Have you ever thought about monetizing your passion for editing videos? For many aspiring digital content creators, it can be difficult to even know where to start.
This is why I’ll show you just how to make money editing videos, giving you the possibility of turning a hobby into a part-time or full-time income.
So, if you’re an aspiring video editor ready to take the leap and start your own business, read on!
How to make money editing videos
In order to make money editing videos, you’ll need to know where to look for potential clients and editing jobs. Here are some popular avenues for video editing gigs:
1. Start your own YouTube or Vimeo channel
If you’re new to video editing, it may be a good idea to start working on your own videos before you outsource your skills to other projects.
The wonderful part about starting out with YouTube is that while you practice, you can stand to make a decent income from ad revenue and partnerships with sponsored channels.
This isn’t an overnight process though, as it will take some time to gain viewership and build a following. However, once you have an established channel, you can begin to outsource your services to brands or other channels in need of editing help.
2. Create a social media presence
To gain more visibility as a video editor, it’s important to create an online portfolio. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter are great ways to share your skillset with potential clients.
In addition, to get your video editing skills in front of more eyes, you can also join and share on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and other visually-oriented social media communities.
With time and dedication, your videos may go viral, which could bring in a lot of traffic that could potentially be monetized.
3. Create stock footage
If you’re looking for a more passive way to make money editing online, consider selling your creations to a stock footage site. Shutterstock and Adobe are the big names in this space, but you can sign up for dozens of platforms and offer your edited videos.
The great thing about selling video footage on stock sites is that it’s less common than images, meaning that you could stand to make more money from your footage than you would with photos.
Plus, there’s no need to continually look for new clients — once you upload your clips and they’re accepted by the site, they can start bringing in passive income right away.
Related: 48 Great Sites for Selling Selfies Online to Make Money
4. Digitize and edit family home videos
These days, it’s a pain to find a VHS player to revisit family memories. It’s pretty easy to start up your own digitization service by purchasing a convertor.
You could offer basic digitization services for a set fee and then upsell clients with more complex editing. For example, you could offer to add transitions, music, voiceovers, or other enhancements to the videos.
This is an especially great way to make money editing videos, as the footage is typically already pre-recorded and ready for you to work with. Plus, it’s a great feeling to help people bring back those precious memories, which can turn into lifelong customers and clients.
5. Connect with a wedding videographer and edit wedding footage
Weddings are a huge industry, and many videographers outsource their editing needs. It’s quite common for wedding videographers to hire freelance video editors to spruce up their footage.
Connecting with people in the wedding industry is a great way to network and find editing jobs. You can let them know about your availability and share some of your work to get on their radar.
If you’re lucky, after a few successful gigs, they may even refer you to other wedding videographers who are in need of an editor.
6. Teach others how to edit videos
If you’ve been doing video editing for a while, you may have the expertise to teach others. There are plenty of online courses and tutorial videos out there to help newbies learn video editing basics.
You could create your own video editing course and upload it on platforms like Skillshare or Udemy. You can also start a bit smaller by creating a series of PDF or YouTube tutorials that explain various video editing topics in a bite-sized format.
To earn money off of your courses and keep customers engaged, you may want to start a group or forum and provide personalized feedback to your students. This way, you can build relationships with them and create a long-term revenue stream for yourself.
Related: 19 Best Online Tutoring Jobs to Make Money From Home
7. Work as a freelancer in the gig economy
If you’re willing to put in the legwork, the gig economy can be a great way to make money video editing online. With websites like Fiverr and UpWork, you have access to thousands of potential clients who are willing to pay for your skillset.
When listing your video editing services on freelancer sites, make sure to make them somewhat specific. For example, if you’re good at creating marketing videos, you could list a service specifically tailored toward creating video content for marketing agencies.
By taking the initiative and connecting with potential clients on these sites, you may even get some repeat business — which is always helpful when it comes to making money in the gig economy.
You may also be interested in: 13 Easy Freelance Jobs for Beginners to Make Money From Home
8. Work in the advertising industry
Advertising agencies are always in need of creative video editors, as they often create short advertisements and promotional content for their clients.
If you have experience in this field, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider working with an advertising agency or company.
You can pitch yourself to potential employers by showcasing some of your most impressive work and your ability to meet tight deadlines.
9. Create and sell video templates
Video templates are a great way to make money editing videos without having to start from scratch every time. You can create templates that other people can use for their own projects, such as wedding or business-related videos.
You don’t have to be a professional video editor to do this — you just need to know the basics of how to use video editing software and have some design knowledge.
From there, you can then create these templates in advance and sell them on websites such as Envato or VideoHive.
10. Connect with local small businesses and nonprofits
Small businesses and non-profit organizations often need videos for their websites and promotional materials but don’t have the budget to hire a professional editor.
Reach out to these types of organizations in your area and ask if they need any video editing services. You can even offer discounts or special deals for their projects. This is an especially great opportunity if you’re just starting out and want to build up a portfolio.
11. Start an editing blog
If you’re passionate about video editing, why not start a blog or website dedicated to it? You can share tips and tricks, talk about the latest developments in the industry, and even review different kinds of software.
