Video Editing Career Path: Skills, Steps, and Success Tips for Aspiring Editors

Due to video content’s vast impact and near-endless variety, your potential future role as a video editor could take similarly near-endless forms.

Think about how often you encounter video content in your daily life. Video content is no longer limited to what you see on television or in the movies. You’ll see videos on social media, news websites, ads, streaming platforms, email newsletters, blogs, and digital billboards. Businesses occasionally play video ads on strategically placed monitors as more brands incorporate video into their content marketing. Video editors play a key role in bringing that content to life.

Discover the various video editing career paths available, consider which might be right for you, and the initial steps you can take to get there.

Video editing career path options

A long-term video-editing career path may encompass countless roles, from entry-level opportunities to managerial positions. Salary expectations, preferred content type, and the daily tasks will influence your choice of a specialized video editing role.

Assistant editor

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $58,165 [1]

Requirements: Entry-level video editing jobs often require a bachelor’s degree in a related subject, such as film production. Technical skills, such as proficiency in using video editing software, are also needed.

As a more junior position within the industry, an assistant editor often works beneath a more experienced video editor. You assist them with tasks such as organizing and tracking video assets, loading video assets into video editing software as needed, and performing minute editing tasks. If required, assistant editors may work on teams with several other assistants.

Film editor

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $64,929 [2]

Requirements: Film editors need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as film or broadcast, and proficiency in editing software. Certification proving this technical proficiency is desirable as well.

A film editor often has more decision-making power than an assistant editor. You use your technical skills and creativity to compile raw film into the final desired product. This often means not just editing a video’s visual components but also overseeing the addition or editing of auditory features, such as by adding music or tweaking the audio caught on tape. It’s your job as the film editor to ensure that the final video meets the directors’ and producers’ expectations in tone and storytelling. 

Television editor

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $93,984 [3]

Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in a related field, like cinematography, is recommended, but prior experience can be equally valuable.

A television editor performs many functions as a film editor, but their specialty is crafting video content for television rather than major motion pictures. As such, you may choose specific specialties or career paths related to the many different types of televised content, such as television news, reality TV, or live TV broadcasts, such as sporting events. 

Dialogue editor

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $59,154 [4]

Requirements: Technical skills in audio editing are a must. Relevant internships are also helpful in building a portfolio, and networking can prove particularly valuable in this field. 

A dialogue editor might work in any role where fictional dialogue appears, including in film, television, or video games. Their role might include ensuring the dialogue matches the video (for example, lips move in sync with the audio), ensuring the dialogue volume is correct, and overseeing any in-studio voice recordings.

Creative video editor

Average annual US base salary (Glassdoor): $68,014 [5]

Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in film, broadcast, or communications is preferable, as is proficiency in editing software. Certification proving this proficiency may give you a competitive edge.

Various industries utilize creative video editors beyond the television and film industries. Whether working full-time or as a freelancer, video editors can work on:

• Music videos

• Corporate training videos

• Commercials 

• Wedding or event videos

• News stories

• Social media content

• Virtual reality (VR) content

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that 34 percent of film and video editors are self-employed, 24 percent work in motion picture and video industries, and 10 percent work in professional, scientific, technical, or government fields [6].

Essential skills for a successful video editing career

Regardless of your selected video editing career path, many video editors choose to develop a few general, overlapping skills to reach their full potential. These skills include technical proficiencies and workplace expertise. 

Technical skills

Video editing requires various software programs to process and manipulate video and audio to achieve the desired effect. While different organizations use different video editing software, popular software applications that many employers expect their video editors to be familiar with include Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Avid, and Apple Final Cut Pro.

Practical knowledge of HTML and AJAX can also prove helpful, as well as familiarity with specific AI tools, as AI enters the video editing industry. 

Workplace skills

Beyond technical proficiency, video editors are often very creative, capable of imagining and producing video content that achieves its desired effect (e.g., telling a story, selling a product). You'll need strong communication and teamwork skills to collaborate frequently with producers, directors, and similar industry professionals.

Highly talented video editors also often exhibit a keen eye for detail as they review each element of their content to ensure accuracy and intention. 

Educational pathways for video editors

While some video editors may be self-taught and have no secondary education, many have bachelor’s degrees. Various secondary degree options exist, including bachelor’s degrees in film, broadcasting, communications, or the fine arts.

Beyond pursuing a secondary degree, some video editors expand their skills, obtain specializations, increase their value to potential employers, and keep abreast of the latest video editing trends and technical requirements through certifications and continuous learning.

Job outlook for video editors

According to the BLS, the job outlook for film and video editors is positive, with expected growth through 2033 slightly above the average for all other jobs, at 5 percent. The BLS further states that, over the years, as the amount of content produced continues to grow and the use of special effects rises, more and more jobs may open for video editors [7]. 

The motion picture and television industries are currently the top industries for video editors. However, other industries include media streaming, social media, advertising, public relations, computer systems design, and related services.

States that employ the highest percentage of film and video editors include California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Georgia.

Getting started in video editing with Coursera

Pursuing a video editing career path can lead to numerous career opportunities in various industries. Whether you dream of telling stories on the big screen or desire the flexibility of freelance video editing work, get started building crucial video editor skills with courses on Coursera, such as the Adobe Content Creator Professional Certificate or the University of Colorado Boulder’s The Art of Visual Storytelling Specialization three-course series.