How much does an EDITOR make in a career?

[kamuran]

I was wondering how much a editor makes a week or a month or a year or all?
I heard 3000 a month? is that true?

[neckstab]

That's a very subjective question.

I know editors who make 75k - 150k annually doing reality gigs here in L.A.
If you are revered, it can be a lot more. It really depends on if you're doing TV, full features, internet, etc., etc.

Check out Wes's blog (http://www.indymogul.com/post/8521/career-paths-editor) on this if you haven't yet. It's really informative but I don't think they talk about ranges....

That interview is with fellow forum member Westcroft (http://forum.indymogul.com/member.php?u=8730) He is a pro-editor and might have a more accurate answer.

[WesScog]

It's variable, different editors make different salaries.

The two average salaries I found were 42,000-72,000 annual salary, so between that I would guess.

But of course, it depends on who you lump into it, I mean do you just count Video Editors? or just film Editors? Just guys who work at movie studios? Or people that work at TV stations, and edit low-budget commercials together?

Some editors can make a million dollars a film, others are paid very little, or are simply assured a specified portion of the films profits.

So it's hard to say, "Well editors make THIS much, or THAT much.", because really, there is no answer because all Editors make different salaries based on what they are doing, and how often they are doing it.

[Eight Legged Freak]

Ask their union.

[shopmaster]

ok so whenever i have decided on a career. i want to be a film editor.

one problem.how do i get there

[Steelersk36]

Thanks for being nice and specific.
How old are you? I mean, are you looking for a college or what?

[Wra1th13]

Probably some English classes first. I only say this because you asked how to get a job, and you won't get a job if you write a resume like you wrote that.

lol, with a resume like that you won't get far at all
oh and New Spark, you are my new sig

[WesScog]

http://www.indymogul.com/post/8521/career-paths-editor

[shopmaster]

Thanks for being nice and specific.
How old are you? I mean, are you looking for a college or what? well im 16 and i dont know how to get started in it. i already know some of After effects so i think ill be using that . is there like a specific school or title to look for?

[loosechange]

Most film schools are gonna take you into the editing process if your looking for a particular school.

if your really intent on editing as a career then find ppl who shoot movies in your area and tag along or network. Let them know you want to pursue editing and maybe they'll let you try your hand at fixing their footage up. Of course I think editing is about practice and getting familiar with programs, so just get as good as you can with the programs you have and try and make some magic happen.

[woodentoe]

I would say you should certianly go to college and major in communications/tv, etc. Take all your core courses first. never take a class that doesn't fulfill a requirement. In your junior/senior year, get an internship for no pay. do not waste your time interning at a corporate video house (the mistake I made), and don't intern at a tv show (talk show, news affiliate, etc) seek out a post-production house in your nearest city (LA and NY is best...lol) offer to be their free of charge slave for your internship. clean out trash cans and carry boxes, and when you're on the night shift someone will ask you to cut something. That's how you become an assistant, and becoming a trusted assistant is how you become an editor.

Unless you're fantastic AND fantastically lucky, you're not going to be a bazillionaire. But, you'll make a living, and pay your bills and feed your kids. You'll work long hours and have to be a freelance worker your whole career so get used to it, but it's a great job.

Good luck.

[xsanmdanx]

When I worked as cameraman/editor on a indie company, I made 1200 euros per month. But that place was cheap and I had the lowest salary there.

[blitzkrieg]

I've had many careers in my lifetime, from Naval Officer to web application developer to video editor. I've always enjoyed the film and video gigs the most! I live down here in Louisiana. Salaries here are half of what they are elsewhere. As a freelance editor, doing jobs for indie productions, industrial gigs, even cable commercials, I found it best to work on a per project basis. No one could afford an hourly rate here and I'd have to take into consideration the budgets involved as well. No one can or will give you a dollar amount as to what an editor can make.
You do need to break in slowly and work your way up. Show you are reliable and that you can learn, that's priority 1! Be a schlub for a while then work into being an assistant where you digitize footage, make shot lists and generally get the editing station ready for the editor. Observe and learn, then do it because you WANT to, not for the cash. Good Luck!

[thepie]

If you decide to go to school for film, you can major in Communications, or if your school offers it, Film Studies, or something along those lines. You can also take some courses on editing theory.

Some great film schools are USC, UCLA, NYU, and Emerson. There's others of course, but those are just a few of the elite.

[shopmaster]

I've had many careers in my lifetime, from Naval Officer to web application developer to video editor. I've always enjoyed the film and video gigs the most! I live down here in Louisiana. Salaries here are half of what they are elsewhere. As a freelance editor, doing jobs for indie productions, industrial gigs, even cable commercials, I found it best to work on a per project basis. No one could afford an hourly rate here and I'd have to take into consideration the budgets involved as well. No one can or will give you a dollar amount as to what an editor can make.
You do need to break in slowly and work your way up. Show you are reliable and that you can learn, that's priority 1! Be a schlub for a while then work into being an assistant where you digitize footage, make shot lists and generally get the editing station ready for the editor. Observe and learn, then do it because you WANT to, not for the cash. Good Luck!
i live in louisiana too. do u know if we have any film schools? if i goto UL will it have everything im looking for?

[blitzkrieg]

LSU in Baton Rouge has a great Communications department, TV not film. UNO in New Orleans has a pretty good film studies department and they sometimes work with the local productions that come to town. ULL looks like it has a Mass Comm program geared toward video as well. You can go to school and get what you want out of things. I'd look at getting on as an intern with whatever productions are coming your way. Shreveport is big, as is New Orleans and Batonr Rouge to some extent. Don't get me wrong, I am all for you getting as much education as you can, but just because Louisiana doesn't have a "Film School" like USC or NYU doesn't mean there aren't good parts. Visit these schools and ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS! They'll be nice to you, I promise!

[WesScog]

USM in Mississippi (not far from you) has a great film program. I would reckon one of the best in the South next to the programs in Florida or Texas.

Florida probably has the best programs in the South, since they have money, and a lot of industry people actually live and operate in Florida. BUT I've looked at the costs, and they definitely seem to be approaching the cost of the NYU or California programs.

Not QUITE there, but still expensive. The program here in Mississippi seems to be one of the cheapest in the country, so there's that.

[blitzkrieg]

Ahh, you're right! Please forgive me for being "state-centric"! USM in Hattiesburg ain't bad at that! For Tejas, I'd look at the Radio-Television-Film program in Austin. I forgot about them.(http://rtf.utexas.edu/) I had a friend that went there a few years ago and got a lot out of it. She's in L.A. now working as a schlub, doing various jobs, but still in the industry! Austin itself has a great attitude toward making art, so that helps as well in my book!