What Does a Video Editor Do?
While viewers rarely notice good editing, they feel it in the pace of a story and the way each scene lands. Video editors shape raw footage into finished programs for broadcasters, agencies, production companies, universities and online channels. Most spend a lot of time alone in the edit suite, then rework cuts after client notes.
Video Editor Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a video editor include:
- Import, log and organize raw footage, audio and graphics into a clear project structure.
- Assemble rough cuts from scripts, interview transcripts and the director's notes.
- Cut and trim scenes for pace, continuity and story, then refine the edit through revisions.
- Sync multicamera footage and separate audio, fixing drift and timing problems.
- Color-correct shots in DaVinci Resolve so scenes match across cameras and locations.
- Mix dialogue, music and sound effects, and clean up background noise.
- Add titles, lower thirds, captions and simple motion graphics to finished cuts.
- Export finished videos to broadcast, web and social specifications, checking each file before delivery.
- Archive projects and media on shared storage so versions can be found later.
- Present cuts to producers and clients, and apply their feedback on deadline.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a video editor, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer or Final Cut Pro
- DaVinci Resolve color correction
- Story structure and pacing
- Audio cleanup and mixing basics
- After Effects for simple motion graphics
- Media management and file organization
- Taking notes from clients and directors
- A reel of edited work
Education and Training
Producers ask for a reel before anything else. A bachelor's degree in film or video production is the usual background, and many editors built their first reels cutting for student media, online channels or local businesses. Fluency in Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer and DaVinci Resolve widens the range of jobs you can apply for.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $52,720 - $105,310 per year, with a median of $75,420.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Film and Video Editors.
According to BLS, employment of film and video editors is projected to grow about 4 percent in the decade ending in 2035, with roughly 3,100 openings a year. The median wage for the group was about $75,400 in May 2025, meaning half earned more and half earned less. Freelance and contract work is common, especially in commercial and online video.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Film and video editors.