The median editor among 24 elite tier editors delivers 93% of orders on time and sees 26% of clients come back. Those records predict a good hire better than a polished portfolio does. This page walks through the signals the marketplace records and how to read them before you commit.
The short answer
- Median on-time rate: 93%
- Median repeat client rate: 26%
- Median completion rate: 96%
- Average rating: 4.5 out of five
The reliability signals worth reading
Portfolios show what an editor can do on a good day. These numbers show what they do on an ordinary one, and they are recorded by the platform, not written by the editor:
| Signal | Median across elite tier editors |
|---|---|
| Delivered on time | 93% |
| Orders completed | 96% |
| Clients who came back | 26% |
| Reviews per editor | 168 |
The average rating in this group is 4.5 out of five. Because ratings bunch up near the top everywhere, the repeat client rate usually separates editors better. A client who books the same editor again is a review written with money.
Questions to ask before you fund an order
A short exchange before funding saves a revision round later. These are the questions experienced buyers ask.
- Have you cut this format before? Ask for one example that is close to your brief, not the best piece in the reel.
- What do you need from me to start? The answer tells you how organized the editor's process is.
- Which files will I get back? Exports for each placement, a caption file, and whether the project file is included.
- How do you want feedback? Timestamped notes on the video are faster for both sides than a list in a message.
- What happens if the footage does not support the brief? A good editor will say so early rather than deliver something that technically follows the brief and does not work.
None of these are tests. They simply surface the assumptions that otherwise come out in round two.
Mistakes that cost time and money
The expensive mistakes are made early and paid for late.
- Hiring on the showreel alone. A reel shows an editor's best work; the delivery record shows their usual work.
- Leaving the brief open. Every decision the brief does not make, a revision round makes instead.
- Sending notes one at a time. Batched notes in one round are faster for everyone than a trickle of messages.
- Changing direction mid round. A new idea after the first cut is a new brief, and it should be priced as one.
- Skipping escrow. Paying off platform removes the one mechanism that settles a disagreement fairly.
Each of these is easier to avoid than to fix.
Rising, pro and elite editors
Every editor carries a tier, earned from their delivery record on the platform rather than bought. Across the marketplace there are 14 rising, 26 pro and 24 elite editors.
| Tier | Editors | Median starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Rising | 14 | $5 |
| Pro | 26 | $5 |
| Elite | 24 | $5 |
A higher tier buys a longer track record, not a guarantee of taste. A rising editor with a portfolio that matches your format can be the better hire for a first test, and an elite editor is worth the premium when the cut is going straight into a paid campaign.
A checklist before you hire
- Match the portfolio to your format. A strong long form reel says little about how someone cuts a hook for paid social.
- Read the on-time rate before the rating. Missed deadlines are the most common reason a hire goes wrong.
- Check the repeat client rate. It is the hardest number to fake.
- Look at what the package includes. Revision rounds, delivery days and file formats are listed up front.
- Fund through escrow. The money is held until you approve the delivery, so a trial order carries little risk.
None of these needs a call. Every item above is visible on an editor's profile, and you can browse vetted editors to compare them side by side.
How quickly editors reply
The median editor in this group replies to an invitation in 35 minutes, and 33% reply within half an hour. Right now 15 are open for new work, 3 are fully booked, and 12 accept instant booking, which means you can fund an order straight from their package without a call first.
Response speed matters more than it looks, because it is a preview of every revision round. An editor who answers a brief within the hour usually answers notes the same way.
Where to go from here
The fastest way to use these numbers is against real profiles. Browse vetted editors, filter to the format you need, and shortlist editors whose package already covers your brief. Funding an order through escrow means you only pay once you approve the cut.
How we worked this out
Every figure on this page was computed from UGC Editing marketplace data as of Oct 15, 2026. The editor figures cover 24 profiles in scope out of 64 on the platform. Medians are lower medians, so each one is a value an editor or a brief actually listed rather than an average of two. Fees come from our own published fee schedule.
Nothing here comes from a survey, a study or an industry estimate. If our data cannot answer something, this page leaves it unanswered rather than guessing.