Career comparison
Animator vs. Video Editor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Animators earn more at the median ($102,030 vs. $75,420), while video editors usually get to work faster (4 years or portfolio-based training of training). Animators bring characters, worlds and effects to life for film, games and media. Video editors cut raw footage into compelling films, shows, ads and online videos.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Animator | Video Editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $102,030 ($49.06/hr) | $75,420 ($36.26/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,600 – $177,110 | $40,280 – $148,550 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.3% (little or no change) | +3.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 4,200 | 3,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus reel | 4 years or portfolio-based training |
| Key credential | Autodesk Certified Professional | Avid Certified User |
| Work setting | Animators work in studios or remotely at computers, often on teams with tight production schedules.. | Editors work in edit suites, studios and from home, at computers for long periods.. |
What each job does
Animator
- Create storyboards and concepts
- Model and rig characters and objects
- Animate characters and scenes
- Create visual effects
- Composite and render shots
Video Editor
- Organize and log footage
- Select shots and assemble cuts
- Edit for story, pacing and rhythm
- Add music, sound effects and graphics
- Color correct and finish
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, desk work, indoor work, and working independently. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose animator if…
- I love animation and games
- I’m artistic
- I’m patient with detail
Choose video editor if…
- I love film and video
- I’m patient with detail
- I enjoy storytelling
Still torn? Take the Animator fit quiz and the Video Editor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, animator or video editor?
Animators earn more at the median: $102,030 versus $75,420 for video editors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Video Editors typically train faster (4 years or portfolio-based training) than animators (4 years plus reel).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects video editors to grow +3.7% from 2025–35, compared with -0.3% for animators.