Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is an assistant editor and how to become one
Whether you're fresh out of college or a self-taught novice with a little experience under your belt, landing a job as an assistant editor might be one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a bright future. It is a unique role and an opportunity to learn that is often unmatched in other film industry career paths. Generally, assistant editors are considered as the workflow overlords of the film world. They ingest, prep, and then export the raw footage so as it's ready for the editor to work.
Being an assistant editor, generally, your core duty is to aid the editor and director in collecting and organizing all the elements needed to edit the film. You may manage the editing department, maintaining an environment that allows the editor to devote his/her time and energy to the creative process of editing the film. After completing the editing, you may oversee the various lists and instructions necessary to put the picture in its final form.
To become an assistant editor, most aspiring assistant editors hold a bachelor's degree in a subject related to film and television, media, or communication studies. However, earning advanced education in a similar field and experience and working with video editing software may boost your job prospects.
To be successful, you must have a thorough understanding of editorial processes and extensive knowledge of various editing software. Typically, you may work full-time, spend your day labeling sequences, reviewing hours of raw footage, organizing clips, and solving technical issues.
A career as an assistant editor may open up big chances for you - using the opportunities afforded to you and honing your editing skills may take you to an editor or post-production role.
What general advice would you give to an assistant editor?
Allison Harl Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English English Program Coordinator, Ferrum College
Avg. Salary $52,284
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.27%
Asian 7.04%
Black or African American 3.49%
Hispanic or Latino 7.86%
Unknown 4.55%
White 76.79%
Genderfemale 54.09%
male 45.91%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Assistant editor career paths
Key steps to become an assistant editor
Explore assistant editor education requirements
Start to develop specific assistant editor skills
Skills Percentages Editorial Content 9.13% Video Footage 7.69% Web Content 5.41% Media Management 3.97% Production Process 3.76% Complete relevant assistant editor training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant editors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant editor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant editor resumes.Research assistant editor duties and responsibilities
- Lead bureau newsgathering in high-pressure, breaking news situations.
- Manage the budget for all of VOA s primary newsgathering.
- Produce e-newsletters, manage website content, write headlines and captions, utilize SEO and analyze digital traffic.
- Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
Prepare your assistant editor resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant editor resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant editor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable assistant editor resume templates
Build a professional assistant editor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant editor resume.
Apply for assistant editor jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an assistant editor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first assistant editor job
Are you an assistant editor?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average assistant editor salary
The average assistant editor salary in the United States is $52,284 per year or $25 per hour. Assistant editor salaries range between $34,000 and $78,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do assistant editors rate their job?
Assistant editor reviews
I love hearing stories from other sources.
people not providing accurate information
Physically demanding, low pay and part time positions available to those just starting out, no health insurance, competitive, pressure to be available on call despite terms of contract
Being an editor allowed me to give shape to a story or point of view that I otherwise would not have had any say in. I got to create a vision and put my mark on the work.
Updated January 8, 2025
