Podcast Audio Editing Jobs - What Are They and How to Get One | Ziprecruiter (2024)

FAQs

How do I become an audio editor for podcasts? ›

The qualifications that you need to get a job as a podcast audio editor include skills in the use of audio editing software and a background in sound recording or editing. Employers may have degree and experience requirements, but a degree may not be necessary if you have experience.

$35,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $70,500 is the 75th percentile.

As a podcast editor, you'll manipulate raw audio files using DAW to enhance the podcast. You'll ensure that each podcast episode is clean and has a clear narrative and natural content flow. Your ultimate goal is to create a compelling story for your listeners.

Audio editing is used in TV, music, and film production to create and edit the perfect soundtrack. A sound editor or engineer builds the soundtrack by cutting the picture to synchronize it with sound elements. Their duties involve working with dialogue tracks, recordings, and analog and digital foley.

While there are no formal education requirements to become a sound editor, having extensive training or background in audio (sound production, sound mixing, audio engineering, music engineering, dubbing) is definitely required—especially since it's such a technology-driven craft in the industry.

Mid-level freelancers usually bill their clients around $30 to $50 per audio hour. Top editors are the most experienced and expensive in the field since they ensure top-quality services. Their services usually fall from $50 to $200 per hour of audio.

For that reason, editing audio is one of the most critical processes in podcasting. It's also one of the most challenging. Luckily, with some podcast editing tips, you can make your life a lot easier and create great audio. If you've ever wondered how to edit a podcast, you're in the right place.

The estimated total pay for a Editor at Spotify is $142,611 per year.

The length of your podcast

As a general rule, after personally overseeing the production of over 50 podcasts, I'd say a good average edit time for a 30-40 minute podcast is about 4-5 hours.

What are 4 areas of audio editing? ›

Audio editing is tricky; it takes a lot of work and a good ear to create an exceptional piece of audio, whether it's music or sound effects. You cannot simply record something and think it's good to go; recording is simply the starting point.

The average salary for a sound editor in the United States is $48,306. Sound editor salaries typically range between $20,000 and $113,000 a year. The average hourly rate for sound editors is $23.22 per hour. Location, education, and experience impacts how much a sound editor can expect to make.

To get a freelance audio editing job, you need proven skills in audio engineering or a related field. Clients or companies may require qualifications like a degree or certificate as an audio technician or sound engineer.

How Much Do Podcast Editor Jobs Pay per Year? $35,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $70,500 is the 75th percentile.

How much should I charge to edit a podcast? ›

So How Much Does Podcast Editing Cost? For a one-hour episode, your podcast might need around two-and-a-half hours for a full edit with a freelancer and will cost you upwards of $80 but probably not more than $500, especially if your recording is of a reasonable standard.

Why Podcasts Fail: Lack of Consistency. Most podcasters quit after the first three episodes. Starting a podcast and not sticking to a schedule is how most podcasts fail. You probably expect to succeed after you have published your first few episodes.

Thorough Podcast Editing & Production

They can use a notepad to jot down potential edit timecodes, but they prefer to focus 100% on the conversation. Later on, this long interview will need a full listen-through, which can take double its time. As a ballpark, a one-hour recording will need two hours of editing.

To put harder numbers on it, many sponsorship agencies look for 3000 to 5000 listeners, per episode, before they'll take you on. But, if you're doing it yourself, it's perfectly possible to earn a decent sponsorship income once you pass the 200 to 300 mark, especially if you have a particularly niche audience.

Typically, a podcaster with around 10,000 downloads per episode can expect to earn somewhere between $500 to $900. Very successful podcasts can earn much more, reaching up to $30 million in annual income.

Your podcast can make money between six to 12 months with the right strategy. What is this? Yes! But while businesses have only just added podcasting to their marketing channels, you're going to organize some targeted marketing to shorten the time to monetizing your podcast.

Having some features like live sound recording, pitch, speed, and more are always important. The audio file format and support for different things make it a great audio editing software to choose from.

