Career roadmap

How to become a Film Editor

$66,600 median/yr·Suits people who are strongly artistic

Median annual wage for Film and Video Editors (27-4032) — BLS OEWS, May 2023.

What you would actually do

The tasks this work is built on. O*NET measures the closest official occupation, Film and Video Editors — so read these as the shape of the job, not a job description written for the title.

Operate communications, transmissions, or broadcasting equipment.
Determine presentation subjects or content.
Manage content of broadcasts or presentations.
Edit audio or video recordings.
Label production materials.
Verify accuracy of data.
Create computer-generated graphics or animation.
Operate audio recording equipment.

The skills that actually carry the job

Scored on how much the work depends on each one — not a wishlist, a measurement.

Active Listening3.8/5
Critical Thinking3.5/5
Reading Comprehension3.4/5
Speaking3.3/5
Active Learning3.3/5
Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
Writing3.1/5
Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
Time Management3.1/5
Monitoring3.0/5

Would this suit you?

Every occupation leans on a particular mix of interests. Here is the mix measured for a Film Editor — and our free 2-minute Career Match scores you on the same six.

Artistic5.5/7
Creating, expressing, working without a fixed procedure
Conventional4.0/7
Ordering, checking, following a precise procedure accurately
Realistic3.3/7
Hands-on, practical, working with tools, machines or the body
Enterprising3.0/7
Persuading, leading, selling, taking commercial risk
Investigative2.0/7
Investigating, diagnosing, reasoning through problems with evidence
Social1.9/7
Helping, teaching, caring for and working directly with people

See how you score — 2 min, free

Interest profiles from the O*NET 29.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0.