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Senior video editor vs freelance videographer/editor

The differences between senior video editors and freelance videographer/editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior video editor and a freelance videographer/editor. Additionally, a senior video editor has an average salary of $112,084, which is higher than the $48,481 average annual salary of a freelance videographer/editor.

The top three skills for a senior video editor include motion graphics, video content and adobe premiere. The most important skills for a freelance videographer/editor are training videos, video content, and video production.

Senior video editor vs freelance videographer/editor overview

Senior Video EditorFreelance Videographer/Editor
Yearly salary$112,084$48,481
Hourly rate$53.89$23.31
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs5,3995,409
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age3737
Years of experience66

What does a senior video editor do?

A senior video editor manipulates and enhances video clips to achieve a predetermined message, concept, or idea. The role of the video editor is vital for creating video material for advertising and marketing. The video editor is also needed for media broadcasts and in the post-production phase of a filmmaking project. The senior video editor coordinates all people in the editing team and leads them to accomplish goals and meet the project's desired timeline and deadline.

What does a freelance videographer/editor do?

A freelance videographer/editor is responsible for processing and editing video contents, usually on a project basis. Freelance videographer/editors create their footage using their shooting equipment, utilize various design and editing software, and finish the project based on the clients' specifications and deliverables. They should also have a good grasp of digital marketing to produce impactful videos to the target audience. A freelance videographer/editor must be detail-oriented and have excellent communication skills to coordinate with the production team for content plans and perform adjustments as needed.

Senior video editor vs freelance videographer/editor salary

Senior video editors and freelance videographer/editors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Video EditorFreelance Videographer/Editor
Average salary$112,084$48,481
Salary rangeBetween $73,000 And $171,000Between $34,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateOregon-
Best paying companyAmazon-
Best paying industryMedia-

Differences between senior video editor and freelance videographer/editor education

There are a few differences between a senior video editor and a freelance videographer/editor in terms of educational background:

Senior Video EditorFreelance Videographer/Editor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeNew York UniversityNew York University

Senior video editor vs freelance videographer/editor demographics

Here are the differences between senior video editors' and freelance videographer/editors' demographics:

Senior Video EditorFreelance Videographer/Editor
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 81.2% Female, 18.8%Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 7.1% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between senior video editor and freelance videographer/editor duties and responsibilities

Senior video editor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and resolve editorial disagreements across relevant departmental staff to join up an organizational narrative on each output.
  • Produce segments & graphics for both television and Youtube platform.
  • Maintain video archive system and retrieve important clips when necessary.
  • Serve as DV, HD, and DSLR video camera operator.
  • Edit, encode and enhance content for DVD and web delivery.
  • Hold responsibility in transcoding, encoding audio and video files, and uploading media to YouTube.
  • Show more

Freelance videographer/editor example responsibilities.

  • Provide right-hand executive assistance to the editor-in-chief; manage all aspects of professional life.
  • Upload the video to YouTube and make some DVD copies for them to hand out to customers.
  • Experience in using DSLR cameras and HD video camcorders such as: Sony EX3, and Sony PMW 350K and others.
  • Edit and post the footage to the association's Facebook page.
  • Establish an online presence through the use of a Facebook page.
  • Authore and convert documents to HTML on a daily deadline-driven basis.
  • Show more

Senior video editor vs freelance videographer/editor skills

Common senior video editor skills
  • Motion Graphics, 14%
  • Video Content, 12%
  • Adobe Premiere, 11%
  • Color Correction, 7%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%
  • Animation, 6%
Common freelance videographer/editor skills
  • Training Videos, 38%
  • Video Content, 6%
  • Video Production, 4%
  • Camera Operation, 4%
  • Video Projects, 3%
  • Video Shoots, 3%

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