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Freelance Video Editor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kids II, Inc.

Sr. Video Editor - US

Atlanta, GA · On-site

The Senior Video Editor combines advanced editorial craft with strong graphic and motion ... junior editors, freelancers and external partners, ensuring consistency and excellence in ...

Kids II

Sr. Video Editor - US

Atlanta, GA

Provide editorial guidance and quality control on video work produced by junior editors, freelancers and external partners, ensuring consistency and excellence in storytelling, pacing and brand ...

Aquent

Video Producer / Animator

Houston, TX · On-site +1

$50 - $60/hr

... looking for a freelance Video Producer / Animator. * Must have experience creating video content for platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn * Motion graphics and demo videos * Experience editing ...

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Freelance Video Editor information

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How much do freelance video editor jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance video editor in the United States is $31.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.39 and $39.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges freelance video editors face when working with multiple clients simultaneously?

Freelance video editors often juggle several projects at once, which can make time management and prioritization challenging. Each client may have different communication styles, revision expectations, and deadlines, requiring strong organizational skills and clear communication to keep projects on track. Balancing creative input with client vision is another frequent challenge, as editors must adapt their editing style to suit each brand or project while ensuring high-quality results. Building a reliable workflow and maintaining transparent timelines can help manage these demands and build lasting client relationships.

How much to edit a 2 minute video?

For a freelance video editor, the cost to edit a 2-minute video typically ranges from $50 to $200, depending on complexity, editing style, and turnaround time. More intricate projects with special effects or color grading may cost more, while simple edits tend to be on the lower end of the scale.

Is AI replacing video editors?

AI tools are increasingly used in video editing to automate tasks like color correction, scene detection, and basic editing, but they do not fully replace the creative and nuanced work of freelance video editors. Human editors are still essential for storytelling, creative decisions, and complex editing tasks that require artistic judgment. Many editors now combine their skills with AI tools to improve efficiency and focus on more creative aspects of their work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Video Editor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Video Editor, you need strong video editing skills, a solid understanding of storytelling, and knowledge of industry-standard formats, typically backed by a relevant portfolio or formal training. Proficiency with editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve, as well as familiarity with motion graphics and audio tools, is essential. Strong communication, time management, and creative problem-solving abilities help you effectively interpret client briefs and deliver high-quality work on deadlines. These skills are critical for producing compelling content that meets client expectations and for building a successful independent career.

Can I freelance as a video editor?

Yes, freelance video editing is a common career path where individuals work independently for clients on projects such as commercials, films, or online content. Freelancers typically need skills in editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro and may set their own schedules and rates.

What Does a Freelance Video Editor Do?

A freelance video editor reviews film footage and makes decisions that result in content with optimal value to the target audience. As a freelance video editor, you cut together various pieces of video footage, add graphics, special effects, or sound effects, and create a finished product for short-form online content, long-form video series, film, or television. In addition to your independent job duties, you may collaborate with other editing staff, producers, and script-writers to take a concept from the initial storyboard to a piece of cohesive and consistent content.

What is a freelance video editor?

A freelance video editor is an independent professional who edits video footage for clients on a project-by-project basis, rather than working as a full-time employee for a single company. They are responsible for assembling raw video, adding effects, sound, and graphics, and producing a finished product that meets the client’s needs. Freelance video editors often work remotely and may collaborate with filmmakers, agencies, businesses, or content creators to produce a wide variety of video content, such as commercials, social media videos, or films.

What is the difference between Freelance Video Editor vs Video Producer?

AspectFreelance Video EditorVideo Producer
CredentialsOften self-taught or with basic editing certificationsMay have project management or media production certifications
Work EnvironmentRemote or freelance settings, working on editing projectsCan be remote or on-site, overseeing entire video projects
Industry UsageCommonly hired for editing tasks across various industriesInvolved in planning, coordinating, and managing video projects

While both roles work within video production, a Freelance Video Editor primarily focuses on editing footage, whereas a Video Producer manages the entire production process, including planning, budgeting, and overseeing the project from start to finish.

