Film and Video Editors
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Raw footage is watched through, then the usable shots of each scene are chosen and joined so the story runs in a clear order, following the script or the director's notes. Dialogue, music, and sound effects are added, and cuts between angles are timed to stay continuous. Computer editing systems, titling tools, switchers, and digital-effects units are used to assemble the piece; segments are trimmed to length and reviewed on a monitor. If something is off, the cut is corrected and the picture and soundtrack are synced again. Suits people who like close review of material, many small structural decisions, and working from a script or a director's brief.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$75'420
Median Wage Market Position
$75'420
What you might do
- Assemble raw footage into a continuous story
- Pick the strongest shots for each scene
- Cut between angles so edits feel seamless
- Add music, dialogue, and sound effects
- Run computer editing and effects systems
- Watch the finished cut and fix problems
Skills that matter
- Assembling raw footage into a story
- Selecting the strongest shot of each scene
- Operating computer editing and titling systems
- Syncing music, dialogue, and sound effects
- Talking through cuts with directors
- Checking assembled cuts for needed corrections
AI & the future of this role
Screen-based cutting, organizing clips, and syncing audio are areas where generative tools may absorb a large share of routine work. Strong taste, storytelling judgment, and client-facing revision skills still count, but openings for mid-skill editing work could thin.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details