How much does a dancer make?

The median pay is $24.80 per hour — roughly $51,500 a year, with the real range running from about $14.88/hr (10th percentile) to $52.30/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a dancer?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

What does a dancer actually do all day?

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.

Arts & Media

Dancers

Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.

What it pays
Dancers earn a median of $24.80/hr — about $51,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $14.88/hr; the top 10% earn $52.30/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).

The feel of the work

You're around people constantly. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 25.4% of dancers are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are creative, hands-on and people-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a dancer make?: The median pay is $24.80 per hour — roughly $51,500 a year, with the real range running from about $14.88/hr (10th percentile) to $52.30/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a dancer?: The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
What does a dancer actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.