Video content creation takes time, effort, and skill. As you navigate the complexities of video content creation, you may find that you do not have the time or ability to edit the footage you've captured for your project. Hiring a video editor can help alleviate this challenge. In this article, we'll explore how to find the best video editors for hire, including freelancers and agencies, to help you achieve your video content goals.
Moonb is a video marketing agency that creates video content to help businesses grow. If you want to streamline the editing process and focus on your next project, consider hiring our talented editors.
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According to Zippia, over 32,533 video editors are currently employed in the United States, with thousands more either in training or seeking jobs. There is no shortage of video editors, but how do you find the best one to hire for your project? Here are some great places where you can find and hire great video editors.
Moonb is a video marketing agency offering unlimited video editing subscriptions. We offer seamless project management integration via:
We also have weekly strategy calls and a contract-free, full-service production approach. Moonb is a superior alternative to:
Our flexible, subscription-based model, combined with our expertise in creating compelling video content, positions us as the ideal partner for companies looking to elevate their marketing and educational initiatives through the power of video. Start a 3-day free trial to take your content to the next level.
Upwork is one of the top websites for freelancing, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a place where you can find all kinds of freelancers at varying prices. Job openings are constantly posted, and that includes job listings for animation. Regardless of your vision, Upwork will help you find the perfect animator. It’s surprisingly easy to get started. You can type the word “video editor” in the search bar and choose from a library of freelancers fit for any budget.
Hiring an experienced video editor on Upwork is crucial for producing high-quality videos that effectively convey a storyline and engage audiences. But how big is Upwork?
Let’s look at the numbers:
These numbers are big – they show just how important Upwork is to the gig economy.
Fiverr is a lot like Upwork. It’s another website dedicated to helping freelancers find new clients quickly. The website is broken up into sellers and buyers. As a buyer, you can post job listings and browse the endless number of sellers offering their services. When it comes to video editors, there are thousands of sellers to choose from. This means you’ll never run out of options.
Fiverr offers various services for editing videos, highlighting the skills and dedication of freelancers in this field. But how significant is Fiverr’s presence in the freelance world?
Let’s look at the numbers:
These numbers show how big Fiverr is to the gig economy, a streamlined marketplace for global talent and various business needs.
Toptal, founded in 2010, isn’t just another freelance platform – it’s the crème de la crème of the freelance world. This premium platform connects businesses with:
To ensure high-quality video production, hiring video editors on Toptal with relevant experience and specialized skills in editing software is crucial. What sets Toptal apart is its rigorous screening process. They don’t just accept anyone; they curate the top 3% of freelance talent so their clients get exceptional quality and expertise. But how well does this elite approach work?
Let’s look at the numbers:
Toptal’s commitment to excellence is backed by its client satisfaction guarantee, making it a leader in the high-end freelance marketplace.
Behance is all about community. Much like LinkedIn, it functions as its social media site. The difference is that this is social media specifically designed for creatives. The video editor can build their portfolio here and connect with other artists to share feedback. As the editor on Behance posts updates on their latest creations, you’ll be able to see their progress in real-time.
Many video editors on Behance showcase their proficiency using Adobe Premiere for high-quality video production. But how significant is Behance’s presence in the creative world?
Let’s look at the numbers:
As of 2024, Behance doesn’t charge standard commissions for hiring freelancers. Creator Paid Offerings may have service fees; percentages vary depending on the payment processor. While Behance is a great portfolio platform, it needs a structured hiring process and the guarantees of dedicated freelance marketplaces.
If you haven’t heard of Twine, this is your lucky day. Unlike the other freelance sites, Twine will do the vetting for you. No more wondering whether or not you have a quality animator on your hands. Twine selects and hand-picks freelancers before they even make it to the site. How cool is that? Twine lets animators create their profiles and showcase their portfolios. This will allow you to log in and browse a detailed list of high-quality freelancers.
Guru is a cost-effective site that hosts freelancers of all types. It provides various tools to help with project and payment management. What’s really cool about Guru is that it offers immense flexibility. You can set up your payment plan by the hour, by the task, or by each milestone. You can even specify your location constraints, making it easy to hire locally or abroad.
When searching for video editors for hire, it’s crucial to examine their technical ability and creative portfolio. A junior may not have the skills necessary to complete the job if you’re working on a complex project requiring a highly creative approach.
Junior video editors can help you with basic editing tasks, such as:
You might also hire one when you’re working with a limited budget. Junior editors are often eager to learn and bring fresh perspectives. They typically lack extensive hands-on experience, meaning they need more guidance and time to achieve advanced editing levels, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve on complex projects.
