Film and Video Editor Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Film and Video Editors in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $83,210 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,778 take-home, or $5,231 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median film and video editor salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,476
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,159
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,207
- California income tax$3,509
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,082
- Take-home pay$62,778
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Film and Video Editor pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,500 | $19.95 | $34,336 | $2,861 |
| 25th percentile | $59,170 | $28.45 | $47,354 | $3,946 |
| Median (50th) | $83,210 | $40.00 | $62,778 | $5,231 |
| 75th percentile | $130,110 | $62.55 | $90,634 | $7,553 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,990 | $82.69 | $114,820 | $9,568 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,210 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median film and video editor's $62,778 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,278 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 5.8× the national concentration of film and video editor jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for film and video editors, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $104,590 | $77,279 | $68,654 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $83,210 | $62,778 | $55,278 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: 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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a film and video editor make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median film and video editor salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $83,210 a year, or about $40.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,170 and $130,110.
What is a film and video editor’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $83,210 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $62,778 a year ($5,231 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,591 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a film and video editor?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $75,420. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,278 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a film and video editor afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median film and video editor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $124,590
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Interior Designer — $80,000
- Public Relations Specialist — $79,860
- Sound Engineering Technician — $77,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,400
- Audio and Video Technician — $64,900
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,900