JOB REPORT / 27-4032 · 22 TASKS

Film and Video Editors.

Can AI do the work of Film and Video Editors?

Mostly it works alongside you. Here is what shifts, task by task.

YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS

How does this fit your work?

How many tasks do you use AI to assist with at work?

Drag the dot. There’s no wrong answer; it starts at our estimate.

Starting pointOur estimate

The mark shows what’s typical for this job.

The parts of your job AI can already do most of:

Verify key numbers and time codes on materials
Mark frames where a particular shot or piece…
Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue,…

Your free lesson plan builds the skills that keep you ahead of AI.

A free set of short lessons, about 20 minutes each, at your own pace. No payment, no experience needed.

TURN THIS INTO SKILLS YOU CAN PROVE Early access

Earn a certificate in your job

A guided certificate program in AI-assisted Film and Video Editors work. It covers the 21 AI-affected parts of your job and ends in a capstone a person reviews.

WHAT WE LOOKED AT

Your job, task by task.

21 of 22 tasks reviewed

This job has 22 core tasks. We went through 21 of them, one at a time.

Task by task, from the work Film and Video Editors actually do. How we describe AI use in each task is our own read of it, not a measurement of whether AI can replace the job.

TASK 01
Verify key numbers and time codes on materials.
AI DOES
Scans and cross-checks timecodes and numerical metadata for errors automatically
YOU DO
Confirm numbers match the creative intent and real-world footage context
TASK 02
Mark frames where a particular shot or piece of sound is to begin or end.
AI DOES
Detects scene boundaries, audio peaks, and suggests in/out points on a timeline
YOU DO
Trust your creative instincts for pacing and emotional impact
TASK 03
Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.
AI DOES
Auto-syncs audio tracks, suggests cut points, removes silences, and flags technical errors
YOU DO
Trust your storytelling instincts to shape the emotional arc and pacing a machine can't feel
TASK 04
Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.
AI DOES
Auto-cuts footage, suggests pacing, and generates title options
YOU DO
Own the creative vision and final technical decisions
TASK 05
Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.
AI DOES
Suggests cut points, flags pacing issues, and auto-syncs audio to video
YOU DO
Trust your gut on what cut makes the story land emotionally
TASK 06
Piece sounds together to develop film soundtracks.
AI DOES
Suggests sound clips, auto-syncs audio to video, and removes background noise
YOU DO
Trust your ear to shape the emotional tone of every scene
TASK 07
Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary.
AI DOES
Scans footage for technical flaws, sync errors, and quality issues
YOU DO
Trust your eye for pacing, feel, and creative flow
TASK 08
Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films.
AI DOES
Suggests sound effects, music tracks, and visual effects based on scene mood and genre
YOU DO
Trust your gut on what feels right for the story's emotion and pacing
TASK 09
Record needed sounds or obtain them from sound effects libraries.
AI DOES
Searches sound libraries, tags and matches audio clips to scenes
YOU DO
Trust your creative ear to pick sounds that feel right for the story
TASK 10
Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.
AI DOES
Flags the best-exposed shots, suggests pacing based on rhythm, and auto-assembles rough cuts
YOU DO
Trust your gut on emotion, timing, and story flow — that's the craft AI can't replace
TASK 11
Develop post-production models for films.
AI DOES
Drafts workflow outlines, suggests pipeline structures, and surfaces industry best practices
YOU DO
Judge the unique creative vision, budget constraints, and team dynamics of each project
TASK 12
Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible.
AI DOES
Suggests cut points, matches motion vectors, and flags jump cuts automatically
YOU DO
Trust your gut on rhythm, emotion, and what each cut says to the audience
TASK 13
Manipulate plot, score, sound, and graphics to make the parts into a continuous whole, working closely with people in audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments.
AI DOES
Auto-syncs audio, suggests cut points, and organizes footage by scene or tone
YOU DO
Trust your creative instincts to shape the emotional story and collaborate with other departments
TASK 14SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Program computerized graphic effects.
AI DOES
Generates code and renders basic effects automatically
YOU DO
Design the vision and artistic direction
About this analysis
61% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 15
Collaborate with music editors to select appropriate passages of music and develop production scores.
AI DOES
Searches music libraries, matches tempo and mood to scene data, and flags candidate tracks
YOU DO
Trust your creative instincts and build the shared vision with your collaborator
TASK 16SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
AI DOES
Cuts and sequences footage based on scripts
YOU DO
Shape the story's emotional flow
About this analysis
59% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 17SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Study scripts to become familiar with production concepts and requirements.
AI DOES
Breaks down scripts and explains production terms
YOU DO
Judge what works for your specific project
About this analysis
50% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium
TASK 18
Discuss the sound requirements of pictures with sound effects editors.
AI DOES
Suggests talking points, prepares sound requirement checklists, and summarizes project notes before the meeting
YOU DO
Lead the live creative conversation and make final calls on sound direction
TASK 19
Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.
AI DOES
Auto-tags scenes, flags key moments, and generates rough transcripts or shot logs to speed up review
YOU DO
Watch the footage yourself to build the creative instinct and emotional feel needed to cut it well
TASK 20
Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities.
AI DOES
Helps schedule tasks, summarize project status, and flag workflow bottlenecks
YOU DO
Build trust with your team and make judgment calls on creative and personnel decisions
TASK 21SOURCE-BACKED TASK
Confer with producers and directors concerning layout or editing approaches needed to increase dramatic or entertainment value of productions.
AI DOES
Suggests editing cuts and pacing based on data
YOU DO
Feel what moves the audience emotionally
About this analysis
35% · Methodology: exposure-v1 · Analysis date: unavailable · Confidence: medium

