Also called: First Assistant Editor
Organizes footage, syncs sound, and prepares everything so the editor can focus on cutting.
An assistant editor ingests each day's footage, syncs audio to picture, labels thousands of clips, and builds temporary sound effects. Late in the process they handle exports and deliverables.
Approximate; union assistants earn more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Film or media degree common.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Film Production, Media Studies.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Tracks editor growth.
High risk for 10 years. AI now syncs, transcribes, logs and organizes footage, the core of this job, so fewer assistant spots will open.
Classes: Computer applications, Film/video production CTE, English, Typing or office tech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-4032.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.