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.
25,610 people do this job in the US. $75,420 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 92%
- 6%
- 2%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 21%. Today's estimate: 31%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 22 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 7% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | 15%Half by Jun 2027 | |
| Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 17%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 7% | 6.7 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| 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.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 6.7 h3.3 h to 3.3 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Develop post-production models for films.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 9%Half by Jul 2027 | |
| Program computerized graphic effects.Done hourly or more by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 7% | 3.3 h50 min to 1 work day | 28%Half by Feb 2027 | |
| Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 6% | 1.7 h25 min to 6.7 h | 43%Half by Nov 2026 | |
| Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 6% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 5% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | 46%Half by Oct 2026 | |
| Piece sounds together to develop film soundtracks.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 5% | 4.2 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 23%Half by Mar 2027 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
- Motion Picture and Video Industries13,280 people
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers2,390 people
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services950 people
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations890 people
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services760 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).