year
Employed (US)
28,860
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
438 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive LearningComplex Problem SolvingWritingJudgment and Decision Making
Knowledge areas
Communications and MediaEnglish LanguageComputers and ElectronicsTelecommunicationsFine Arts
Technology & tools
Graphics or photo imaging softwareVideo creation and editing softwareWeb platform development softwareFilesystem softwareComputer aided design CAD software
Representative tasks
Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible.Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary.Verify key numbers and time codes on materials.Manipulate plot, score, sound, and graphics to make the parts into a continuous whole, working closely with people in audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments.Program computerized graphic effects.Study scripts to become familiar with production concepts and requirements.Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities.Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films.Mark frames where a particular shot or piece of sound is to begin or end.Conduct film screenings for directors and members of production staffs.Record needed sounds or obtain them from sound effects libraries.Discuss the sound requirements of pictures with sound effects editors.Piece sounds together to develop film soundtracks.Confer with producers and directors concerning layout or editing approaches needed to increase dramatic or entertainment value of productions.Develop post-production models for films.Collaborate with music editors to select appropriate passages of music and develop production scores.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Raw footage files — organize and label into structured bins and sequences within a non-linear editing system under direct supervisor guidance.Editing software interface — set up and navigate video creation and editing software on a professional workstation following established studio protocols.Script and director's notes — read and interpret to understand intended story structure before beginning a first assembly cut.Footage review — screen raw clips sequence by sequence to log content and identify usable takes in a supervised post-production environment.Basic cut sequences — assemble rough-cut timelines by joining selected shots according to a provided script or shot list.Music and dialogue tracks — import and align audio elements to video clips within an editing timeline under editorial direction.Video switching equipment and digital titling systems — operate under supervision to insert basic title cards and transitions into a project.Assembled rough cuts — review on a monitor and document errors or continuity issues for senior editor feedback.Time management principles — apply to meet assigned deadlines on individual edit tasks within a structured post-production schedule.File system and media management software — maintain organized project folders and back up media assets according to studio data protocols.
developing
Raw footage from multiple camera angles — review, select, and string together into a cohesive first-assembly cut aligned with the director's creative brief.Scene-level edit decisions — execute cut-to-cut transitions at precise points to maintain narrative continuity and visual flow across a full episode or short film.Sound effects and music beds — integrate and balance audio layers within the editing timeline to support storytelling with minimal supervisory review.Film segments — trim and reassemble to specified lengths, adjusting pacing to improve dramatic effect during picture-lock preparation.Graphics and photo imaging software — incorporate motion graphics and title sequences into edited projects using established templates and brand guidelines.Assembled cuts — screen with directors and producers, document change requests, and implement revisions efficiently across iterative review rounds.Angle-cutting techniques — apply to intercutting dialogue scenes, selecting the most effective shot at each moment to produce fluid, seamless transitions.Digital video effects units — configure and apply visual effects and color correction passes within standard post-production workflows.Active listening skills — employ during editorial feedback sessions to accurately capture and prioritize director and producer notes for revision.Post-production schedules — monitor personal workload and proactively communicate progress or risk to the supervising editor or post coordinator.
proficient
Full-length feature or series episode — independently assemble from raw footage through picture lock, making autonomous creative and technical decisions aligned with the director's vision.Complex multi-track timelines — manage and optimize within professional NLE systems, resolving technical issues such as frame-rate mismatches, sync errors, and codec conflicts without supervision.Shot selection across an entire narrative arc — evaluate and refine to construct a logically ordered and emotionally resonant story from large volumes of unscripted or documentary footage.Music, dialogue, and sound effects layers — blend and sequence with precision to achieve a polished audio-visual product ready for sound mix hand-off.Non-routine editorial problems — diagnose and resolve, including correcting continuity errors, covering missing coverage, and re-cutting sequences to address story clarity issues identified in test screenings.Cross-departmental collaboration — lead editorial conversations with directors, producers, composers, and VFX supervisors to align creative intent across post-production disciplines.Digital video effects and compositing elements — evaluate and integrate from VFX vendors, providing technical and creative feedback to ensure consistency with the edited cut.Final product quality — assess by screening assembled edits on calibrated monitors and articulating specific, actionable corrective notes grounded in both technical standards and storytelling principles.Editing workflows and pipeline tools — design and implement for a project, selecting appropriate software combinations across NLE, audio, graphics, and media management platforms.Time-sensitive delivery formats — prepare and export finished edits in multiple broadcast, streaming, and theatrical specifications, ensuring technical compliance with distributor requirements.
advanced
Organizational post-production vision — establish editorial standards, workflows, and toolchain decisions that govern quality and efficiency across multiple concurrent productions.Editorial teams — mentor, evaluate, and develop junior and mid-level editors, providing structured feedback that builds craft skills and professional judgment across the department.High-stakes creative direction — partner with executive producers and studio leadership to shape narrative strategy and story structure from pre-production through final delivery.Post-production budgets and schedules — own and manage at the project or slate level, balancing creative ambitions with resource constraints and contractual delivery milestones.Industry trends in editing technology — monitor and evaluate emerging tools, codecs, and AI-assisted editing capabilities, making adoption recommendations that advance the organization's competitive position.Signature editorial style — cultivate and apply at a recognized level of mastery, influencing the aesthetic identity of a studio, network, or production company's body of work.Cross-functional post-production pipeline — architect end-to-end workflows integrating NLE systems, VFX pipelines, color grading, and sound editorial to maximize throughput and version control integrity.Talent acquisition and departmental culture — lead hiring decisions and foster an inclusive, innovation-driven editorial environment that attracts and retains top post-production professionals.Stakeholder communication — represent the editorial department to network executives, distributors, and marketing partners, translating complex post decisions into strategic business language.Knowledge transfer initiatives — design and deliver internal training programs, post-mortems, and best-practice documentation that institutionalize editorial excellence across the organization.
Also known as
63 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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