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).

National mean salary $73,100 ≈ $35/hr
National median salary $55,310
Total employment 2,860 nationwide

Job Outlook, 2024–2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Projected growth +6.1% Faster than average
Annual openings 700 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 4,600 → 4,900 (+300)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Salary Map

Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.

Mean annual wage $36,000–$43,000 $43,000–$47,000 $47,000–$53,000 $53,000–$68,000 $68,000–$169,000 U.S. mean $73,100

💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States

  1. New York$168,960
  2. California$85,790
  3. Maryland$68,860
  4. Minnesota$68,330
  5. Ohio$63,460

📉 5 Lowest-Paying States

  1. Illinois$36,440
  2. Alabama$42,510
  3. South Dakota$43,120
  4. Utah$44,730
  5. Texas$47,050
#StateMeanMedian Hourlyvs. 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 areaMedianMeanEmployment
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).

#IndustryMedianMeanEmployment
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.

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