Job Facts^*
Suggested Studies	Bachelor
Salary, Typical	$52,940
Salary Range	$26k - $126k
Number of Jobs, 2011	20,730
Job Openings per Year (est.)	730

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Video and Film Editor Training and Jobs

Schools and Degrees

Many community colleges, vocational schools and universities provide training for video and film editors. The basic courses provide a review of equipment, techniques and processes. A bachelor's degree program, which includes classes in all the phases of filmmaking, is helpful for apprentice film editors. Film school is beneficial, however it is not a strict educational requirement for the occupation. Gaining work experience from a college film department is also beneficial. Obtaining a strong foundation with the various computer based editing equipment will increase a candidates job opportunities. Beginning video and film editors are provided with on-the-job training in all the standard editorial skills.

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Training and Education

Employees often find employers are looking for a bachelor's degree. Video and film editors, in 58% of cases, have bachelor's degree or higher. After high school, 29% of workers pursued some additional career education. Employees, in 13% of cases, had only a high school education.

Job Overview

Video and film editors work with motion picture or television shows. Out of a collection of shots they choose the best shot of each scene and combine the shots in sequence to create a smooth running and logical story. Video and film editors sometimes eliminate scenes they believe do not help the development of the plot. When choosing scenes for a film, editors strive to achieve the ideal combination of performance, photography, timing and consistency. While working with comedies, editors try to properly space scenes in order to prevent a funny situation from being lost in laughter from a previous funny incident. With the use of film editing equipment they also shorten film sections to specified lengths, insert dialogue, music and sound effects. Video and film editors evaluate the assembled film and make corrections.

Job Requirements

Film and video editors need imagination, a good eye and creativity. They need good judgement and good communications skills. They also need the knowledge and skills to operate film editing equipment. Editors for feature films require the knowledge and skills to operate a Moviola which are used to edit films. They must have skills in using personal computers and special software in order to rearrange film sequences. Editors in the television industry need the skills required for the various types of electronic equipment utilized for videotape editing in the television industry. Most video and film editors are members of the Motion Picture and Videotape Editors Guild of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Editors in the television industry are usually affiliated with the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians.

Nature of Work

Editors work in projection rooms, cutting rooms and on shooting stages. Editors sometimes have to deal with pressure due to the need to meet deadlines. Most of the editing jobs are located Los Angeles. Some jobs are located in the larger metropolitan areas. The peak employment in the television industry is from July through February. Employment in the film industry varies considerably. Work for editors is often seasonal, however the industrial and educational film industries usually don't have seasonal work fluctuations. Typically, video and film editors work 40 to 60 hours a week.

Area Job Conditions

Video and film editors -of-a-feather seem to flock to Boulder (Colorado), San Francisco (California), and New York (New York). They are less likely to be found around Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Fort Worth (Texas), and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).

Compensation of workers is best in Boston (Massachusetts), Denver (Colorado), and Nassau (New York), and much worse in Spokane (Washington), Rochester (New York), and Orlando (Florida).

Part-Time and Self Employment

Video and film editors employed part-time are 19% of the total. Workers, in about 16% of cases, work for themselves.

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Video and Film Editors by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Birmingham	$44,000	90	+32%

Arizona

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Phoenix	$46,000	140	-43%
Tucson	$38,000	30	-36%

California

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Fresno		30	-32%
Los Angeles	$93,000	4,700	+728%
Oakland	$71,000	100	-28%
Oxnard	$63,000	50	+23%
Riverside	$62,000	30	-82%
Sacramento		60	-50%
San Diego	$41,000	180	-2%
San Francisco	$64,000	510	+267%
San Jose	$37,000	90	-28%
Santa Ana	$45,000	160	-21%

Colorado

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Boulder	$44,000	50	+145%
Denver	$55,000	200	+15%

Connecticut

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Bridgeport	$55,000	70	+19%
Hartford	$49,000	110	+38%

District of Columbia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Washington	$64,000	250	-27%

Florida

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Cape Coral	$40,000	40	+53%
Orlando	$31,000	250	+76%
Tallahassee	$29,000	30	+39%
Tampa	$54,000	90	-44%
West Palm Beach	$40,000	50	-31%

Georgia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Atlanta	$52,000	320	-1%

Illinois

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Chicago	$63,000	470	-11%

Indiana

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Indianapolis	$35,000	50	-60%

Iowa

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Des Moines	$44,000	40	-12%

Louisiana

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
New Orleans	$49,000	40	-46%

Maryland

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Baltimore	$48,000	90	-51%
Bethesda	$51,000	70	-13%

Massachusetts

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Boston	$64,000	240	-2%

Michigan

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Detroit	$57,000	40	-57%
Grand Rapids	$43,000	40	-23%
Warren	$59,000	220	+46%

Minnesota

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Minneapolis	$47,000	140	-44%

Missouri

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Kansas City	$36,000	160	+13%
St Louis	$47,000	240	+28%

Nebraska

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Omaha	$31,000	60	-8%

Nevada

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Las Vegas	$53,000	70	-41%

New Jersey

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Edison	$36,000	50	-65%

New Mexico

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Albuquerque	$37,000	50	-6%

New York

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Albany	$40,000	50	-20%
Nassau	$48,000	100	-44%
New York	$68,000	3,530	+383%
Rochester	$46,000	50	-29%

North Carolina

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Charlotte	$37,000	110	-8%
Durham	$40,000	40	+6%
Raleigh	$37,000	60	-16%

Ohio

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Cincinnati	$41,000	100	-30%
Cleveland	$42,000	50	-65%
Columbus	$45,000	100	-22%

Oklahoma

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Oklahoma City	$24,000	70	-13%

Oregon

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Portland	$60,000	160	+12%

Pennsylvania

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Philadelphia	$44,000	190	-29%
Pittsburgh	$37,000	80	-50%

Tennessee

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Nashville	$63,000	180	+74%

Texas

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Austin	$46,000	110	+0%
Dallas	$66,000	150	-49%
Fort Worth	$35,000	50	-59%
Houston	$46,000	140	-62%
San Antonio	$42,000	30	-75%

Utah

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Provo	$40,000	30	+31%

Virginia

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Richmond	$37,000	40	-53%
Virginia Beach	$45,000	30	-72%

Washington

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Seattle	$61,000	260	+32%
Spokane	$40,000	70	+152%

Wisconsin

City and Area	Median Salary	Employees	Job Density
Madison	$38,000	50	+7%
Milwaukee	$44,000	60	-48%

^*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Film and Video Editors schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.

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