Film and Video Editors
Also called: Editor, Film Editor, News Editor, Video EditorEdit moving images on film, video, or other media. May work with a producer or director to organize images for final production. May edit or synchronize soundtracks with images.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 17 of its 22 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 3.7% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 7.8% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Television, video, and film camera operators and editors”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.8 hires for every 10 job openings in information, which employs about 71% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.8 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $74,410 | $20,540 to $80,680 | 120 |
| Alaska | $38,800 | $38,800 to $48,810 | 30 |
| Arizona | $45,840 | $45,060 to $60,220 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $48,480 | $44,990 to $53,770 | 80 |
| California | $88,490 | $60,810 to $128,630 | 8,110 |
| Colorado | $84,620 | $58,700 to $103,740 | 380 |
| Connecticut | $83,550 | $59,050 to $95,720 | 600 |
| District of Columbia | $98,830 | $75,510 to $122,650 | 370 |
| Florida | $60,430 | $50,880 to $79,030 | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $51,280 | $37,780 to $71,570 | not published |
| Idaho | $54,080 | $41,770 to $74,990 | 100 |
| Illinois | $72,460 | $59,030 to $91,340 | 310 |
| Indiana | $46,780 | $39,000 to $58,460 | 450 |
| Kansas | $50,900 | $26,540 to $60,690 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $62,330 | $47,430 to $82,920 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,870 | $55,400 to $73,380 | 80 |
| Maryland | $78,380 | $60,920 to $98,300 | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $92,130 | $78,730 to $112,910 | 550 |
| Michigan | $59,100 | $47,230 to $98,010 | 360 |
| Minnesota | $53,150 | $47,430 to $63,060 | 200 |
| Mississippi | $50,410 | $47,230 to $50,470 | 50 |
| Missouri | $57,950 | $47,720 to $76,230 | 380 |
| Montana | $42,520 | $35,820 to $56,880 | 110 |
| Nebraska | $55,810 | $45,800 to $64,490 | 120 |
| Nevada | $65,720 | $60,730 to $82,610 | 320 |
| New Hampshire | $61,250 | $48,630 to $90,640 | 100 |
| New Jersey | $82,890 | $70,070 to $138,510 | 620 |
| New Mexico | $49,400 | $46,540 to $68,270 | 160 |
| New York | $103,440 | $75,990 to $135,640 | 3,710 |
| North Carolina | $60,020 | $44,660 to $94,380 | 400 |
| Ohio | $56,410 | $44,300 to $69,100 | 340 |
| Oklahoma | $55,210 | $47,650 to $55,790 | 100 |
| Oregon | $72,300 | $52,710 to $96,210 | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | not published | not published | 850 |
| Puerto Rico | $44,490 | $39,330 to $44,510 | 110 |
| South Carolina | not published | not published | 160 |
| South Dakota | $39,090 | $38,150 to $46,720 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $57,880 | $44,410 to $62,920 | 560 |
| Texas | $61,220 | $44,800 to $80,360 | 1,040 |
| Utah | $76,240 | $49,530 to $95,110 | 370 |
| Vermont | $63,080 | $45,550 to $76,980 | 100 |
| Virginia | $78,740 | $64,050 to $92,200 | not published |
| Washington | $66,870 | $49,830 to $85,120 | 450 |
| West Virginia | $48,440 | $44,950 to $56,980 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $53,430 | $37,090 to $73,300 | 240 |
Nationally: $75,420. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 17 of its 22 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product. | Not published |
| AI + software | Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story. | 0.01% |
| Not much | Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Verify key numbers and time codes on materials. | under 0.01% |
See all 22 tasks
| AI + software | Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible. | Not published |
| AI + software | Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Manipulate plot, score, sound, and graphics to make the parts into a continuous whole, working closely with people in audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments. | Not published |
| AI alone | Study scripts to become familiar with production concepts and requirements. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Program computerized graphic effects. | 0.01% |
| AI alone | Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films. | 0.02% |
| Not much | Mark frames where a particular shot or piece of sound is to begin or end. | Not published |
| Not much | Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities. | Not published |
| Not much | Record needed sounds or obtain them from sound effects libraries. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with producers and directors concerning layout or editing approaches needed to increase dramatic or entertainment value of productions. | Not published |
| AI alone | Collaborate with music editors to select appropriate passages of music and develop production scores. | Not published |
| AI + software | Discuss the sound requirements of pictures with sound effects editors. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct film screenings for directors and members of production staffs. | Not published |
| AI + software | Piece sounds together to develop film soundtracks. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop post-production models for films. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 9 of the 22 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 22 tasks fall under 14 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #6 Develop news, entertainment, or artistic content
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #25 Communicate with others about specifications or project details
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alter audio or video recordings | |||
| Develop news, entertainment, or artistic content | |||
| Communicate with others about specifications or project details | |||
| Coordinate artistic or entertainment activities | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Study details of artistic productions | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Develop marketing or promotional materials |
Show all 14 activities
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Operate communications equipment or systems | |||
| Present arts or entertainment performances | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Operate audiovisual or related equipment | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A video or animation31%
- A document or report11%
- An app or website9%
- Marketing or social media content6%
- A plan or strategy6%
How they worked with Claude
53% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for film and video editors specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 9,589 moves out
- 1 Editors Very high -1.1% 15%
- 2 Producers and Directors High +4.0% 6%
- 3 Audio and Video Technicians High +3.9% 4%
- 4 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film High +1.3% 4%
- 5 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 7,299 moves in
- 1 Editors Very high -1.1% 12%
- 2 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film High +1.3% 6%
- 3 Producers and Directors High +4.0% 6%
- 4 Audio and Video Technicians High +3.9% 5%
- 5 Graphic Designers Very high -1.7% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 16% high school
- 1% some college
- 17% associate's
- 65% bachelor's
- 1% master's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 19 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 2% less than high school
- 9% high school
- 17% some college
- 9% associate's
- 55% bachelor's
- 8% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Television, video, and film camera operators and editors” · 1,298 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Television, video, and film camera operators and editors”
7 programs, such as Photojournalism, Radio and Television and Communications Technology/Technician.
See all
- Photojournalism
- Radio and Television
- Communications Technology/Technician
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician
- Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production
- Documentary Production
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 2 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (Digital Video Editor; FILM OR VIDEOTAPE EDITOR). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Film and Video Editors” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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