Post-Production : I was asked... What is a standard rate for editors? by Georgia Hilton

I was asked what the standard rate for editors for editors is... I replied.. there isn't one. But here's a place to start: https://www.editorsguild.com/Wages.cfm In the real world, like all other creative people, editors can make from zero to a lot of money. The average picture editor earns approx $47,000 USD a year in America. A proficient editor with some credits should be earning around $50 to $60 /hr, in reality a lot of gigs pay what they pay. I've seen a lot of editing gigs for around $300/day to $1500/day, to $500 for the entire job. Some editors work a "fixed" price for the job and some work hourly. So, to answer the question... there is no specific answer. It's about the gig, it's budget, the workload, and most importantly, the ability and background of the editor, and what the editor will accept, and the client will pay. One thing to keep in mind, as an editor is, it's not how much you make on a single gig, it's how much to keep at the end of the year. Some gigs, you'll do better on than others. But if you keep working you'll make more than if you don't. My rate is higher than most, but I provide a lot of additional services tossed in there and I own all my gear, and all of it is state-of-the-art, and i'm pretty darn fast, and, I don't "clock watch". I provide a solid estimate and I do my best to stick to it, or under it. Additionally, I don't just edit. I, like other top end editors, provide support in direction, artistic ideas, story help and other useful data and information based on experience. I also vary my rate as I like to say, "Indirectly proportionate to the Fun and Interest" that is the more room I have to be artistic and help develop the project the less I charge. If you want me to sit and drive the machine... thats one thing, If you want me to collaborate and help you create something... its quite the other. You will find a lot of editors are just technicians... they edit... I think the value of an editor can vary as much as the price. The one thing you will find is the a lot of people call themselves editors because they know how to use Final Cut, or Avid, or Premier... This does NOT make them an editor. It makes them a technician. An editor needs a lot more abilities than driving an editing system. They need to know where that perfect frame is to cut, when to hold and when to cut away, when to rewrite a scene based on the script and what was actually shot and the real intention of the director. A great editor can sculpt a wonderful story out of the rough material. They also know when to advise the use of stock footage to fix or complete a thought, when to suggest reshoots, when to place music and when to let the scene breath on its own. They know what pacing is and how to utilize pacing to create drama. Excusing the pun, you can't learn this in "The Blink of an EYE". It takes time, it takes experience, and its takes talent... Make sure you select the right editor for your project and for you to be able to work with them. Don't let dollars completely drive your choice in editors. After all the work you've put into your project, make sure you don't end up with a poorly created story because your editor is just a technician. cheers geo