How much can a freelance video editor make?

Freelance video editors typically earn between $20 and $100 per hour, depending on experience, project complexity, and client budget. Many work on a per-project basis, with rates varying based on skills in editing software like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro and the scope of work involved.
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Freelance Video Editor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Video Editor job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 15% Temporary, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 65% In-person, and 35% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,728 per year, or $31.6 per hour.
YouTube Editor - Freelance

YouTube Editor - Freelance

Digital Remedy

Santa Monica, CA

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

Job description

The dedicated freelance YouTube editor on the team. Edits YouTube-bound content end-to-end: re-edits linear segments into YouTube-optimized long-form pieces and edits YouTube-native long-form content with attention to retention pacing, hook structure, and chaptering. Knows the best formats for YouTube and YouTube Shorts and brings that craft to every cut. Sits in the Long-Form Pod and pairs daily with the Long-Form Video Producer Lead on long-form pieces destined for the channel. Second lane: cuts weekly podcast cutdowns for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram - turning the team's recurring podcast episodes into platform-native short-form pieces that extend reach across the social platforms. Operates under the Director of Video Content's YouTube strategy and the Head of Social's overarching social strategy. 

This freelance role is expected to be approximately 40 hours per week, with schedules aligned to tournament coverage needs. Flexibility to work weekends may be required during key tournaments and high-volume event periods. This freelance engagement is anticipated to run through December 2026, with the potential to be extended through the end of 2027 based on business needs and performance.

This is a freelance role and onsite located in Santa Monica, CA. 

In this freelance role, you will... 

Lead YouTube Editing & Production  (primary lane) 

  • Re-edit linear segments into YouTube-optimized long-form pieces (typically 8-25 minute range), with attention to retention pacing, hook structure, and chaptering. 
  • Produce and edit YouTube-native long-form content from scratch, in partnership with the Long-Form Video Producer Lead and the Director of Video Content. 
  • Maintain the YouTube content calendar in partnership with the Director of Video Content. 
  • Identify which linear content is best suited for YouTube re-editing; build relationships with the linear content team to access source material. 
  • Stage every YouTube upload for the Director of Video Content's pre-publish approval on brand-sensitive pieces; route SEO and thumbnail tests under the same approval flow. 

Create Podcast Weekly Cutdowns  (secondary lane) 

  • Cut the team's weekly podcast episodes down into platform-native short-form pieces for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram - the standing recurring deliverable for this lane. 
  • Identify the strongest moments in each weekly episode - clean takes, sharp quotes, debate beats, reactions - and cut them into 30-90 second vertical pieces with platform-native styling (captions, sound, hooks, aspect ratio). 
  • Adapt each cutdown across the three target platforms - Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels - with platform-appropriate length, pacing, captioning, and thumbnail/cover styling. 
  • Maintain a weekly cutdown publish cadence - typically 3-6 cuts per episode across the three platforms - coordinated with the Short-Form Pod and the on-shift coordinator on publish-window timing. 
  • Add platform-native styling to every cutdown (captions, sound mix, end cards) and a thumbnail/cover frame that holds up in feed. 
  • Partner with the Short-Form Video Producer Lead, the Social Media Specialist, and the on-shift coordinator on which cutdowns publish, when, and on which platforms. 

Drive Content & Creative Direction 

  • Apply Tennis Channel brand voice and visual standards on every YouTube piece and every podcast cutdown. 
  • Partner with the Tournament Highlights Editor and the Original/Long-Form Editor on occasional YouTube edits when their formats are a better fit. 
  • Pitch new YouTube formats and serialized programming ideas to the Director of Video Content. 

Stay Ahead of Platform Expertise & Trends 

  • Stay current on Shorts, TikTok, and Reels for the podcast cutdown lane - sound choices, edit timing, hook structures that work for podcast-derived clips. 
  • Run platform-feature tests on YouTube (Shorts placements, Premieres, chapter strategy, format experiments); document what works and roll learnings into the strategy. 
  • Bring YouTube-driven and podcast-cutdown ideas to the Weekly Trending Content Meeting (chaired by the Senior Social Media Manager). 

