Dancers
Dancers (SOC 27-2031) earn a median $24.80 an hour in the United States, with 8,130 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Nevada.
What dancers do
Dancers perform dances, and may perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording. In productions they dance classical, modern, or acrobatic styles to convey stories, rhythm, and mood, and alternate titles such as ballet dancer, belly dancer, burlesque dancer, and company dancer show the range of styles. They study and practice the dance moves their roles require, harmonize body movements to the rhythm of musical accompaniment, and coordinate their dancing with partners or dance ensembles. They train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain a high level of technical proficiency, develop an understanding of their own physical capabilities and limitations in choosing dance styles, collaborate with choreographers to refine or modify dance steps, and audition for dance roles or for membership in dance companies. Choreographers, who create the routines, are counted in a separate 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: Acrobatic Dancer, Ballerina, Ballet Company Member, Ballet Dancer, Ballet Soloist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.88 | $17.23 | $24.80 | $38.36 | $52.30 | $30.83 | 8,130 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||
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 dancers 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 | ||||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $12.00 | $18.88 | $38.75 | $51.07 | $74.21 | $41.89 | 430 | 0.28 | 5.34 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $11.11 | $24.03 | $35.31 | $36.90 | $41.35 | $30.33 | 190 | 0.01 | 0.26 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $22.96 | $30.33 | $30.80 | $33.17 | $33.17 | $30.56 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.67 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.26 | $17.18 | $26.32 | $52.30 | $75.00 | $35.70 | 1,170 | 0.12 | 2.32 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $12.76 | $15.68 | $26.23 | $34.13 | $43.58 | $26.01 | 180 | 0.10 | 1.93 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
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 | $16.50 | $16.93 | $21.79 | $37.02 | $44.66 | $28.37 | 1,870 | 0.10 | 1.97 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.26 | $17.18 | $26.32 | $52.30 | $75.00 | $35.70 | 1,170 | 0.12 | 2.32 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $15.55 | $20.82 | $24.68 | $40.91 | $51.28 | $33.81 | 480 | 0.77 | 14.76 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $13.75 | $20.00 | $22.51 | $28.57 | $34.76 | $24.26 | 440 | 0.15 | 2.87 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $12.00 | $18.88 | $38.75 | $51.07 | $74.21 | $41.89 | 430 | 0.28 | 5.34 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $12.00 | $19.02 | $38.75 | $51.07 | $74.75 | $43.57 | 370 | 0.33 | 6.30 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $13.91 | $28.35 | $35.31 | $35.31 | $44.91 | $33.40 | 90 | 0.03 | 0.54 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $14.06 | $19.45 | $34.82 | $48.34 | $62.65 | $38.96 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.34 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $22.96 | $23.66 | $33.17 | $33.17 | $33.17 | $30.07 | 50 | 0.04 | 0.83 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $20.00 | $20.00 | $31.35 | $38.91 | $53.71 | $33.73 | 120 | 0.06 | 1.08 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
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 | $16.88 | $18.68 | $26.32 | $53.04 | $77.40 | $37.49 | 980 | 0.10 | 1.98 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.50 | $17.24 | $20.10 | $35.48 | $39.28 | $27.89 | 660 | 0.11 | 2.02 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.21 | $22.27 | $30.43 | $42.10 | $52.37 | $33.58 | 400 | 0.17 | 3.26 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | Hourly | $12.00 | $19.02 | $38.75 | $51.07 | $74.75 | $43.57 | 370 | 0.33 | 6.30 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $15.55 | $21.85 | $24.68 | $36.11 | $42.82 | $29.78 | 340 | 0.77 | 14.65 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Top industries employing dancers
Performing Arts Companies employ 41.0% of dancers nationally (3,330 jobs) at a median $29.55 an hour, followed by Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (26.2%) and Spectator Sports (10.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Companies NAICS 711100 | 3,330 | 41.0% | * | $29.55 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) NAICS 722400 | 2,130 | 26.2% | * | $22.74 |
| Spectator Sports NAICS 711200 | 820 | 10.1% | * | $16.88 |
| Other Schools and Instruction NAICS 611600 | 600 | 7.4% | * | $27.00 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries NAICS 713900 | 370 | 4.6% | * | $22.67 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (8,130). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Every state, by median wage
16 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 | Nevada profile | $38.75 | * | * | * | 430 | 0.28 | 5.34 |
| 2 | Texas profile | $35.31 | * | * | * | 190 | 0.01 | 0.26 |
| 3 | Oregon profile | $30.80 | * | * | * | 70 | 0.04 | 0.67 |
| 4 | New York profile | $26.32 | * | * | * | 1,170 | 0.12 | 2.32 |
| 5 | Utah profile | $26.23 | * | * | * | 180 | 0.10 | 1.93 |
| 6 | Hawaii profile | $24.68 | * | * | * | 480 | 0.77 | 14.76 |
| 7 | Indiana profile | $24.46 | * | * | * | 140 | 0.05 | 0.86 |
| 8 | Kansas profile | $24.27 | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $22.51 | * | * | * | 440 | 0.15 | 2.87 |
| 10 | California profile | $21.79 | * | * | * | 1,870 | 0.10 | 1.97 |
| 11 | Florida profile | $20.47 | * | * | * | 210 | 0.02 | 0.41 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $16.75 | * | * | * | 160 | 0.06 | 1.06 |
| – | Arizona profile | * | * | * | * | 160 | 0.05 | 0.93 |
| – | Michigan profile | * | * | * | * | 140 | 0.03 | 0.61 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.05 | 0.86 |
| – | Wisconsin profile | * | * | * | * | 200 | 0.07 | 1.32 |
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 27-2031 Dancers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- 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. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-2031.00, 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).
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.