Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between video technicians and freelance videographer/editors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a video technician, becoming a freelance videographer/editor takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a freelance videographer/editor has an average salary of $48,481, which is higher than the $45,504 average annual salary of a video technician.
The top three skills for a video technician include VTC, video equipment and video production. The most important skills for a freelance videographer/editor are training videos, video content, and video production.
| Video Technician | Freelance Videographer/Editor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,504 | $48,481 |
| Hourly rate | $21.88 | $23.31 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 12% |
| Number of jobs | 36,283 | 5,409 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
The job of a video technician is to operate, install, maintain and repair video and projection equipment, including digital video cameras, grip kits, and media servers. You will report to a video supervisor, technical director, or stage manager during the show run. You will be responsible for working closely with the projection designer and performing video and audio installations. In addition, you will be operating, configuring, and maintaining satellite communications equipment and associated devices. You will also be responsible for determining equipment capabilities and evaluate setup requirements.
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.
Video technicians and freelance videographer/editors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Video Technician | Freelance Videographer/Editor | |
| Average salary | $45,504 | $48,481 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $68,000 | Between $34,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | Plymouth, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | - |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a video technician and a freelance videographer/editor in terms of educational background:
| Video Technician | Freelance Videographer/Editor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 56% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | Stanford University | New York University |
Here are the differences between video technicians' and freelance videographer/editors' demographics:
| Video Technician | Freelance Videographer/Editor | |
| Average age | 42 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 81.5% Female, 18.5% | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 Percentage | 8% | 10% |