Partner Cross-Functionally 

  • Pair daily with the Long-Form Video Producer Lead in the Long-Form Pod on YouTube-bound long-form content - concept fit, on-site capture priorities, hand-off, finish. 
  • Partner with the Short-Form Pod and the Social Media Specialist on the podcast cutdown lane - what gets cut, what publishes, when, and on which platforms. 
  • Partner with Programming/Linear to identify which linear segments are candidates for YouTube re-editing; own the actual re-editing under the Director of Video Content's strategic direction. 
  • Coordinate with the Social Graphics Content Specialist on YouTube thumbnails, end cards, lower-thirds, and series art that wraps the channel. 
  • Coordinate with the on-shift coordinator on Shorts publish-window timing and cross-platform asset distribution. 

Key Performance Indicators 

  • YouTube subscriber growth (+100% YoY) - primary KPI. 
  • Average view duration trend on YouTube. 
  • Click-through rate on uploads (target: 6%+ on most uploads, 8%+ on linear re-edits). 
  • Number of linear-to-YouTube re-edits published per month vs. plan. 
  • Audience retention curve quality (qualitative review of retention graphs). 

Key Qualifications 

  • 3-5 years editing and/or producing YouTube content with documented growth results. 
  • Demonstrable track record on a brand or creator channel - must show analytics from prior work, not just edits. 
  • Strong understanding of YouTube algorithm fundamentals: retention, click-through rate, session time, watch time. 
  • Hands-on thumbnail design ability or strong art-direction skills with a designer. 
  • Hands-on short-form vertical editing for Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels - the podcast cutdown lane requires the same craft as a dedicated short-form editor. 
  • Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve fluency; CapCut Pro for fastest-turn cutdowns. 
  • Comfort writing - titles, descriptions, occasional voice-over scripts, podcast cutdown captions. 
  • Comfort working at high volume across two distinct cadences - multi-day YouTube production cycles and weekly podcast cutdown turnaround. 
  • Prior experience adapting linear/broadcast content for YouTube. 
  • Sports, news, or entertainment YouTube channel experience. 
  • Podcast or talk-show editing experience - knowing how to find the clip moment inside a long conversation. 
  • Familiarity with YouTube Studio, vidIQ or TubeBuddy, and basic SEO research tools. 

Tennis Channel is proud to be equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Tennis Channel
 

Tennis Channel is the only multiplatform destination dedicated solely to tennis year-round. Together, the Tennis Channel flagship network, Tennis Channel 2, and the Tennis Channel app (tennischannel.com) deliver the most accessible and concentrated single-sport coverage anywhere. As the exclusive U.S. home of the ATP Tour and WTA Tour, Tennis Channel features live coverage of every Masters 1000 tournament - including Indian Wells, the Miami Open, Madrid, Rome, Cincinnati, and more - alongside live studio programming including its premier series, TC Live. Tennis Channel 2, a free FAST channel available in over 100 million homes, brings fans matches from across the globe at every level of the game. The Tennis Channel app brings it all together in one place, delivering live and on-demand matches, original content, and a personalized multi-view experience for fans, available on mobile and connected TV devices. Owned by Sinclair, Tennis Channel is also a co-owner of PickleballTV (pickleballtv.com), a joint venture with the Professional Pickleball Association.


About Sinclair
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 177 television stations in 79 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair's AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at www.sbgi.net.


About the Team
The life-blood of our organization is our people. We have a compelling story, a goal-oriented culture, and we take really good care of people. How good? Here is a glimpse: great benefits, open-door policy, upward mobility and a strong desire to see you succeed. Ready to be part of a winning team? Let's talk.

The base salary compensation range for this freelance role is $70,350 to $80,000. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidates' relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. Full time positions are eligible for benefits that include participation in a retirement plan, life and disability insurance, health, dental and vision plans, flexible spending accounts, sick leave, vacation time, personal time, parental leave and employee stock purchase plan.

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