Choreographers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,090 | $16.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Mean (average) | $73,100 | $35.14 |
| 90th percentile | $138,630 | $66.65 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Choreographers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 14 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,990 | $35,550 | $49,080 | 30 | 0.84 |
| California | $75,000 | $42,990 | $138,630 | 410 | 1.22 |
| Florida | $36,670 | $31,310 | $64,550 | 180 | 1 |
| Illinois | $34,560 | $31,200 | $35,890 | 30 | 0.28 |
| Indiana | $44,840 | $41,740 | $82,280 | ||
| Louisiana | $51,170 | $43,940 | $61,730 | 210 | 5.78 |
| Maryland | $69,140 | $59,320 | $75,760 | 80 | 1.62 |
| Minnesota | $74,810 | $41,600 | $87,360 | 40 | 0.82 |
| Nebraska | $49,490 | $48,450 | $73,740 | 60 | 3.15 |
| New York | $173,100 | $48,470 | $333,210 | 340 | 1.89 |
| Ohio | $66,910 | $41,230 | $81,780 | 120 | 1.13 |
| South Dakota | $40,320 | $27,300 | $64,430 | 250 | 29.82 |
| Texas | $46,460 | $32,810 | $62,130 | 380 | 1.49 |
| Utah | $33,640 | $28,140 | $69,330 | 60 | 1.89 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for choreographers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 39.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for choreographers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Dance, General CIP 50.0301
- Ballet CIP 50.0302
- Dance, Other CIP 50.0399
- Musical Theatre CIP 50.0509
- Theatre and Dance CIP 50.0512
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
- Advise dancers on standing and moving properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
- Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
- Record dance movements and their technical aspects, using a technical understanding of the patterns and formations of choreography.
- Direct and stage dance presentations for various forms of entertainment.
- Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
- Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.
- Seek influences from other art forms, such as theatre, the visual arts, and architecture.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Chorel Technology Dance Designer
- Credo Interactive DanceForms
- Email software
- Salesforce Visualforce
- Social media sites
- Web browser software
- YouTube
Transferable skills for career changers: Instructing, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Ballet Director, Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Maker, Musical Choreographer, Opera Choreographer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do choreographers make?
The national median annual wage for choreographers was $55,310 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $138,630. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do choreographers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is choreographers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of choreographers to change +3.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay choreographers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($173,100), California ($75,000), Minnesota ($74,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.