Choreographers
Choreographers (SOC 27-2032) earn a median $55,310 a year ($26.59 an hour) in the United States, with 2,860 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What choreographers do
Choreographers create new dance routines, rehearse the performance of those routines, and may direct and stage presentations. They run rehearsals to teach dancers steps and techniques that produce the desired effects, advise dancers on correct posture and movement, and teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement. They record dance movements and their technical details, direct and stage dance presentations for different kinds of entertainment, and choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narration that goes with a dance. They experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements to test ideas, and seek influences from other art forms such as theater, the visual arts, and architecture. Alternate titles include ballet director, dance instructor, and dance master. Dancers, who perform the work, are counted as a different occupation.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Ballet Director, Choreographer, Choreography Director, Dance Choreographer, Dance Director.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.39 | $20.00 | $26.59 | $36.40 | $66.65 | $35.14 | 2,860 |
| Annual | $34,090 | $41,600 | $55,310 | $75,710 | $138,630 | $73,100 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where choreographers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.30 | $36.21 | $83.22 | $104.21 | $160.20 | $81.23 | 340 | 0.04 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $48,470 | $75,310 | $173,100 | $216,750 | $333,210 | $168,960 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $20.67 | $24.53 | $36.06 | $48.92 | $66.65 | $41.24 | 410 | 0.02 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $42,990 | $51,020 | $75,000 | $101,740 | $138,630 | $85,790 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $20.00 | $20.00 | $35.97 | $42.00 | $42.00 | $32.85 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $41,600 | $74,810 | $87,360 | $87,360 | $68,330 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $28.52 | $32.88 | $33.24 | $33.83 | $36.42 | $33.11 | 80 | 0.03 | 1.62 |
| Annual | $59,320 | $68,390 | $69,140 | $70,360 | $75,760 | $68,860 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.82 | $27.93 | $32.17 | $32.37 | $39.32 | $30.51 | 120 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $41,230 | $58,080 | $66,910 | $67,320 | $81,780 | $63,460 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $20.67 | $24.53 | $36.06 | $48.92 | $66.65 | $41.24 | 410 | 0.02 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $42,990 | $51,020 | $75,000 | $101,740 | $138,630 | $85,790 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.78 | $17.70 | $22.34 | $28.61 | $29.87 | $22.62 | 380 | 0.03 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $32,810 | $36,810 | $46,460 | $59,500 | $62,130 | $47,050 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $23.30 | $36.21 | $83.22 | $104.21 | $160.20 | $81.23 | 340 | 0.04 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $48,470 | $75,310 | $173,100 | $216,750 | $333,210 | $168,960 | ||||
| South Dakota | Hourly | $13.13 | $15.84 | $19.39 | $23.90 | $30.98 | $20.73 | 250 | 0.55 | 29.82 |
| Annual | $27,300 | $32,940 | $40,320 | $49,710 | $64,430 | $43,120 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $21.12 | $22.61 | $24.60 | $29.17 | $29.68 | $25.55 | 210 | 0.11 | 5.78 |
| Annual | $43,940 | $47,030 | $51,170 | $60,680 | $61,730 | $53,140 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.55 | $36.21 | $82.11 | $104.21 | $160.20 | $77.23 | 340 | 0.04 | 1.96 |
| Annual | $53,150 | $75,310 | $170,780 | $216,750 | $333,210 | $160,640 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.22 | $33.03 | $47.80 | $66.65 | $67.00 | $48.56 | 100 | 0.04 | 2.21 |
| Annual | $62,860 | $68,700 | $99,430 | $138,630 | $139,360 | $101,000 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $24.53 | $26.58 | $42.24 | $42.24 | $42.24 | $36.61 | 60 | 0.05 | 2.77 |
