Choreographers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for choreographerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- New York$168,960
- California$85,790
- Maryland$68,860
- Minnesota$68,330
- Ohio$63,460
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Illinois$36,440
- Alabama$42,510
- South Dakota$43,120
- Utah$44,730
- Texas$47,050
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $168,960 | $173,100 | $81 | +131.1% | 340 |
| 2 | California | $85,790 | $75,000 | $41 | +17.4% | 410 |
| 3 | Maryland | $68,860 | $69,140 | $33 | -5.8% | 80 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $68,330 | $74,810 | $33 | -6.5% | 40 |
| 5 | Ohio | $63,460 | $66,910 | $31 | -13.2% | 120 |
| 6 | Nebraska | $57,440 | $49,490 | $28 | -21.4% | 60 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $53,140 | $51,170 | $26 | -27.3% | 210 |
| 8 | Indiana | $50,860 | $44,840 | $24 | -30.4% | — |
| 9 | Florida | $47,070 | $36,670 | $23 | -35.6% | 180 |
| 10 | Texas | $47,050 | $46,460 | $23 | -35.6% | 380 |
| 11 | Utah | $44,730 | $33,640 | $22 | -38.8% | 60 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $43,120 | $40,320 | $21 | -41% | 250 |
| 13 | Alabama | $42,510 | $38,990 | $20 | -41.8% | 30 |
| 14 | Illinois | $36,440 | $34,560 | $18 | -50.2% | 30 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 12 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $170,780 | $160,640 | 340 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $99,430 | $101,000 | 100 |
| 3 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $87,850 | $76,140 | 60 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,000 | $102,750 | 100 |
| 5 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $74,810 | $68,090 | 40 |
| 6 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $70,360 | $69,110 | 40 |
| 7 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,130 | $69,140 | 100 |
| 8 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,560 | $64,190 | 50 |
| 9 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $44,840 | $50,820 | — |
| 10 | Rapid City, SD | $41,080 | $43,990 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing choreographerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $75,090 | $108,920 | 110 |
| 2 | Performing Arts Companies | $63,940 | $93,740 | 1,100 |
| 3 | Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $63,690 | $91,170 | 1,330 |
| 4 | Sector 71 - Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $63,690 | $90,550 | 1,380 |
| 5 | Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $59,270 | $70,520 | 140 |
| 6 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $56,660 | $74,350 | 2,700 |
| 7 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $55,310 | $73,100 | 2,860 |
| 8 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $55,290 | $65,570 | 30 |
| 9 | Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $54,690 | $70,390 | — |
| 10 | Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $54,690 | $58,280 | — |
| 11 | Elementary and Secondary Schools, Local Government Owned | $52,940 | $56,860 | 50 |
| 12 | Educational Services, Local Government Owned | $52,000 | $53,400 | 70 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do choreographers make in the U.S.?
The median choreographers salary in the United States is $55,310 per year (mean $73,100), and about 80% earn between $34,090 and $138,630.
How much do choreographers make per hour?
Roughly $35 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $73,100 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays choreographers the most?
New York has the highest average pay for choreographers at $168,960 per year (median $173,100).
What is the job outlook for choreographers?
Employment is projected to change +6.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 700 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.