### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Dancers and Choreographers Summary
                        
            
                                    
                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			dancers and choreographers imageThere are many different types of dance, such as ballet, tango, modern dance, tap, and jazz.							
						Quick Facts:     Dancers and Choreographers2023     Median Pay
            						$24.95     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    See How to Become OneOn-the-job Training
                                    Long-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    18,400Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,000What Dancers and Choreographers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Dancers and choreographers use dance performances to express ideas and stories.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Some dancers work in performing arts companies, or are self-employed. Choreographers may work in dance schools, and others may work as self-employed choreographers.
            
                                                How to Become a Dancer or Choreographer
                                                
                        
Education and training requirements vary with the type of dancer; however, all dancers need many years of formal training. Nearly all choreographers began their careers as dancers.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for choreographers was $25.00 in May 2023.									                                														The median hourly wage for dancers was $24.95 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of dancers and choreographers is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 3,000 openings for dancers and choreographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for dancers and choreographers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of dancers and choreographers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about dancers and choreographers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Dancers and Choreographers Do 
            

			Dancers and choreographersSome dancers perform in theater productions.			
Dancers and choreographers use dance performances to express ideas and stories. There are many types of dance, such as ballet, tango, modern dance, tap, and jazz.
Duties
Dancers typically do the following:
Audition for a part in a show or for a job within a dance company
Learn complex dance movements that entertain an audience
Rehearse several hours each day to prepare for their performance
Study new and emerging types of dance
Work closely with instructors, choreographers, or other dancers to interpret or modify their routines
Attend promotional events, such as photography sessions, for the production in which they are appearingDancers spend years learning dances and perfecting their skills. They usually perform as part of a group and know a variety of dance styles, including ballet, tap, and modern dance. In addition to traditional performances in front of a live audience, many perform on TV, in videos on the Internet, and in music videos, in which they also may sing or act. Many dancers perform in shows at casinos, in theme parks, and on cruise ships.
Choreographers typically do the following:
Put together moves in a sequence to create new dances or interpretations of existing dances
Choose the music that will accompany a dance routine
Audition dancers for a role in a show or within a dance company
Assist with costume design, lighting, and other artistic aspects of a show
Teach complex dance movements
Study new and emerging types of dance to design more creative dance routines
Help with the administrative duties of a dance company, such as budgetingChoreographers create original dances and develop new interpretations of existing dances. They work in dance schools, theaters, dance companies, and movie studios. During rehearsals, they typically demonstrate dance moves, to instruct dancers in the proper technique. Many choreographers also perform the dance routines they create. Some choreographers work with performers who are not trained dancers. For example, the complex martial arts scenes performed by actors in movies are arranged by choreographers who specialize in martial arts.
Some dancers and choreographers hold other jobs between roles to make a living.
 Work Environment
			Dancers and choreographersDancers may rehearse several hours each day to prepare for their performance.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Choreographers held about 6,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of choreographers were as follows:
        Educational services; state, local, and private
                51%Self-employed workers
                19Performing arts companies
                18Dancers held about 11,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of dancers were as follows:
        Performing arts companies
                30%Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
                29Self-employed workers
                19Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)
                13Spectator sports
                2Injuries and Illnesses
Dance takes a toll on a person’s body, so on-the-job injuries are common in dancers. In fact, dancers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Many dancers stop performing by the time they reach their late thirties because of the physical demands of their work. Nonperforming dancers may continue to work as choreographers, directors, or dance teachers.
Work Schedules
Schedules for dancers and choreographers vary with where they work. During tours, dancers and choreographers have long workdays, rehearsing most of the day and performing at night.
Choreographers who work in dance schools may have a standard workweek when they are instructing students. They also spend hours working independently to create new dance routines.
 How to Become a Dancer or Choreographer