A mid-level video editor often brings a blend of experience and adaptability. They have a solid foundation in video editing principles and have likely worked on various projects, offering a stronger sense of independent problem-solving and time management. While they can handle more complex tasks with less oversight than junior editors, such as noise reduction and audio mixing they might not have the depth of expertise you’d find in a senior editor regarding strategic planning and high-level, specialized concepts.
Senior video editors offer industry experience and a proven high-quality, creative video production track record. They can bring strategic oversight to a project, anticipating and mitigating challenges before they arise. Their leadership and mentoring abilities can also be invaluable to your team.
Hiring a senior editor often requires a higher budget, and their extensive experience might mean less flexibility in adapting to new editing styles or methods if they are deeply entrenched in their processes.
Hiring a qualified video editor can greatly impact the quality of your video content, whether it's for:
But to find the right fit, you'll need to consider several factors carefully. Review their experience and portfolio. Look for an editor that has a strong portfolio that demonstrates their expertise in handling various types of video projects, such as:
Their past work should align with your vision and quality standards. Ask for examples in your industry to ensure they understand your audience and the tone you're aiming for.
Video editing isn’t just about cutting and splicing clips together. It requires creativity to:
Make sure the editor has the creative vision to bring your ideas to life, including:
This is where their portfolio can help you see if their style aligns with what you envision.
An experienced video editor should be proficient in industry-standard software like:
These tools are crucial for delivering high-quality, professional-grade video edits. Inquire about their workflow and whether they can work with your preferred file formats and video specifications.
Discuss timelines early in the hiring process. You want an editor that can meet your deadlines without sacrificing quality. Ask about their process for reviewing drafts and handling revisions. Agencies or editors offering efficient communication channels and feedback loops can save time and reduce back-and-forth delays.
Client testimonials and reviews provide insights into an editor's reliability, communication, and overall customer experience. Look for reviews that mention:
Positive reviews from clients in similar industries to yours can give you more confidence in their ability to meet your expectations.
Your video editing needs may change over time, whether you need more frequent edits or different types of videos. The best agencies are flexible and can scale their services according to your requirements. Ensure the agency can accommodate large projects and ongoing smaller edits if needed.
One of the most cost-effective approaches to hiring a video editor is through an editing agency that offers a subscription-based pricing model. These subscription services are more than just finding any video editor. They’re about getting reliable, consistent video editing support without the commitment of a full-time hire. Your subscription should give you access to a team of video editors who know your brand and style. So consider video editing subscription services to get out of the feast or famine cycle of freelance hiring and make the most of your budget.
It could be a monthly plan with a set number of video editing hours or videos. Whatever it is, evaluate it, don’t try to sell yourself on it in the context of your needs. Don’t include long-term commitments in the initial subscription. Then, say you have options to explore and would be happy to discuss them further if they’re interested. Only commit to a subscription with an understanding of the terms and don’t include hidden fees or unclear deliverables, which can lead to dissatisfaction and poor results.
At Moonb, we follow this model. With a fractional editor subscription, you’ll receive updates every two days and unlimited reviews.
Moonb is a video marketing agency offering unlimited video editing subscriptions. We offer seamless project management integration via:
We also have weekly strategy calls and a contract-free, full-service production approach. Moonb is a superior alternative to:
Our flexible, subscription-based model, combined with our expertise in creating compelling video content, positions us as the ideal partner for companies looking to elevate their marketing and educational initiatives through the power of video. Start a 3-day free trial to take your content to the next level.
When hiring video editors, you have two options: permanent or freelance. Larger companies with long-term video editing needs may hire video editors as salaried employees. This means there is a steady stream of work, a stable paycheck, and full-time employee benefits—but also a fixed schedule and little project control (you edit what your boss tells you to edit).
According to GlassDoor, as of January 2023, the average salary for a video editor is $54,911, ranging from $35,000 to $88,000, depending on the company. Alternatively, smaller companies, startups, individual clients, and film studios usually hire video editors as freelancers. Freelancing lets the video editor work flexibly and choose their projects while giving clients a wider range of talent and more lenient use of their budget.
Freelance video editing rates can vary by type.
Per hour:
Hourly rates vary depending on:
Upwork categorizes freelance pay scales into:
Salary.com says the median hourly rate is $41, with rates between $27 and $61.
Per day:
Per diem rates are often used for short projects but may cause timing issues for larger projects.
