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ABC13 in Houston Is Hiring a Video Editor With a Starting Salary of $52,200

A video editor at ABC13 earns just $52,200 a year, far below Houston's median household income, despite Disney's vast fortune.

By mitch·6 min read
A solitary video editor works amid glowing monitors in a shadowed television studio.

A Houston station is recruiting a news video editor, offering a base pay of $52,200 annually. The listing, posted on Disneycareers.com, outlines the role as one where video and data are transformed into useful content under strict deadlines for newscasts. The opening is at KTRK Television, Inc., a member of Disney’s ABC Owned TV Stations group. Applicants should bring at least three years of hands-on editing on non-linear systems, plus knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro, Dalet Galaxy, and live signal handling. The schedule demands availability for any shift, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

The Job Requirements

A high school diploma or its equivalent is required for the position. A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, or a similar field is desired. The perfect candidate will be capable of handling multiple tasks at once, ranking assignments by priority, and showing sound judgment about what counts as news.

A candidate for this position must be willing to engage with new technologies and digital platforms to enhance how viewers experience content. They should also take an active role in the community, bring genuine enthusiasm to their work, and find pleasure in collaborating with others.

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The posting states that the actual base pay will reflect internal equity and could differ based on where the candidate works, their job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The package may include a bonus and/or long-term incentive units, alongside the full set of medical, financial, and other benefits.

What ABC13 Does

ABC13 has been Houston’s news and weather leader for over 70 years, according to the posting. The station remains the dominant #1 choice for Houstonians today, providing live local news and weather coverage 24/7 through its linear and streaming newscasts, website, apps, and social media platforms.

The Disney Entertainment Television group develops original entertainment and news programming for the company’s streaming services and its cable and broadcast channels. Alongside its subsidiaries and affiliates, The Walt Disney Company operates as a major global family entertainment and media enterprise that comprises three main business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences.

Starting life as a cartoon studio in the 1920s, Disney has grown into one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, still dedicated to producing high-quality stories and experiences for families everywhere. Its stories, characters, and experiences touch people across the globe. Operating in over 40 nations, its staff and cast members collaborate to build entertainment that resonates with audiences worldwide while respecting local tastes.

The Pay Range

The $52,200 starting salary is striking for a company that operates globally and touts its commitment to innovation. The job description itself emphasizes embracing new technologies and digital platforms, yet the pay floor is set well below what would typically be expected for a professional role at a major network station.

The city is a large urban center, and the expense of daily life there is significant. The firm’s own documents outline its worldwide scale and its dedication to invention, yet the lowest pay offered does not match that level of ambition.

The announcement makes clear that the base pay considers internal equity and can differ depending on personal abilities and experience. So while the final offer might end up exceeding the stated minimum, the advertised range begins at what appears to be a low starting point.

Role Salary Range
Video Editor, KTRK Houston $52,200 to $69,900

The Hiring Process

To apply, candidates need to go through Disneycareers.com, making sure to reference JOB ID #10161972. The Walt Disney Company and its related companies are equal employment opportunity employers who welcome all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations for employment applications are available.

The notice says people applying for jobs will be considered fairly, regardless of their race, faith, skin color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military service, medical condition, genetic information, or disability, or any other reason barred by federal, state, or local law.

The company’s philosophy centers on an open approach to work, with input and judgment from everyone feeding into its growth, innovation, storytelling, and staying relevant in a world that is always changing.

The Bottom Line

A job posting serves as a lens through which one can see how a major entertainment company organizes its entry-level jobs. At ABC13, the video editor position demands transforming raw footage into newscasts ready for broadcast, and the company specifies a minimum of three years of experience in the field.

A starting salary of $52,200 for a professional position at a major network station says something about how the company sees that work. The pay range goes up to $69,900, yet it is the lower limit that will weigh most heavily on anyone thinking about taking the job.

A salary that falls short of a usual threshold for professional work stands out against the posting’s focus on digital platforms and new technologies. The company has offered no explanation for the difference, and the range gives no hint of how an eventual offer might close it.

Walt Disney Company has a reach across the globe and three main business divisions — Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences — which together give it assets that few other firms possess. From its days as a cartoon studio in the 1920s through its present standing as a leading force in the entertainment field, its story is a striking one.

This video editor position’s lowest pay figure offers a striking contrast. It shows that a firm with operations around the world still sets its initial salary far beneath what most would expect. There is a range, yet the opening figure is the one that truly counts.

The company itself says it seeks employees who love what they do and enjoy working with others. For those weighing an application, the real issue is whether the pay matches the cost of giving up nights, weekends, and holidays — a personal judgment call.

A closing note about disability accommodations and equal employment opportunity appears at the end of the posting. It is a standard disclaimer, yet it sits alongside a salary range that raises questions about how the company values its own workforce.

The Walt Disney Company’s name comes from stories and experiences that touch every corner of the world. Its staff and cast members collaborate to produce entertainment that holds meaning for people everywhere while also speaking to local audiences. The video editor at ABC13 contributes to that effort, and now the company is searching for another person to add to the team.

This listing seeks qualified candidates with no pretense. What stands out is the compensation bracket, which arrives without warning.

Source material: “Video Editor,” ABC13 Houston.

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