Music Director & Composer
Median wage · national
$73,710
Range: $53K – $104K
Employed
13K
Openings/yr
4K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Dancers
Explore what Dancers professionals do, what they earn, how to get there, and which degree programs lead to this career.
About Dancers
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a dancers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Drama & Theatre and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.
- Employed Nationally
- 8K
- Openings / Year
- 1,600
- Entry Education
- No formal educational credential
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Acrobatic Dancer
Ballerina
Ballet Company Member
Ballet Dancer
Ballet Soloist
What Do Dancers Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Coordination
Social Perceptiveness
Time Management
Who Thrives Here
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Dancers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Low
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
What Is the Job Outlook for Dancers?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +2.2%, meaning it is growing slowly, a little behind the average job. Around 1,600 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +2.2%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Slower than average.
1,600
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
8K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Dancers professionals. Local wages and demand vary considerably from national figures.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,870 | — |
| 2 | New York | 1,170 | — |
| 3 | Hawaii | 480 | — |
| 4 | Missouri | 440 | — |
| 5 | Nevada | 430 | — |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a no formal educational credential. The 2 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Dance program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
No formal educational credential
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drama & Theatre | 16,853 | $39,775 | 1,116 |
| 2 | Dance | 3,233 | $39,980 | 363 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Dancers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 6 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Dancers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Dancers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Dancers Pros & Cons
The data on Dancers shows 0 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +2.2% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
Dancers Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dancers a good career?
Dancers involves trade-offs worth understanding before committing. Job growth is projected at +2.2% through 2035. Genuine interest in the work, not just the salary, matters most here.
How do I become a Dancers?
Most Dancers positions require a no formal educational credential as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Drama & Theatre are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Dancers?
Employment is projected to change by +2.2% through 2035, slower than average compared with other occupations. Around 1,600 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 8K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
What skills do Dancers professionals need?
Mainly Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, and Time Management. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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