How Much Does a Film Editor Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$75,420
Film editors in the U.S. earn a median of $75,420 a year, or $36.26 an hour. Half of film editors earn more than $75,420 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $148,550.
Pay percentiles for film editors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $19.37 | $40,280 |
| 25th | $25.35 | $52,720 |
| 50th (median) | $36.26 | $75,420 |
| 75th | $50.63 | $105,310 |
| 90th | $71.42 | $148,550 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Film and Video Editors (SOC 27-4032). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for film editors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $103,440 | $49.73 | +37% |
| District of Columbia | $98,830 | $47.51 | +31% |
| Massachusetts | $92,130 | $44.29 | +22% |
| California | $88,490 | $42.54 | +17% |
| Colorado | $84,620 | $40.68 | +12% |
| Connecticut | $83,550 | $40.17 | +11% |
| New Jersey | $82,890 | $39.85 | +10% |
| Virginia | $78,740 | $37.85 | +4% |
| Maryland | $78,380 | $37.68 | +4% |
| Utah | $76,240 | $36.65 | +1% |
| United States | $75,420 | $36.26 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many film editors are there?
BLS counts about 25,610 film editors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Film and Video Editors”. The most jobs are in California (8,110), New York (3,710) and Florida (1,490).
The mean (average) annual wage is $86,130, higher than the median of $75,420.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,285
- Biweekly
- $2,901
- Weekly
- $1,450
- Daily (8 hours)
- $290
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do film editors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for film editors is $36.26. The middle 50% earn between $25.35 and $50.63 an hour.
Which state pays film editors the most?
New York has the highest median wage for film editors at $103,440, +37% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for film editors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of film editors earn less than $40,280 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.