Dancers salary
Data unavailable BLS does not publish annual wage estimates for this occupation; the national median hourly wage is $24.80.
Dancers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 17 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Data unavailable | 160 | 0.93 | ||
| California | Data unavailable | 1,870 | 1.97 | ||
| Florida | Data unavailable | 210 | 0.41 | ||
| Hawaii | Data unavailable | 480 | 14.76 | ||
| Indiana | Data unavailable | 140 | 0.86 | ||
| Kansas | Data unavailable | ||||
| Michigan | Data unavailable | 140 | 0.61 | ||
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 160 | 1.06 | ||
| Missouri | Data unavailable | 440 | 2.87 | ||
| Nevada | Data unavailable | 430 | 5.34 | ||
| New York | Data unavailable | 1,170 | 2.32 | ||
| Oregon | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.67 | ||
| Puerto Rico | Data unavailable | ||||
| Tennessee | Data unavailable | 150 | 0.86 | ||
| Texas | Data unavailable | 190 | 0.26 | ||
| Utah | Data unavailable | 180 | 1.93 | ||
| Wisconsin | Data unavailable | 200 | 1.32 |
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 dancers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 40.7%.
- 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 dancers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- 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
- Study and practice dance moves required in roles.
- Harmonize body movements to rhythm of musical accompaniment.
- Train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency, physical ability, and physical fitness.
- Coordinate dancing with that of partners or dance ensembles.
- Develop self-understanding of physical capabilities and limitations, and choose dance styles accordingly.
- Perform classical, modern, or acrobatic dances in productions, expressing stories, rhythm, and sound with their bodies.
- Collaborate with choreographers to refine or modify dance steps.
- Audition for dance roles or for membership in dance companies.
Technology skills
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Choreography software
- Samba
- Social media sites
- Web browser software
- YouTube
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Ballerina, Ballet Company Member, Ballet Dancer, Ballet Soloist, Belly Dancer, Company Dancer, Dancer, Latin Dancer, Performing Artist, Soloist Dancer.
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
What education do dancers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dancers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dancers to change +2.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.