This is a great way to build an audience and eventually monetize your blog by selling video editing services or products through affiliate offers.
It takes a while to generate enough traffic to start making money, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re passionate about the craft and want semi-passive income in the future.
12. Find in-person teaching opportunities
You can also make money editing videos by finding teaching opportunities. You could offer one-on-one tutoring sessions or connect with a community center or school to teach classes.
A lot of people benefit from hands-on instruction, so this could be a great way to make some cash while also helping others learn more about video editing.
13. Edit videos for other bloggers and YouTubers
Bloggers and YouTubers often need video editors to help them create content and are usually looking for solo contractors or freelancers.
You can reach out to other content creators in your space and offer your services, or you could even look on job boards like ProBlogger or Guru for a video editing side hustle.
Related: 35 Best Ways to Make $100k a Year From Home (or More!)
Is video editing still in demand?
Yes, video editing is still in demand. It’s a skill that’s needed across many industries, from advertising to film and television. This means that no matter what your skill level, there will always be opportunities to make money editing videos.
Over 86% of businesses are now using video content in some form, and this number was at 61% in 2016, which is a sign that this trend isn’t going away anytime soon.
This means that there are lots of potential opportunities to become a video editor and work in a niche that you’re passionate about.
How much can you make from editing videos?
According to Glassdoor, the salary of a video editor ranges between $36,000 and $83,000 each year. This averages to about $58,000 for full-time video editors. However, freelance video editing rates vary greatly depending on the project, your experience and skill set, and the client’s budget.
Typically, you can charge anywhere from $30 to several hundred dollars per hour for complex projects. When you’re in the top 10% of the video editing field, you could even command thousands of dollars per project.
On the other end of the spectrum, it’s common for budding video editors to start out working for free. They may create their own content for free, or offer their services to friends and family in exchange for reviews or just the experience.
This is often seen as an investment of time and money, as it helps them build up a strong portfolio to show future clients.
Since there are so many opportunities for those who want to make money editing videos, it’s best if you set your income goals and create a plan of action.
Consider what you want your rate to be, the types of projects you’re willing to take on, and the size of your portfolio so you can find the right balance between experience and pay.
Then work as hard as possible to build up your portfolio, network with content creators, and start making money from video editing. With some hard work, you can achieve your financial goals and become a successful video editor.
You may also be interested in: 33 Legit Ways to Make Money In One Hour
Do video editors make good money?
In general, video editing is considered a high-paying field, since video is an increasingly popular form of media. If you have the right skill set and portfolio, you can make good money as a video editor. It also helps to work with well-known clients, since they tend to pay more than smaller companies or individuals.
The video editors that make the most have the following qualities:
- Exceptional technical skills
- Ability to work quickly and efficiently
- Knowledge of industry trends
- A strong portfolio of past projects
- Good networking skills
If you have all these qualities or are consistently developing them, then you can definitely make good money as a video editor.
How much do beginner video editors make?
In the beginning, you’ll likely make far less than the professionals. Your first projects may even be for free or at a very low rate in exchange for the experience. However, you can start to charge more once you have some work under your belt and a few positive reviews from past clients.
It’s important to remember that everyone starts somewhere and it takes time to build up a successful career as a video editor.
Patience is key, and it’s worth it to be patient in this industry because there is plenty of work to be had as the need for video editing continues to grow.
Can I earn by editing videos on YouTube?
Yes, you can definitely make money editing YouTube videos. You can expect to make between $15 to $100 per hour, depending on the type of video, how much editing it requires, and the quality of your work. You can also negotiate a project rate with YouTube customers.
The best way to start this process is to create your own YouTube channel filled with video projects you’ve edited. Highlight all the skills and techniques you used in each one, as this will help to attract potential customers and demonstrate your ability.
Then you can reach out to your favorite YouTubers, or simply target newer channels that are taking off since they will likely need help with their videos as their brands expand.
Even if they’re not ready to hire a video editor, you’ve at least made an introduction, and you can reach out again in the future.
How much do TikTok editors make?
According to Indeed, full-time TikTok video editors can make between $52,000 to $70,000 annually. This involves making a handful of videos each week and taking on dozens of client projects throughout the year. You can charge a fixed or hourly rate depending on the complexity of the project and your skills.
You can advertise your TikTok editing services on sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer. You can also reach out to influencers on Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube and offer your services directly.
Related: How Much Does TikTok Pay for 1 Million Views? (2023)
How do I start a video editing career?
The most important step is to invest in good video editing software and learn how to use it. Next, it’s important to find your own unique style and develop a portfolio of high-quality projects that showcase your skills.
Once you have some material to show, start researching video editing jobs online and reach out to potential clients.
Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, and DaVinci Resolve are all popular choices for learning and using video editing software. It’s always a good idea to become familiar with all of them, as this will help you find work more easily and make sure you’re always up to date on the most cutting-edge tools.
Finally, invest in networking opportunities that allow you to connect with potential clients and stay afloat with industry news. This can include attending workshops, conferences, and classes that provide you with real-world experience and knowledge to help your career as a video editor flourish.
