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Boston Career Explorer

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Film and Video Editors

Edit 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.

Also called: Editor, Film Editor, News Editor, News Video Editor, News Videotape Editor, Non-Linear Editor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$88,910
$42.75/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
430
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−1.3%
50 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$56,780$81,830$88,910$102,050$127,620

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
  • Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.
  • Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.
  • Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.
  • Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.
  • Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure70 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 71
  • Language-model AIOE 65
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 75

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

Film and video editors have higher AI exposure, and observed AI use is already substantial. Much of the work happens on a computer, such as sorting footage, trimming clips, and syncing sound, so AI tools can speed up or take over some of those steps. Choosing the shots that tell the story and working with directors and producers still rely on people. Massachusetts is projected to lose about 1.3% of these jobs by 2034.

Likely to change

  • Sorting and assembling raw footage
  • Syncing sound and fixing errors

Still relies on people

  • Choosing shots that tell the story
  • Working with directors and producers on vision

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

    You already review screen images closely and decide which ones matter. Sonography uses that skill, with 10.1% projected growth and $109,200 median pay.

    Pay difference
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    Associate's degree

  • Detectives and Criminal Investigators

    Reviewing footage and records to build a clear picture carries over to investigating and writing reports. Median pay is $110,150.

    Pay difference
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  • Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

    Working with digital images and equipment carries over to radiologic technology. It requires an associate's degree and has a median pay of $104,590.

    Pay difference
    +$15,680 median
    AI exposure
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    MA growth
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    To get started
    Associate's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

7 programs near Boston (plus 1 graduate)

Related occupations

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