START LEARNING AI

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.

There are 21 short lessons for this job, about 15 minutes each. Each one starts from a task above and teaches the part that stays with you.

Try a free lesson

AT A GLANCE

Occupation: Film and Video Editors
SOC code: 27-4032
Tasks reviewed: 21 of 22

How we assess

PAY & OUTLOOK

Compare pay by state

Median pay (national): $75,420 · BLS OEWS 2025
Median pay (Colorado): $84,620 · BLS OEWS 2025
Employed (national): 25,610
Employed in Colorado: 380
Job outlook: +4% by 2034 · ~3,600 openings/yr

Wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. National figures cover the United States. Job outlook is national.

How does this fit your work?

Earn a certificate in your job

Your job, task by task.

Verify key numbers and time codes on materials.

Mark frames where a particular shot or piece of sound is to begin or end.

Edit films and videotapes to insert music, dialogue, and sound effects, to arrange films into sequences, and to correct errors, using editing equipment.

Set up and operate computer editing systems, electronic titling systems, video switching equipment, and digital video effects units to produce a final product.

Trim film segments to specified lengths and reassemble segments in sequences that present stories with maximum effect.

Piece sounds together to develop film soundtracks.

Review assembled films or edited videotapes on screens or monitors to determine if corrections are necessary.

Determine the specific audio and visual effects and music necessary to complete films.

Record needed sounds or obtain them from sound effects libraries.

Select and combine the most effective shots of each scene to form a logical and smoothly running story.

Develop post-production models for films.

Cut shot sequences to different angles at specific points in scenes, making each individual cut as fluid and seamless as possible.

Manipulate plot, score, sound, and graphics to make the parts into a continuous whole, working closely with people in audio, visual, music, optical, or special effects departments.

Program computerized graphic effects.

Collaborate with music editors to select appropriate passages of music and develop production scores.

Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.

Study scripts to become familiar with production concepts and requirements.

Discuss the sound requirements of pictures with sound effects editors.

Review footage sequence by sequence to become familiar with it before assembling it into a final product.

Supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in film editing, assembling, and recording activities.

Confer with producers and directors concerning layout or editing approaches needed to increase dramatic or entertainment value of productions.

Practice AI.Use your judgment.

Practice AI.
Use your judgment.