How to hire a cinematographer, editor

How to hire a cinematographer, editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step cinematographer, editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a cinematographer, editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new cinematographer, editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a cinematographer, editor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a cinematographer, editor, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A cinematographer, editor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, cinematographers, editor from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of cinematographer, editor salaries for various roles:

   Type of Cinematographer, Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Cinematographer, Editor	Editors plan, review, and revise content for publication.	$14-46
   Video Production Internship	A video production intern is responsible for supporting the digital content production team in creating engaging video content for the target audience of the business or according to a client's specifications and requirements. Video production interns familiarize themselves with the use of various software tools and applications, shadowing tenured video producers on actual applications and media publications... Show more	$10-24
   Editing Internship	An editorial intern is responsible for assisting the editorial department of an organization with publishing various media and digital content. Editorial interns shadow tenured editorial staff on researching stories, validating information, writing captivating articles, interviewing target audiences, and screening submitted manuscripts... Show more	$12-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Music Videos
   • Video Production
   • Video Projects
   • Cinema
   • Promotional Videos
   • Photography
   • Filmmaking
   • Motion Graphics
   • Audio Equipment
   • DSLR
   • Video Content
   • Adobe Premiere Pro
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Film Festival

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Communicate with transportation managers, administrators, equipment operators and others for fulfillment of copy to achieve editorial goals.
   • Operate high definition video cameras and DSLR cameras.
   • Direct and produce short form documentaries and online media.
   • Edit clips, coordinate interviews and interface with the client
   • Utilize HD camera systems, including video DSLR and BlackMagic 4K.
   • Film and edit related video articles for YouTube and local TV.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your cinematographer, editor job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A cinematographer, editor salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, cinematographers, editor' average salary in mississippi is 54% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level cinematographers, editor earn 68% less than senior-level cinematographers, editor.
   • Certifications. A cinematographer, editor with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a cinematographer, editor's salary.

   Average cinematographer, editor salary

   $54,816yearly

   $26.35 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level cinematographer, editor salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

4. Writing a cinematographer, editor job description

   A job description for a cinematographer, editor role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a cinematographer, editor job description:

   Cinematographer, editor job description example

   Everyone knows a good film when they see it, but many less know how to create one. You do. You can take a producer's creative vision - or your own - and turn it into a visual masterpiece. You can work with directors from diverse backgrounds, clients with tight timelines, crew with varying degrees of expertise, talent who loosely define what it means to be talented, and you can do it all without missing the shot. Beyond #setlife, you'll also contribute to the creative vision of our video projects through development of storyboards, shot lists, treatments books, and pre-production efforts of similar ilk. Finally, you can whip up a string out and rough cut with aplomb (extra credit for Adobe suite experience).
   Work You'll Do
   
   + Operate cinema camera(s), set lighting, and adjust sound (or provide leadership to crew on set who has those roles) for short-form video projects
   
   + Provide on-set direction to talent and crew
   
   + Support the pre-production process from the halcyon days of project inception to final approval of all production elements
   
   + Scout locations, run casting calls, pull permits
   
   + Fashion outtake reels for studio morale
   
   Required Qualifications
   
   + 5+ total years of pre and post-production work including experience as a camera operator and editing (Premiere preferred)
   
   + High technical competence with cinema cameras
   
   + High technical competence with advanced camera supports and corresponding camera movements
   
   + Experience working on small crews and serving in different on-set roles as required
   
   + DoD Secret-level clearance highly desirable; candidate must be able to achieve Secret security clearance
   
   + Ability to travel 20 - 50%, on average, based on the work you do and the clients and industries/sectors you serve
   
   Preferred Qualifications
   
   + Filmmaking (or related field) degree or accreditation
   
   + Experience pitching new projects and creative concepts to new and existing clients
   
   + Creating a film that moved someone to tears (in a good way... and they can't be related to you)
   
   + 360 degree video storytelling and production
   
   + Experience with complex sound/microphone arrangements
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find cinematographers, editor for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your cinematographer, editor job on Zippia to find and recruit cinematographer, editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as problogger, media bistro, journalismjobs.com, content writing jobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit cinematographers, editor, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new cinematographer, editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the cinematographer, editor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new cinematographer, editor. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a cinematographer, editor?