Average Choreographers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Choreographers is $55,600 per year. The middle 50% earn between $39,600 and $71,190, with 3,430 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 17 states and 18 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Choreographers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $33,080
- 25th
- $39,600
- Median
- $55,600
- 75th
- $71,190
- 90th
- $94,090
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Choreographers earn close to the national median for all US workers. Solidly middle-income.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two choreographers at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for choreographers from 2024 to 2034. Growth is above the US average of about 4% across all occupations. This is an expanding field.
- Projected growth
- +6.1%
- 300 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 700
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings are high relative to the workforce size, reflecting meaningful turnover and new-hire volume.
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
A high-school diploma is typically sufficient for entry, with much of the training happening on the job.
Where Choreographers earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where choreographers work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is New York at $94,090, about 69.2% above the national median. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ leads with a median of $94,090.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $94,090 | 270 |
| North Carolina | $79,630 | 50 |
| Maryland | $64,770 | 160 |
| Ohio | $62,970 | 140 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 | N/A |
| California | $61,320 | 800 |
| Louisiana | $44,880 | 220 |
| Virginia | $44,740 | N/A |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $94,090 | 270 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $72,160 | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $65,180 | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,910 | 190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $63,640 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,300 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,090 | 240 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $60,870 | 60 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see choreographers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Choreographers rose from $46,330 to $55,600, a gain of +20.0% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $46,330 would need to be worth $56,847 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $55,600 is −$1,247 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -2.2% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 20.0% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +20.0%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -2.2%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Choreographers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $46,330
- 2020
- $43,680
- 2021
- $42,700
- 2022
- $50,990
- 2023
- $52,000
- 2024
- $55,600
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Athletes And Sports Competitors
- $62,360
- Music Directors And Composers
- $63,670
- Coaches And Scouts
- $45,920
- Producers And Directors
- $83,480
- Actors
- N/A
- Dancers
- N/A
Common salary questions for Choreographers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Choreographers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.