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Dance instructor: 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.

$46,800median pay per year, or $22.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $30,050lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,38025th percentile
  3. $46,800median
  4. $63,21075th percentile
  5. $92,840top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

BLS groups dance instructors with other self-enrichment teachers, whose median pay was $46,800 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, the same rate as all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.5%[2]
Openings per year
50,000[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do dance instructors make?

The BLS category is Self-Enrichment Teachers. It includes dance instructors and teachers of other subjects, such as art, music, martial arts, driving and flying[8]. In May 2025, the median wage was $46,800 a year, or $22.50 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $54,740 a year, or $26.32 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $30,050 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $92,840[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting salary[10].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][11] $30,050 $14.45
25th percentile[4][11] $36,380 $17.49
Median[1] $46,800 $22.50
75th percentile[4][11] $63,210 $30.39
90th percentile[4][11] $92,840 $44.63

These figures cover wage and salary workers, part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits[12]. In 2025, 14.9% in this field worked for themselves, so their earnings are not in this data[13]. BLS counted about 332,110 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[14].

Pay by state and city

BLS published medians for 50 states and the District of Columbia[15]. The District of Columbia came first at $66,430[15]. Among states, New Hampshire was highest at $59,880, followed by New York at $57,790[15]. Arkansas was last at $30,810[15].

California had the most jobs, at 60,260[16]. New York had 31,120 and Texas had 16,680[16]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Lake Charles, LA had the highest median at $79,580, followed by Brownsville-Harlingen, TX at $73,430[17]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs, at 33,380, with a median of $59,600[18].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[15]$66,430600
New Hampshire$59,8801,820
New York$57,79031,120
Connecticut$55,2405,080
Oregon$53,7905,580
New Jersey$53,78013,380
Vermont$53,1901,190
Georgia$52,32010,030
Hawaii$51,9601,730
Maryland$51,6306,570
South Dakota$49,720140
California$49,57060,260
Massachusetts$49,43011,950
Virginia$49,1608,730
Washington$48,02012,890
Alaska$47,710190
Nevada$47,0201,690
Maine$46,7201,120
Wyoming$46,640610
New Mexico$45,8901,840
Florida$45,83011,800
Minnesota$45,6609,050
Montana$45,0501,070
West Virginia$45,010540
Colorado$44,7109,700
Illinois$44,23015,030
Arizona$44,1102,330
Utah$43,5805,180
Missouri$43,0905,010
Rhode Island$41,9601,400
Pennsylvania$41,74015,270
North Carolina$41,7109,320
Kansas$41,2901,070
Michigan$40,3507,190
Kentucky$39,9901,630
South Carolina$39,8003,430
Mississippi$38,770690
Tennessee$38,7303,530
Alabama$38,4302,130
Nebraska$38,2403,360
Oklahoma$38,0102,710
Wisconsin$37,8205,140
Louisiana$37,7603,030
Ohio$37,3608,860
Indiana$36,9803,710
Idaho$36,4902,190
Texas$36,14016,680
Iowa$35,6702,910
North Dakota$35,100470
Delaware$34,730260
Arkansas$30,810900

How to become a dance instructor

The facts for this category are limited to broad entry data. They do not name licenses, certifications or training programs.

In O*NET, the occupation falls in a group that calls for medium preparation, meaning previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience[19].

What self-enrichment teachers do

These teachers instruct people for personal enrichment or recreation. The goal is not a job, a degree, competition or fitness[20]. Typical tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of self-enrichment teachers to expand 3.5% between 2025 and 2035, from roughly 419,100 to 433,700 jobs[2]. All occupations together are also expected to grow 3.5%[3]. These counts include the self-employed[2].

About 50,000 openings a year are projected[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.6% of workers leave the labor force and 5.8% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a field with a typical entry education of a high school diploma and some related experience[7]. The median pay is a little below the all-occupations median, and the range is wide[1][5][4]. Pay also differs a lot by state[15]. Growth is projected to match the all-occupations rate, with about 50,000 openings a year[2][3][6]. Because the category covers many subjects, pay for a specific kind of teaching may differ from these figures.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dance instructor make an hour?
The BLS median for self-enrichment teachers, the category that includes dance instructors, was $22.50 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $26.32[1][9][8].
What education do you need to be a dance instructor?
The typical entry education for this BLS category is a high school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years of related experience[7].
Is self-enrichment teaching in demand?
BLS projects 3.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, the same as all occupations, and about 50,000 openings a year[2][3][6].
Which state pays self-enrichment teachers the most?
Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia with published data, the District of Columbia had the highest median, at $66,430, and New Hampshire was the highest state at $59,880[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers in the US was $46,800 per year and $22.50 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Self-Enrichment Teachers is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 419,100 to 433,700 jobs (a change of +14,600). 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 Self-Enrichment Teachers: 10th percentile $30,050, 25th percentile $36,380, 75th percentile $63,210, 90th percentile $92,840. 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 50,000 openings for Self-Enrichment Teachers 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 Self-Enrichment Teachers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. O*NET 25-3021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Art Teacher, Dance Instructor, Dance Teacher, Driving Instructor, Flight Instructor, Instructor, Martial Arts Instructor, Music Instructor. O*NET OnLine
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers was $54,740 per year and $26.32 per hour. 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, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Self-Enrichment Teachers: 10th percentile $14.45, 25th percentile $17.49, 75th percentile $30.39, 90th percentile $44.63. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 14.9% of Self-Enrichment Teachers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 332,110 people were employed as Self-Enrichment Teachers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. Median annual wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Self-Enrichment Teachers jobs: California 60,260; New York 31,120; Texas 16,680; Pennsylvania 15,270; Illinois 15,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Self-Enrichment Teachers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Lake Charles, LA $79,580; Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $73,430; Albany, OR $62,400; Savannah, GA $61,580; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $59,760; Manchester-Nashua, NH $59,710; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $59,600; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $59,470. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Self-Enrichment Teachers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 33,380 (median $59,600); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 22,400 (median $49,070); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 12,740 (median $45,020); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 10,540 (median $59,470); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 9,110 (median $50,250); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 8,680 (median $46,650). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  19. O*NET 25-3021.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET description of Self-Enrichment Teachers. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET task list for Self-Enrichment Teachers. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Self-Enrichment Teachers: 5.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. 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.

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.