Film and Television Editors


Overview

Film and Television Editors

Introduction

Film and television editors perform an essential role in the motion picture and television industries. They take an unedited draft of film, videotape, or digital video and use specialized equipment and software to improve the draft until it is ready for viewing. It is the responsibility of the film or television editor to create the most effective product possible. There are approximately 39,800 film and television editors employed in the United States.

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$94,860

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

Apprenticeship|Bachelors Degree


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Experience

Four to ten years experience as an apprentice or assistant


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Skills

Computer|Digital Media|Organizational


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Personality Traits

Artistic|Creative|Technical

Earnings

Film and television editors are not as highly paid as others working in their industry. They have less clout than directors or producers, but they have more authority in the production of a project than many others in the industry. The mean annual wage for editors in the motion picture and video industries was $94,860 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The ...

Work Environment

Most of the work done by editors is done in film or television studios or at postproduction companies. The working environment is often a small studio office cramped full of editing equipment. Working hours vary widely depending on the project. During the filming of a commercial, for instance, editors may be required to work overtime, at night, or on weekends to finish the project by an assigne...

Outlook

Employment for film and video editors and camera operators will grow by 14 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), or much faster than the average for all careers. Film editors will have more opportunities due to the increase in special effects and demand for content. The growth of cable television, the increase in the number of independent film studios, and the e...