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Social & documentary
Video Editor
Shaping raw footage into something people finish watching.
Typical pay
$40k-$95k
How you get in
Self-taught plus a reel
Outlook
Strong demand from social video
Editors assemble footage, sound and graphics. Social-first editing is fast and high-volume; film and documentary work is slower and more precise.
A day in the life
- 10:00aIngest and organize yesterday's footage
- 11:00aRough cut the A-roll
- 1:00pSound design and music pass
- 3:00pClient notes: shorter, punchier
- 4:30pColor and export
- 6:00pUpload, caption, schedule
How to get in
Self-taught with a reel
Duration
3-12 months
Cost
$0-$1,500 for software subscriptions
Credential
None — the reel is the credential
- Pick one NLE (Premiere, Resolve or Final Cut) and go deep
- Re-cut existing footage to learn pacing before you shoot your own
- Build a 60-90 second reel of your best moments only
- Take small paid jobs and grow into retainers
Assistant editor route
Duration
1-2 years
Cost
$0 — paid, though often barely
Credential
None — credits and references
- Get hired as an AE handling ingest, sync and organization
- Learn how a real post pipeline works from inside it
- Cut scenes when the editor hands them off
- Move up to editor on smaller projects
Film or media degree
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$200,000
Credential
BA/BFA in film or media production
- Complete a production program with heavy hands-on time
- Build a network — in this field it matters more than the diploma
- Intern in post-production specifically, not general production
- Graduate with a reel and contacts
What people love
- · Remote and freelance friendly
- · Immediate audience feedback
- · Fast skill growth
What wears people down
- · Long sitting hours
- · Feast-or-famine freelance income
- · Endless revision rounds