Film and Video Editors Salary
Film and Video Editors in Montana make a median of $42,520 a year, or about $20.44 an hour. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $43,835 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 38.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $43K get you in Montana?
About film and video editors
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for film and video editors in Montana runs about 44% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 38.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for film and video editorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level film and video editors (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track film and video editors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a film and video editor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 38.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for film and video editors in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new film and video editors typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,514/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is film and video editor a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 44% below the national median — $43K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for film and video editors?
Montana pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do film and video editors make in Montana?
The median is $42,520 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,230, and experienced film and video editors can clear $60,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,900/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 38.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a film and video editors salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median film and video editors salary is worth about $43,835 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do film and video editors get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.