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What does a senior video editor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

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.

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Senior video editor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior video editor resumes:

  • 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.
  • Create process to retain functionality of legacy DVD encoder by transferring files to tape for encoder processing.
  • Work directly with biologists and project directors on story development, photography, video production, and music selection.
  • Develop company logos, opening title sequences, and co-produce various forms of programming, from commercial spots to documentaries.
  • Select and edit fiction and nonfiction submissions.
  • Produce and edit television advertising, documentaries, corporate, legal and educational videos.
  • Supervise writers in late-development stages prior to publication and implement SEO concepts to expand readership.
  • Create media packaging using photography and design graphics, improving the perceived quality of information and promotional materials.
  • Train extensively under Emmy award-winning talent.

Senior video editor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 14% of Senior Video Editors are proficient in Motion Graphics, Video Content, and Adobe Premiere. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Hand-eye coordination, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Senior Video Editors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Motion Graphics, 14%

    Specialized in editing and designing motion graphics for PSA's, digital, broadcast, sizzle reels and animations.

  • Video Content, 12%

    Lead Helicopter Aerial Video Specialist for filming advertisements & aerial video content.

  • Adobe Premiere, 11%

    Trained other students to edit video in Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro

  • Color Correction, 7%

    Implemented audio mixing and color correction standards, as well as an SFX search tool for editing department.

  • Adobe Creative Suite, 6%

    Edit clips of B-roll and interviews to create a commercial with the Adobe Creative Suite.

  • Animation, 6%

    Create and build animation using 3d Studio, Maya and Flash.

"motion graphics," "video content," and "adobe premiere" are among the most common skills that senior video editors use at work. You can find even more senior video editor responsibilities below, including:

Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior video editor to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "film and video editors must use sophisticated editing software." Additionally, a senior video editor resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "mastered computer platforms such as: avid express, sonic dvd creator, boris fx, and adobe after effects. "

Hand-eye coordination. Many senior video editor duties rely on hand-eye coordination. "camera operators need to be able to move about the action while holding a camera steady.," so a senior video editor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior video editor responsibilities rely on hand-eye coordination: "provided day to day post production support including editing, sound design, music coordination, mixing and color correction/fnishing. "

Physical stamina. This is an important skill for senior video editors to perform their duties. For an example of how senior video editor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "camera operators may need to carry heavy equipment for long periods, particularly when they are filming on location." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior video editor: "created the physical layout for the section using adobe photoshop and indesign. ".

Visual skills. senior video editor responsibilities often require "visual skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "film and video editors and camera operators must see clearly what they are filming or editing in the postproduction process." This resume example shows what senior video editors do with visual skills on a typical day: "contributed significant inputs in ensuring audio and visual quality of footage through the use of color correction technique. "

Communication skills. Another common skill required for senior video editor responsibilities is "communication skills." This skill comes up in the duties of senior video editors all the time, as "film and video editors and camera operators must communicate with other members of a production team, including producers and directors, to ensure that the project goes smoothly." An excerpt from a real senior video editor resume shows how this skill is central to what a senior video editor does: "work on-site for onward search client as avid editor on various internal and externalvideo projects for corporate communications department. "

Detail oriented. While "detail oriented" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to senior video editor responsibilities. Much of what a senior video editor does relies on this skill, seeing as "editors look at every frame of film and decide what should be kept or cut in order to maintain the best content." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of senior video editors: "fast paced, deadline-oriented work for a variety of corporate clients, often produced for a diverse set of output formats. "

Most common senior video editor skills

The three companies that hire the most senior video editors are:

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Compare different senior video editors

Senior video editor vs. Assistant producer

In the entertainment industry, an assistant producer is in charge of overseeing production operations and coordinating staff, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically manage the schedules and hiring procedures, write and edit production materials, arrange meetings with internal and external parties, procure supplies, and develop strategies to optimize production operations. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documentation, obtaining permits, and even disseminating information. Furthermore, an assistant producer may also participate in establishing policies and regulations for a safe and efficient work environment.

The annual salary of assistant producers is $66,853 lower than the average salary of senior video editors.Even though senior video editors and assistant producers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require video content, youtube, and facebook in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior video editor are more likely to require skills like "motion graphics," "adobe premiere," "color correction," and "adobe creative suite." On the other hand, a job as an assistant producer requires skills like "video production," "web content," "audio clips," and "production schedules." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Assistant producers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior video editors. In fact, assistant producers are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Senior video editor vs. Producer

A producer is an individual who is responsible for providing infrastructure, resources, and logistics in making a movie, television show, or stage production. Producers hire production staff such as director, crew, and sometimes actors to coordinate their activities throughout the production process. They support the creative team by conducting meetings to discuss the production's progress and ensure adherence to deadlines. Producers also travel often either to film on location for a movie or to tour with a theatre production.

A career as a producer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior video editor. In fact, producers salary is $39,882 lower than the salary of senior video editors per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Senior video editors and producers both require similar skills like "video content," "adobe premiere," and "youtube" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior video editor resumes. While senior video editor responsibilities can utilize skills like "motion graphics," "color correction," "adobe creative suite," and "animation," producers use skills like "work ethic," "video production," "client relationships," and "project management."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Producers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior video editors. In fact, they're 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior video editor vs. Associate producer

An associate producer is an entry-level one position in the television and film industry who assists senior producers in putting a TV program or film together. Associate producers are required to write, edit, and organize scripts and run a teleprompter in newscasts. Most of the assistant producers are required to obtain a bachelor's degree and become editors, writers, or actors to gain experience in television and film. Associate producers are also often assigned to tasks with operational duties such as generating financial reports or status updates.

An average associate producer eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of senior video editors. The difference in salaries amounts to associate producers earning a $64,805 lower average salary than senior video editors.senior video editors and associate producers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "video content," "youtube," and "facebook," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior video editors are more likely to have skills like "motion graphics," "adobe premiere," "color correction," and "adobe creative suite." But a associate producer is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "sales floor," "control room," and "instagram."

Associate producers earn the highest salary when working in the media industry, where they receive an average salary of $46,356. Comparatively, senior video editors have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $114,748.associate producers typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior video editors. Specifically, they're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior video editor vs. News producer

A News Producer supervises the editorial content of the news to ensure that news stories are produced and presented to the public in a quality manner. They collaborate with the news director to select and prioritize content to make the broadcast more attractive.

News producers tend to earn a lower pay than senior video editors by an average of $57,476 per year.While both senior video editors and news producers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like facebook, video editors, and documentaries, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "motion graphics," "video content," "adobe premiere," and "color correction" are skills that commonly show up on senior video editor resumes. On the other hand, news producers use skills like assignment desk, control room, story development, and social media sites on their resumes.news producers enjoy the best pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $65,677. For comparison, senior video editors earn the highest salary in the media industry.The average resume of news producers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to senior video editors. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.

Types of senior video editor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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