YouTube’s popularity grows daily, especially because creators have realized it’s a legit way to make extra income. With the rise in YouTube channels comes an increasing demand for YouTube video editors.
If you are thinking of pursuing YouTube video editing as a career, it’s an incredible path. But how much do YouTube editors make?
YouTube editors make between $35,000 and $75,000 per year. The salary payscale applies to editors hired full-time by organizations and large YouTube channels. For most editors, they charge per hour or project. The hourly rates range from $15 to $100, depending on skills needed, experience, and location. Though the per-project basis is rare, editors can make between $355 for a simple video and $750 for longer videos.
This post examines how much YouTube editors make and covers the factors that influence YouTube editors’ pay.
Overview of How Much YouTube Editors Make
Video editing skills are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 12% growth in this sector by 2031. The growth makes sense with the rise in video content marketing and video-centric platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Amidst the rise and demand for video editing services, you may wonder how much YouTube editors make. The short answer is it depends. Here is the explanation.
Most YouTube editors are freelance professionals with unique rate cards and contracts. Moreover, a client looking for a freelance editor will likely quote their budget and negotiate with the freelance contractor.
Additionally, even with salaried video editors with a fixed monthly or annual pay, the employer offers different compensation depending on factors like experience level, scope of work, and location.
How Much Do YouTube Editors Make?
YouTube editors can charge per hour or project, especially freelance professionals. Depending on various factors, these contractors have varying rate cards, from experience, scope of work, location, and skills.
We will discuss these factors later in the article, but let’s first see how much editors make.
On average, YouTube editors make between $15 and $100 per hour. Editors may also charge per project, but it is rare. The per-project basis varies greatly, but the average is between $355 for short videos and $750 for long videos.
At the same time, media houses and large YouTube channels can hire video editors on a salaried basis. In such a case, a YouTube editor can make between $35,000 and $75,000 annually.
The bottom line is that different YouTube editors make different amounts of money, whether per hour, project, or annually. The best-paid editors have a great portfolio, experience, and skills.
Factors Influencing a YouTube Editor’s Pay
Here are the main aspects impacting a YouTube editor’s income.
Experience
Entry-level YouTube editors can’t work on complex projects because they are still learning the art. Their pay is low compared to intermediate and expert editors.
The more the experience, the higher the compensation. Experts command the highest rates because they understand better the intricacies of digital editing and modern trends.
Skills
Experience and skills go hand in hand, but there is a slight difference. For instance, you may have experience editing videos over the years, but your specialty is narrow.
Another editor with a wide range of skills in video editing may command higher pay. In this regard, upskilling and learning new trends will help you command a higher rate.
Scope of Work
The gig economy has disrupted the work economy such that the contractor considers the scope of work and counts the hours spent on a project.
Is it simple editing, like inserting audio and trimming the footage, or it also involves visual effects and sound balancing? The more complex the project, the higher the pay, and vice versa.
Turnaround Time
Still, in the gig economy, the urgency of your project impacts how much the editor demands payment. Editors make more money working on urgent projects than gigs with a lenient turnaround.
Location
YouTube editors’ pay varies from one country to another. For instance, editors in the United States may command higher rates than their counterparts in India or Australia. This is because contractors may base their rates on living costs in their locations.
Winding Up
It’s difficult to put a number to what YouTube editors make because the pay varies depending on several factors.
These factors include experience, skills, scope of work, turnaround, and location.
However, on average, a YouTube editor makes between $15 and $100 per hour and $35,000 to $75,000 per year.
