Career comparison
Journalist vs. Video Editor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Video editors earn more at the median ($75,420 vs. $62,200), while video editors usually get to work faster (4 years or portfolio-based training of training). Journalists find, report and tell the stories that keep the public informed. 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
| Journalist | Video Editor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $62,200 ($29.91/hr) | $75,420 ($36.26/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $36,240 – $144,140 | $40,280 – $148,550 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -5.9% (a projected decline) | +3.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,400 | 3,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 4 years or portfolio-based training |
| Key credential | Journalism degree | Avid Certified User |
| Work setting | Journalists work in newsrooms, remotely and in the field, often on deadline.. | Editors work in edit suites, studios and from home, at computers for long periods.. |
What each job does
Journalist
- Find and pitch stories
- Interview sources
- Research records and data
- Verify facts
- Write and produce stories
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 and working independently. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose journalist if…
- I’m curious about everything
- I love writing
- I can handle deadlines
Choose video editor if…
- I love film and video
- I’m patient with detail
- I enjoy storytelling
Still torn? Take the Journalist fit quiz and the Video Editor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, journalist or video editor?
Video Editors earn more at the median: $75,420 versus $62,200 for journalists, 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 journalists (4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects video editors to grow +3.7% from 2025–35, compared with -5.9% for journalists.