Film and Video Editors Salary
Film and Video Editors in Washington make a median of $66,870 a year, or about $32.15 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $65,552 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 39.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Washington?
About film and video editors
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What this looks like in Washington
Pay for film and video editors in Washington runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 39.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) 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, Washington
Entry-level film and video editors (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $91K spread from bottom to top.
Film and Video Editors salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $75K | +13% | 280 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $45K | -33% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track film and video editors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a film and video editor afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 39.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new film and video editors typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,408/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 76% 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 Washington?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $67K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for film and video editors?
Washington pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do film and video editors make in Washington?
The median is $66,870 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,130, and experienced film and video editors can clear $131,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,619/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 39.6% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median film and video editors salary is worth about $65,552 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.