Time Spent Editing

On average, a podcast episode is about 60 minutes. For a 60-minute recording, cleanup and mixing usually takes around 90 minutes, the actual editing takes about 60 minutes, and finalizing the MP3 file takes about 30 minutes.

If you're creating interesting content that your listeners want to hear, then your podcast can be as long as it takes to keep them engaged. The length of your podcast also depends on your subject, industry or genre. It could be that around 15-20 minutes perfect for your listeners.

What is the most popular length of podcast? ›

If your podcast episodes are too long, it could cause you to turn off listeners. Data shows that the most common podcast episode length is somewhere between 20-40 minutes, so aim for that area.

Expect to pay between $30 and $50 per hour of audio. Top Sellers: These are the most experienced podcast editors on a given platform. They have a track-record of satisfied clients, so be prepared to spend a bit more. Prices generally fall between $50 and $200 per hour of audio.

Do no harm. That's it. That is the golden rule when editing vocals.

The two main types of audio editing are destructive and non-destructive. Destructive editing means that the original recording is permanently altered, while non-destructive leaves the original recording intact while creating a new version with edits.

The first step of the audio editing process is to focus on the dialogue. At this phase in post production sound editing you want to remove distractions that take away from the dialogue.

Good Sound Editing Begins With Good Recording

Make sure to use a recording device you are familiar with. Include about a second of silence both before and after recording a sound. This will help with mixing later on. Record close to the source of the sound with a directional mic for best results.

On average, it only takes new students a few days to become comfortable with video editing software and only a few weeks to learn the more advanced functions of those applications.

If you're new to video editing and are learning from scratch, that's a different matter entirely. (In case you're wondering: you might be able to master the basics of most programs in a few days. To get to a pro editing level, though, you have to factor in at least six months of continuous editing work.)

Allow one hour per finished minute to arrive at the Fine Cut. Plan on one hour per finished minute to design and edit Sound Effects and Music.

How much do podcast editors make per episode? ›

Editing an hour-long episode recorded to a reasonable standard you'd be looking to pay between $80 and $500. On Fiverr, you may pay less, perhaps $50, but check out credentials. That's because the competitive element of the platform pushes prices down, often unprofessionally.

Podcast Writer is a common job search query. Most salaries for Podcast Writer jobs pay between $60,000 (25th percentile) and $96,000 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Podcast Writer job searches, with about 200 jobs hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. This is when the podcast promotes the sponsor during the show. You probably hear your favorite shows plug their advertisers a few times in every episode. How much you earn from a sponsor depends on the number of downloads your episodes earn.

How much does an Audio Editor make hourly in the United States? The average hourly wage for an Audio Editor in the United States is $29 as of May 01, 2023, but the salary range typically falls between $25 and $32.

Technically, there are no strict requirements for becoming a freelance writer. You don't need a degree, a certificate, or a writers' retreat. There are, however, certain traits that will help you tremendously. First and foremost, you need to be open-minded and willing to learn.

In our experience, new freelancers will probably charge from $1 to $20 per audio hour. Mid-level freelancers usually bill their clients around $30 to $50 per audio hour.

Thorough Podcast Editing & Production

They can use a notepad to jot down potential edit timecodes, but they prefer to focus 100% on the conversation. Later on, this long interview will need a full listen-through, which can take double its time. As a ballpark, a one-hour recording will need two hours of editing.

Generally, the longer your show, the more time it takes to edit because… shock horror…you've got more audio to get through. As a general rule, after personally overseeing the production of over 50 podcasts, I'd say a good average edit time for a 30-40 minute podcast is about 4-5 hours.

If you want to join the podcasting industry but don't want to host your show, you can find a job at a company that is involved in podcasting. You can quickly start working as a podcast producer, editor, writer, researcher, or find a job in marketing. Better paid positions ask for experience.

How do I start a paid podcast? ›

According to Charlamagne Tha God, the podcaster personalities who have the most lucrative operation are Million Dollaz Worth of Game hosts Gillie Da Kid and Wallo267, a claim he shared during a recent appearance on their show.