Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.
National median · BLS
$51,584
▲ +3.46%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$64,126
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
8,130
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Dancers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$30,950
25th
$35,838
Median (50th)
$51,584
75th
$79,789
90th — top pay
$108,784
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Dancers
BLS projects employment of dancers to grow 2.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
13,800 → 14,100
+300 jobs
Projected change
+2.2%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
1,600
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
40.7% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Dancers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Dancers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Active Listening3.3
Coordination3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Monitoring2.9
Social Perceptiveness2.9
Speaking2.9
Time Management2.9
Active Learning2.8
Reading Comprehension2.8
Service Orientation2.8
Top knowledge areas
Fine Arts4.5
English Language3.5
Customer and Personal Service2.9
Mathematics2.6
Transportation2.5
Psychology2.5
Sales and Marketing2.5
Therapy and Counseling2.5
Software and technology used
Adobe PhotoshopFacebookMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookApple Final Cut ProChoreography softwareLinkedInPinterestSambaSocial media sitesWeb browser softwareYouTube
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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.
About the job
What dancers do
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.
Also called
Ballet DancerCompany DancerDancerSoloist DancerBallerinaBallet Company MemberBallet SoloistBelly DancerLatin DancerPerforming Artist
More job titles for this occupation (16)
Acrobatic DancerBurlesque DancerDance ArtistDance PerformerDiscotheque DancerEntertainment DancerExotic DancerGo-Go DancerHip Hop ArtistHip Hop Dance InstructorHip Hop DancerLine DancerPerformerPrecision DancerSoft Shoe DancerTap Dancer
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Dancers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $51,584.
