Your numbers
What a video editor should include in expenses
Typical costs include editing software, a powerful computer, fast storage, plugins and stock music. Add your own and keep receipts for tax time.
Where unbilled time goes
Video Editors commonly lose billable hours to importing and organizing footage, revisions and rendering. Count these when choosing your billable hours per week.
Pricing models
Common choices are per finished minute, per project, or hourly for revisions.
Tip: Count render and export time as work, and limit revision rounds in writing.
The math
Gross revenue = ($70,000 + $8,000) ÷ 0.72 = $108,333. Billable hours = (52 − 5) × 25 = 1,175. Minimum rate = $108,333 ÷ 1,175 = $92 per hour. See the methodology. Example inputs are illustrations, not market data.
General hourly rate calculator · Tax set-aside · Retainer pricing · All professions
Frequently asked questions
What should a video editor charge per hour?
It depends on your target income, costs and billable time. With $70,000 take-home, $8,000 expenses, a 28% tax set-aside, 5 weeks off and 25 billable hours a week, the minimum comes to about $92 per hour. These are example inputs, so enter your own.
How many billable hours does a video editor really have?
Many freelancers bill fewer hours than they work because of importing and organizing footage, revisions and rendering. The example uses 25 billable hours a week; track your own time to find your number.
How should a video editor price work?
Common models are per finished minute, per project, or hourly for revisions.
Is this the rate I should quote?
No. It is the minimum that meets your targets. Add margin for demand, specialty and risk.