| Annual | $51,020 | $55,290 | $87,850 | $87,850 | $87,850 | $76,140 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.37 | $25.38 | $36.06 | $48.92 | $67.49 | $49.40 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $38,210 | $52,790 | $75,000 | $101,740 | $140,380 | $102,750 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $20.00 | $20.00 | $35.97 | $42.00 | $42.00 | $32.74 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $41,600 | $74,810 | $87,360 | $87,360 | $68,090 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $25.55 | $36.21 | $82.11 | $104.21 | $160.20 | $77.23 | 340 | 0.04 | 1.96 |
| Annual | $53,150 | $75,310 | $170,780 | $216,750 | $333,210 | $160,640 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.37 | $25.38 | $36.06 | $48.92 | $67.49 | $49.40 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $38,210 | $52,790 | $75,000 | $101,740 | $140,380 | $102,750 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $20.54 | $27.58 | $29.39 | $40.00 | $44.15 | $33.24 | 100 | 0.04 | 1.94 |
| Annual | $42,720 | $57,370 | $61,130 | $83,200 | $91,820 | $69,140 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $30.22 | $33.03 | $47.80 | $66.65 | $67.00 | $48.56 | 100 | 0.04 | 2.21 |
| Annual | $62,860 | $68,700 | $99,430 | $138,630 | $139,360 | $101,000 | ||||
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | Hourly | $11.59 | $14.43 | $17.41 | $30.98 | $31.43 | $21.56 | 90 | 0.51 | 27.61 |
| Annual | $24,100 | $30,010 | $36,220 | $64,430 | $65,380 | $44,850 | ||||
Top industries employing choreographers
Other Schools and Instruction employ 43.7% of choreographers nationally (1,250 jobs) at a median $48,610 a year ($23.37 an hour), followed by Performing Arts Companies (38.5%) and Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (4.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Schools and Instruction NAICS 611600 | 1,250 | 43.7% | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Performing Arts Companies NAICS 711100 | 1,100 | 38.5% | $63,940 | $30.74 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events NAICS 711300 | 140 | 4.9% | $59,270 | $28.49 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 70 | 2.4% | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 60 | 2.1% | $40,320 | $19.39 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,860). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $42,700 for choreographers in May 2021 and $55,310 in May 2025, with employment of 3,990 and 2,860.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $42,700 | $20.53 | 3,990 |
| May 2022 | $50,990 | $24.52 | 5,400 |
| May 2023 | $52,000 | $25.00 | 4,190 |
| May 2024 | $55,600 | $26.73 | 3,430 |
| May 2025 | $55,310 | $26.59 | 2,860 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
14 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $83.22 | $173,100 | $48,470 | $333,210 | 340 | 0.04 | 1.89 |
| 2 | California profile | $36.06 | $75,000 | $42,990 | $138,630 | 410 | 0.02 | 1.22 |
| 3 | Minnesota profile | $35.97 | $74,810 | $41,600 | $87,360 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.82 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $33.24 | $69,140 | $59,320 | $75,760 | 80 | 0.03 | 1.62 |
| 5 | Ohio profile | $32.17 | $66,910 | $41,230 | $81,780 | 120 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
| 6 | Louisiana profile | $24.60 | $51,170 | $43,940 | $61,730 | 210 | 0.11 | 5.78 |
| 7 | Nebraska profile | $23.79 | $49,490 | $48,450 | $73,740 | 60 | 0.06 | 3.15 |
| 8 | Texas profile | $22.34 | $46,460 | $32,810 | $62,130 | 380 | 0.03 | 1.49 |
| 9 | Indiana profile | $21.56 | $44,840 | $41,740 | $82,280 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | South Dakota profile | $19.39 | $40,320 | $27,300 | $64,430 | 250 | 0.55 | 29.82 |
| 11 | Alabama profile | $18.74 | $38,990 | $35,550 | $49,080 | 30 | 0.02 | 0.84 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $17.63 | $36,670 | $31,310 | $64,550 | 180 | 0.02 | 1.00 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | $16.61 | $34,560 | $31,200 | $35,890 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.28 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $16.18 | $33,640 | $28,140 | $69,330 | 60 | 0.04 | 1.89 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-2030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-2032 Choreographers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-2032, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-2032.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.