Fixed rate: Fixed rates usually involve exchanging a lump sum upon project completion. This pay type is often used for larger and longer projects.
Although even a beginner editor may be talented, most clients want to see previous client work and recommendations. Without these, it’s hard to justify a higher pay rate. For clients with a smaller budget and project, such as a short YouTube video, a video editor with less experience can work.
Editors with more experience often have more advanced skills—and charge higher rates. For the best end product, clients should look for editors whose work aligns with their needs. For example, if your video requires animation editing, look for an editor with extensive experience editing animated videos.
Across video types, knowing the scope of raw footage and the desired finished product is extremely important. A client might have 200 hours of footage that they want to be distilled into a 20-minute video, meaning a lot of time just sifting through footage to see what’s usable. Knowing the size and type of project helps dictate its pay scale.
Here are some of the more popular projects and their usual rates:
Commercials and branded storytelling:
According to the Blue Collar Post Collective (BCPC), the breakdown of pay rates for freelance commercial and branded storytelling editors is:
Documentaries:
Documentary pay rates vary greatly. Some editors may work at a much lower rate for documentaries they see as passion projects or that focus on deeply valuable topics.
The BCPC shows documentary video editing rates as:
Episodic programs:
Rates for TV show editing are more standardized due to union regulations.
General rates according to the BCPC are:
Scripted features:
Editors working on scripted features will likely belong to the Motion Pictures Editors Guild, which regulates contracts and rates.
According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for a film video editor in the United States was $54,055 as of December 2022.
As per the BCPC, editing rates for scripted features are:
Moonb is a video marketing agency offering unlimited video editing subscriptions. We offer seamless project management integration via:
We also have weekly strategy calls and a contract-free, full-service production approach. Moonb is a superior alternative to:
Our flexible, subscription-based model, combined with our expertise in creating compelling video content, positions us as the ideal partner for companies looking to elevate their marketing and educational initiatives through the power of video. Start a 3-day free trial to take your content to the next level.
Video marketing is absolutely one of the best investments you can make for your brand! It captures attention like no other medium, keeping your audience engaged and eager to learn more. Plus, it often delivers a fantastic return on investment (ROI), making it a smart choice for any business. In a world where social media is dominated by video content, using it effectively can help you connect with your audience in a memorable and impactful way. Don't miss out on this powerful tool to elevate your marketing strategy!
Marketing videos can be very expensive, especially with traditional agencies, where costs can reach $20,000 to $40,000 per minute. With moonb, we offer a flat monthly cost that provides you access to a dedicated team focused on delivering high-quality videos quickly and efficiently, making the process more budget-friendly while still maintaining exceptional standards.
There are no limits to revisions during the process. We want to make sure you’re completely satisfied with the final product, so we’ll work with you until it meets your expectations.
The marketing video production process can vary widely depending on the brief. For short-form packages, it might take just a few days, while more complex advanced animations could require a few weeks to ensure quality and attention to detail.
For most marketing videos, aim for a length of 30 to 90 seconds. This duration is typically enough to engage viewers while conveying your key message effectively. However, depending on the content and platform, some videos can be longer, so consider your audience's attention span and the context of your message.
Of course! We smoothly manage your project from the initial idea to the final publication. We take care of writing, visuals, animation, voiceover, editing, sound, branding, and more. You can participate as much as you like or let us handle everything. We'll make sure your content is perfect for any platform that supports videos.
Once you subscribe, you will receive an email within a few minutes containing two essential links. The first link directs you to our production platform where you can access all your videos and request reviews. The second link takes you to your customer portal to manage your subscription. Your dedicated video team will contact you immediately to schedule a first call, during which we'll gather all the necessary information to get started. We'll then create a content strategy plan and begin working on your productions. We will develop a content calendar with precise deliverables and a review process. You can be as involved as you wish or leave it entirely in our hands.
If your dedicated team has started work on your designs or videos before you decide to cancel, you won't be eligible for a refund.
Absolutely, you'll receive the working files, and you'll own all the intellectual property created.
As soon as you sign up, you'll be assigned a dedicated video team, supervised by a Creative Director who will be your main point of contact. You will be onboarded to our production platform, where you can oversee the entire process and manage each video production.
Absolutely, your privacy matters to us. We can offer you our standard Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), or you are welcome to provide your own.
Not hard at all, we keep things simple: no documentation or extensive process is involved and you can cancel at any point in time. Just log in to your Moonb account and you can cancel with just a few clicks. Need a hand with this? No worries. You can request assistance via email or directly to your dedicated team.
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