Choreographers: Career Profile
Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Choreographers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of choreographers cover:
- Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
- Advise dancers on standing and moving properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
- Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
- Record dance movements and their technical aspects, using a technical understanding of the patterns and formations of choreography.
- Direct and stage dance presentations for various forms of entertainment.
- Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
- Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.
- Seek influences from other art forms, such as theatre, the visual arts, and architecture.
What Choreographers Need to Know
Top choreographers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Ballet Director
- Choreographer
- Choreography Director
- Dance Choreographer
- Dance Director
- Dance Instructor
- Dance Maker
- Dance Master
How Many Choreographers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 318,556 choreographers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +14.8% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Choreographers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $109,380 |
| Hourly median | $52.59 |
| 10th percentile | $61,873 |
| 25th percentile | $85,627 |
| 75th percentile | $133,134 |
| 90th percentile | $156,887 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Choreographers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $94,090 |
| North Carolina | $79,630 |
| Maryland | $64,770 |
| Ohio | $62,970 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 |
| California | $61,320 |
| Louisiana | $44,880 |
| Virginia | $44,740 |
| Texas | $44,660 |
| South Carolina | $42,580 |
| South Dakota | $38,230 |
| Utah | $37,710 |
| Alabama | $37,580 |
| Florida | $35,270 |
| Kansas | $33,790 |
| Illinois | $31,570 |
Where Choreographers Earn the Most
Compensation for choreographers differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $76,101 | 16.9% | 1.63 |
| Great Lakes | $62,970 | 5.0% | 1.16 |
| Far Western US | $61,320 | 28.8% | 1.98 |
| Southwest | $44,660 | 17.6% | 1.59 |
| Southeast | $44,487 | 17.3% | 2.77 |
| Rocky Mountains | $37,710 | 5.8% | 4.29 |
| Plains States | $37,675 | 8.6% | 18.18 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Choreographers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $94,090 | 270 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $72,160 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $65,180 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $64,910 | 190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $63,640 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $62,300 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $61,090 | 240 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $60,870 | 60 |
Top Industries Employing Choreographers
The largest employers of choreographers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,860 | $50,970 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,440 | $61,680 |
Below are examples of industries where choreographers work:
Software Choreographers Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for choreographers reflects the following characteristics:
- Physical Proximity
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How to Become Choreographers
Typical choreographers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Self-Enrichment Teachers (Primary-Long)
- Instructional Coordinators (Supplemental)
- Art Directors (Primary-Long)
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (Supplemental)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Supplemental)
- Graphic Designers (Supplemental)
- Set and Exhibit Designers (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Students preparing for choreographers commonly pursue programs in:
Visual and Performing Arts
5 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-2032.00 (Choreographers).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.