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Creative & Media

Video Editor

Video editors shape raw footage into compelling stories for film, TV, and online content. Booming with the creator economy, though increasingly AI-assisted.

Median salary (BLS)

$66,000

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$40k – $120k

Job outlook

+7% (faster than average)

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $91,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Video Editor

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Associate degree

Portfolio and software skill often outweigh formal degrees.

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$8,000–$22,000

Time to qualify

2 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Associate degree (community college)

    Degree

    Two years at in-district rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $4,050/yr, plus ~$1,200/yr books & supplies.

    $8,000–$22,000 · 2 years source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Video Editor" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Video Editor

    Entry / Junior

    $40,000

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Video Editor

    Established

    $66,000

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Video Editor

    Senior

    $93,000

Key skills

Editing softwareStorytellingPacingAttention to detail

A typical day

  • •Cut and assemble footage
  • •Add effects and sound
  • •Revise to feedback

Fields of study

Film · Media Production · Communications

Top colleges for Creative & Media

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.

Related careers

Graphic DesignerJournalist

Other careers from this field of study

Mapped by field-of-study code (Film, Media Production, Communications), not by job-title guessing.

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