Dancer salary in the U.S.
Dancers in the U.S. earn a median of $24.80 an hour, based on BLS data for 8,130 workers.
Pay ranges from $14.88 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52.30 for the top 10%.
Pay range for dancers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Hourly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $14.88 |
| 25th percentile | $17.23 |
| Median | $24.80 |
| 75th percentile | $38.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $52.30 |
| Average (mean) | $30.83 |
Half of dancers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
BLS publishes only hourly pay for this job, because dancers often work irregular hours or short engagements, so a yearly figure would be misleading. At $24.80 an hour, every 40-hour week pays $992.
Dancer salary by state
| State | Median hourly | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $38.75 | 430 |
| Texas | $35.31 | 190 |
| Oregon | $30.80 | 70 |
| New York | $26.32 | 1,170 |
| Utah | $26.23 | 180 |
| Hawaii | $24.68 | 480 |
| Indiana | $24.46 | 140 |
| Kansas | $24.27 | n/a |
| Missouri | $22.51 | 440 |
| California | $21.79 | 1,870 |
| Florida | $20.47 | 210 |
| Puerto Rico | $20.24 | n/a |
| Minnesota | $16.75 | 160 |
Best-paying metro areas for dancers
| Metro area | Median hourly | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $38.75 | 370 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $35.31 | 90 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $34.82 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $33.17 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $31.35 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.43 | 400 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $27.62 | 80 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $27.19 | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $26.32 | 980 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $26.29 | 120 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $26.00 | 140 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $24.68 | 340 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $24.46 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $23.53 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $22.75 | 170 |
Metro areas with the most dancers
| Metro area | Workers | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 980 | $26.32 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 660 | $20.10 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 400 | $30.43 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 370 | $38.75 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 340 | $24.68 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 170 | $22.75 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 150 | $20.00 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 150 | $16.75 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 140 | $26.00 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 120 | $26.29 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 120 | $31.35 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 110 | $24.46 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 90 | $35.31 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 90 | $27.19 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 80 | $27.62 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $90,360 | $43.44 |
| Actor | — | $29.05 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $47.80 |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $18.82 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $40,710 | — |
| Athletes and Sports Competitors | $66,710 | — |
| Music Directors and Composers | $73,710 | $35.44 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | — | $21.61 |
| Choreographer | $55,310 | $26.59 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Editor | $77,920 | $37.46 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dancer make in the U.S.?
The median hourly wage for dancers in the U.S. is $24.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $14.88 for the lowest-paid 10% to $52.30 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dancers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of dancers in the U.S. earn at least $52.30 an hour. The top 25% earn $38.36 or more.
What is the starting pay for dancers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $14.88 an hour, and a quarter of dancers earn $17.23 or less.
How many dancers work in the U.S.?
About 8,130 dancers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.