Video Editing Salary Expectations

Key takeaways

Video editors earn higher-than-average salaries in the United States, working across various industries as full-time employees or freelancers.

• The annual median total salary for a video editor is $72,000, according to Glassdoor [1].

• Top-paying cities for video editors include Austin, Washington, and New York. 

• You can prepare for a career in video editing by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in photography, digital media, journalism, or communication. 

Take a closer look at a video editor's job skills, salary, and career prospects. Afterward, if you’re ready to level up your skills in visual design, enroll in the Adobe Content Creator: Launching Your Creative Career Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about branding, layout design, typography, color theory, and more.

What does a video editor do?

A video editor uses digital tools to meticulously arrange and enhance video and sound elements in a multimedia file. Other everyday work duties of a video editor include:

• Assessing raw video footage to generate a shot inventory

• Incorporating computer-generated images and graphics into videos

• Digitally adjusting the brightness and contrast of a video

• Maintaining a comprehensive record of media assets

Video editors are sought after by various industries because they perform varied duties and are engaged in an array of projects spanning films, television shows, and advertisements. Working either independently or alongside producers and directors, video editors dedicate long hours to their craft in post-production studios.

Did you know? Pinkfong's "Baby Shark Dance," a children's song, holds the title for the most-viewed video on YouTube as of 2025 [2]. The success of this gripping song lies in its catchy dance moves and vibrant animation.

How much can a video editor earn?

The average annual pay for a video editor ranges from $51,131 to $79,893, according to multiple job listing sites. The following table lists the salary ranges provided by Zippia, Payscale, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and Indeed as of February 2026.

*Glassdoor salary information represents the median total pay. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Factors impacting video editing salary

Several factors can affect your salary as a video editor. Below, we’ll explore how these factors, including your education, experience, skills, and location, might influence your yearly income.

Education

Zippia states that a bachelor’s degree holder earns an average salary of $54,046 per year, while an associate degree holder earns $49,756 [8]. The prevailing academic credential for video editors is a bachelor's degree, with 73 percent having secured this qualification [8]. Typical fields of study for video editing include photography, digital media, journalism, and communication.

Read more: What Is a Bachelor’s Degree? Types, Cost, and Application Requirements

Experience

As your experience grows, so does the potential for increased earnings. The following list outlines the median total pay you can expect based on your accumulated years of experience, according to Glassdoor’s February 2026 data [1]:

• 0–1 year: $60,000

• 1–3 years: $65,000

• 4–6 years: $71,000

• 7–9 years: $77,000

• 10–14 years: $84,000

• 15 or more years: $92,000

The Glassdoor figures above include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Note: Taking on remote, part-time, freelance, or contract roles offers an excellent way to develop your portfolio while gaining valuable work experience.

Skills

Proficiency in sought-after skills, such as advanced video editing software, motion graphics, color correction, and special effects, can significantly impact your market value. According to Payscale, in February 2026, the following represent popular video editing skills that can affect your annual wage [4]:

• Adobe Photoshop: $55,160

• Adobe After Effects: $60,035

• Adobe Premiere: $60,693

Industry

Your annual median total income is also influenced by the industry you choose to work in. The following offers a compilation by Glassdoor of top-paying sectors as of February 2026 for video editors [1]:

• Government and public administration: $80,558

• Information technology: $72,211

• Telecommunications: 70,802

• Personal consumer services: $68,741

• Manufacturing: $67,118

The Glassdoor figures above include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Location

People who live and work in areas with a higher cost of living typically receive higher salaries. Additionally, metropolitan hubs with a high concentration of production companies will likely offer you a competitive salary.

Highest-paying cities for video editors

Below are some top-paying US cities, according to data aggregated by Indeed [7]:

• Austin: $135,412

• Washington: $116,900 

• New York: $84,811

• Chicago: $75,245

• Los Angeles: $72,694

• Las Vegas: $63,053 

• Hollywood: $60,962

• Provo: $59,184

Company

Each company has unique policies and financial considerations for creative roles like video editing. Larger corporations, particularly those in the media production industry like the Walt Disney Studios, tend to offer higher salaries, reflecting their financial capacity and involvement in large-scale projects.

Highest-paying companies for video editors

For a closer look at some of the businesses offering the highest salaries to video editors, consult the following list based on February 2026 data from Glassdoor [1]:

• Alexion Pharmaceuticals: $101,000–$185,000

• Organon: $84,000–$151,000

• Merck: $84,000–$149,000

• Pacific Gas and Electric: $82,000–$133,000

• SoCalGas: $80,000–$132,000

• Coinbase: $79,000–$134,000

The Glassdoor figures above include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Video editor job outlook

The demand for skillful video editors is steadily rising. Specifically, experts anticipate the surge in online-only platforms, including streaming services, to generate more opportunities for budding film and video editors. The US BLS predicts a 4 percent increase in employment opportunities for film and video editors between 2024 and 2034 [9]. This estimate translates to an average of 6,400 job openings annually throughout the decade [9].

Explore our free resources on video editing

Join Career Chaton LinkedIn to get weekly updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Discover more about content creation and video editing with our other free digital resources:

• Watch on YouTube: 8 In-Demand Skills from Adobe's Content Creator Certificate

• Practice with a tutorial: How to Create a Google Video Ads Campaign

• Explore productivity hacks: Practical AI skills to increase productivity—regardless of your job title

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