I made $2K in 4 hours from editing and learned this

Last year, I made over $500 an hour editing a six-second commercial. In total, it was about $2,000 for less than four hours of work. But that result didn’t come from working harder—it came from breaking through a series of income ceilings that held me back early in my career.

When I was 19, fresh out of film school, I landed an assistant editor job on an indie documentary. It paid $1,200 a month. I was working 10–12 hour days and effectively earning around $5 an hour. At the time, I thought that was just “paying my dues.” Looking back, I can see I was stuck in multiple traps that kept my rate painfully low.

Here’s what I’d do differently if I were starting over today:

First, I’d stop being just a technical editor and switch my focus to emotional storytelling. Logging footage and managing files caps your income fast. Cutting a six-second commercial that preserves story, emotion, and message? That’s where real value—and higher rates—live.

Second, I’d move into a higher-paying niche. Indie films and social media often have hard budget ceilings. Commercial and broadcast work operate in a completely different financial universe, where higher rates are normal, not exceptional.

Third, I’d stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like a freelance business. Employees trade upside for stability. Freelancers take on risk, but they also get rewarded when a project goes well.

Fourth, I’d avoid vague flat rates and hourly billing. Hourly punishes efficiency. Rather, I like to offer project rates with a clearly defined scope. On this job, I bid a flat rate based on experience, included revisions, and delivered fast. The client loved it, and I got rewarded for being efficient.

Finally (and this one matters more than most editors realize) I’d work on the intangibles: communication, reliability, meeting deadlines, quality control, and having a positive attitude. Especially in high-pressure commercial environments, these traits can dramatically raise your value.

If you want higher editing rates, it’s not about grinding longer hours. It’s about breaking the right ceilings—in the right order.