Choreographers: Career Overview
Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
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The Daily Work of Choreographers Perform?
The core tasks performed by choreographers include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective choreographers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Ballet Director
- Choreographer
- Choreography Director
- Dance Choreographer
- Dance Director
- Dance Instructor
- Dance Maker
- Dance Master
How Many Choreographers Are There?
There are about 318,556 choreographers working in the United States today. Employment is projected 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 |
Compensation varies 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Compensation for choreographers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of choreographers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,860 | $50,970 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,440 | $61,680 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment 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
Most 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.
Similar Occupations
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)
Where to Study
Students preparing for choreographers commonly pursue programs in:
Visual and Performing Arts
5 programs across 2 majors
References
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).
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