			Dancers and choreographersMost dancers begin training at a young age.			
Education and training requirements vary with the type of dancer; however, all dancers need many years of formal training. Nearly all choreographers began their careers as dancers.
Education and Training
Many dancers begin training when they are young and continue to learn throughout their careers. Ballet dancers begin training the earliest, usually between the ages of 5 and 8 for girls and a few years later for boys. Their training becomes more serious as they enter their teens, and most ballet dancers begin their professional careers by the time they are 18.
Leading professional dance companies sometimes have intensive summer training programs from which they might select candidates for admission to their regular full-time training programs.
Modern dancers normally begin formal training while they are in high school. They attend afterschool dance programs and summer training programs to prepare for their career or for a college dance program.
Some dancers and choreographers pursue postsecondary education. Many colleges and universities offer bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in dance, typically through departments of theater or fine arts. As of March 2016, there were about 75 dance programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. Most programs include coursework in a variety of dance styles, including modern dance, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. Most entrants into college dance programs have previous formal training.
Some choreographers work as dance teachers. Teaching dance in a college, high school, or elementary school requires a college degree. Some dance studios and conservatories prefer instructors who have a degree; however, they may accept previous work in lieu of a degree.
Work Experience in a Related Occupation
Nearly all choreographers begin their careers as dancers. While working as dancers, they study different types of dance and learn how to choreograph routines.
Advancement
Some dancers take on more responsibility if they are promoted to dance captain in musical theater companies. They lead rehearsals or work with less experienced dancers when the choreographer is not present.
Some dancers become choreographers. Dancers and choreographers also may become theater, film, or television producers and directors.
Important Qualities
***Athleticism.*** Successful dancers must have excellent balance, physical strength, and physical dexterity so that they can move their bodies without falling or losing their sense of rhythm.
***Creativity.*** Dancers need artistic ability and creativity to express ideas through movement. Choreographers also must have artistic ability and innovative ideas, to create new and interesting dance routines.
***Leadership skills.*** Choreographers must be able to direct a group of dancers to perform the routines that they have created.
***Persistence.*** Dancers must commit to years of intense practice. They need to be able to accept rejection after auditions and to continue to practice for future performances. Choreographers must keep studying and creating new routines.
***Physical stamina.*** Dancers are often physically active for long periods, so they must be able to rehearse for many hours without getting tired.
***Teamwork.*** Most dance routines involve a group or pairs, so dancers must be able to work together to be successful.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                       Dancers and ChoreographersMedian hourly wages, May 2023Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers$25.65   Choreographers$25.00   Dancers and choreographers$24.95   Dancers$24.95   Total, all occupations$23.11Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for choreographers was $25.00 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.44, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43.82.The median hourly wage for dancers was $24.95 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.15, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48.14.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for choreographers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Performing arts companies
                $28.54Educational services; state, local, and private
                20.24In May 2023, the median hourly wages for dancers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)
                $29.84Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries
                28.33Performing arts companies
                23.44Spectator sports
                14.38Schedules for dancers and choreographers vary with where they work. During tours, dancers and choreographers have long workdays, rehearsing most of the day and performing at night.
Choreographers who work in dance schools may have a standard workweek when they are instructing students. They also spend hours working independently to create new dance routines.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                      Dancers and ChoreographersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Entertainers and performers, sports and related workers6%  Choreographers5%  Dancers and choreographers5%  Dancers5%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of dancers and choreographers is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 3,000 openings for dancers and choreographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Employment growth in these relatively small occupations is closely tied to the demand for performing arts. Social media, which allows dancers and choreographers to reach a larger and more diverse audience, is expected to generate some interest in dance performances. New jobs may be concentrated in specific markets, such as cities with strong arts culture, or with certain employers, such as private dance studios. However, funding constraints may offset demand for these workers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     dancers and choreographers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Dancers and choreographers**
			27-2030
			18,400
			19,400
			5
			1,000
			Get data**Dancers**
			27-2031
			11,500
			12,200
			5
			600
			Get data**Choreographers**
			27-2032
			6,900
			7,300
			5
			300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Choreographers
					Dancers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of dancers and choreographers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Actors**
            Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media.
            Some college, no degree
            The annual wage is not available.**Art Directors**
            Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $106,500**Music Directors and Composers**
            Music directors lead musical groups during performances and recording sessions. Composers write and arrange original music in a variety of musical styles.
            Bachelor's degree
            $62,590**Musicians and Singers**
            Musicians and singers play instruments or sing for live audiences and in recording studios.
            No formal educational credential
            The annual wage is not available.**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Producers and Directors**
            Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about film, television, stage, and other productions.
            Bachelor's degree
            $82,510
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about dancers and choreographers, visit
Dance/USA
National Endowment for the Arts
National Association of Schools of Dance
USA Dance
CareerOneStop
For a career video on choreographers, visit
Choreographers

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        ChoreographersDancers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dancers and Choreographers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/dancers-and-choreographers.htm (visited *May 17, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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