Art Directors vs Film and Video Editors: $115K vs $75K Median Pay

Art Directors vs Film and Video Editors: what changes?

Consider Art Directors if you want to formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Consider Film and Video Editors if you would rather edit moving images on film, video, or other media. Both list bachelor's degree; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Art Directors (5 years or more).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Art Directors and Film and Video Editors. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Art Directors

National median pay (2025): $114,850
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: 5 years or more
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: 5 years or more.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 12,200

Know before you choose

BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Art Directors brief

Film and Video Editors

National median pay (2025): $75,420
Route into the job: Bachelor's degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Organize and string together raw footage into a continuous whole according to scripts or the instructions of directors and producers.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,100

Know before you choose

Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

See the full Film and Video Editors brief

How the national numbers differ

Art Directors has the edge on annual openings

Art Directors is at 12,200 annual openings, compared with 3,100 annual openings for Film and Video Editors.

Art Directors has the edge on median pay

Art Directors is at $114,850, compared with $75,420 for Film and Video Editors.

Art Directors has the edge on projected growth

Art Directors is at 4.2% projected growth, compared with 3.7% projected growth for Film and Video Editors.

67.4/ 100

Art Directors

51/ 100

Film and Video Editors

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence