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Choreographer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$55,310median pay per year, or $26.59 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $41,60025th percentile
  3. $55,310median
  4. $75,71075th percentile
  5. $138,630top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Choreographers earned a median of $55,310 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow slightly slower than all occupations over the next decade[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.1%[2]
Openings per year
600[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do choreographers make?

The median wage for choreographers was $55,310 a year, or $26.59 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[5]. The average was $73,100 a year, or $35.14 an hour, which is higher than the median[8].

The range is wide.

Point in the range Annual wage Hourly wage
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[4][9] $34,090 $16.39
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[4][9] $41,600 $20.00
Median[1] $55,310 $26.59
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[4][9] $75,710 $36.40
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[4][9] $138,630 $66.65

A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits[11]. About 2,860 people held wage and salary jobs as choreographers[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for only 14 states[13]. New York was first at $173,100, followed by California at $75,000, Minnesota at $74,810, Maryland at $69,140 and Ohio at $66,910[13]. Utah had the lowest published median at $33,640[13].

California had the most jobs at 410, followed by Texas at 380, New York at 340, South Dakota at 250 and Louisiana at 210[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median at $170,780[15]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont followed at $99,430 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at $75,000[15]. The New York area also had the most jobs at 340[16].

Show median pay in 14 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$173,100340
California$75,000410
Minnesota$74,81040
Maryland$69,14080
Ohio$66,910120
Louisiana$51,170210
Nebraska$49,49060
Texas$46,460380
Indiana$44,840n/a
South Dakota$40,320250
Alabama$38,99030
Florida$36,670180
Illinois$34,56030
Utah$33,64060

How to become a choreographer

The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers dancers and choreographers together, so it describes a wider group[17].

Some employers want a bachelor's degree, such as one in dance or a related performing arts field[18]. Some choreographers also teach dance. Teaching in a school or college may require a college degree[21].

In an O*NET survey of 21 choreographers, 33% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 19% said a post-secondary certificate and 19% said a bachelor's degree[22].

What choreographers do

Choreographers create new dance routines, rehearse them and may direct and stage presentations[23]. Typical tasks include:

BLS names creativity and leadership as important qualities[25][26].

Where they work

About 40% of dancers and choreographers together were self-employed in 2025[27]. For choreographers alone, the figure was 39.6%[28]. Part-time work is common for dancers and choreographers, and schedules may include early mornings, evenings and weekends[29]. Travel may be required for some workers[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,700 to 4,900 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS projects about 600 openings a year[6]. They include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year 5.1% of workers leave the labor force and 6.2% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is a little above the all-occupations median, and the range is very wide[1][5][4]. Entry asks for years of related experience, usually gained as a dancer[7][19]. Growth is a little below the all-occupations rate[2][3]. In 2025, 39.6% of choreographers were self-employed[28]. The facts suggest the job suits people with creative ideas who are comfortable leading others[25][26].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a choreographer make an hour?
The median was $26.59 an hour in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $16.39 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $66.65[9].
What education do you need to be a choreographer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education[7]. Some employers may require or prefer a bachelor's degree[18].
How long does it take to become a choreographer?
BLS lists 5 years or more of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[7].
Is choreographer a growing field?
BLS projects 3.1% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].
What is the highest paying state for choreographers?
New York had the highest published median at $173,100[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Choreographers in the US was $55,310 per year and $26.59 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Choreographers is projected to grow 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,700 to 4,900 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Choreographers: 10th percentile $34,090, 25th percentile $41,600, 75th percentile $75,710, 90th percentile $138,630. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 600 openings for Choreographers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Choreographers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Choreographers was $73,100 per year and $35.14 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Choreographers: 10th percentile $16.39, 25th percentile $20.00, 75th percentile $36.40, 90th percentile $66.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,860 people were employed as Choreographers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Choreographers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Choreographers jobs: California 410; Texas 380; New York 340; South Dakota 250; Louisiana 210. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Choreographers (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $170,780; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $99,430; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $75,000; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $61,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Choreographers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 340 (median $170,780); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 100 (median $75,000); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 100 (median $61,130); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 100 (median $99,430); Sioux Falls, SD-MN 90 (median $36,220); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 60 (median $87,850). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Dancers and Choreographers" covers Choreographers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 27-2032.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 33%, Post-Secondary Certificate 19%, Bachelor's Degree 19%, Less than a High School Diploma 10%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Choreographers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Choreographers. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of dancers and choreographers in 2025: Self-employed workers 40%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Employment Projections: 39.6% of Choreographers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Choreographers: 5.1% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.