Film and Video Editors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,600 or more. The middle half of film and video editors in Chicago earn between $59,120 and $89,620.
- $46K10th
- $59K25th
- $78KMedian
- $90K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,590 | $6,382 | $36.82 |
| Median | $78,210 | $6,518 | $37.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,120 | $4,927 | $28.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,620 | $7,468 | $43.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Film and Video Editors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Film and video editors in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($77,150) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($86,130). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $75,420.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $76,590 | $78,210 | $45,940 | $106,600 | 250 |
| Illinois | $77,150 | $72,460 | $46,710 | $116,720 | 310 |
| United States | $86,130 | $75,420 | $40,280 | $148,550 | 25,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Film and Video Editors salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $76,590, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $59,061 a year, or $4,922 a month and $2,272 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $60,443 | $5,037 |
| Working in IL | $59,061 | $4,922 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for film and video editors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $76,590 buys what about $73,932 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Film and Video Editors salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$68,320
- Madison, WI$58,540
- Grand Rapids, MI$65,540
- Indianapolis, IN$51,210
- Detroit, MI$78,050
- St. Louis, MO$70,330
Highest-paying cities for film and video editors
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,640).
- San Francisco, CA$116,640
- New York, NY$110,330
- San Diego, CA$108,410
- Los Angeles, CA$98,130
- Providence, RI$97,800
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Film and Video Editors salary in Chicago: questions
How much do film and video editors make an hour in Chicago?
$36.82 an hour on average, and $37.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level film and video editors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the film and video editors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $59,061 a year ($4,922 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,590.
Do film and video editors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($86,130).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-4032; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.33, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.33).
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