Arts, design, media and sports
Dancer
Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.
Median pay
$51,584
hourly × 2,080
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,600
Time to qualify*
12 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Dancer: BLS publishes hourly pay only for this job.
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Dancer: 17% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Study and practice dance moves required in roles.
- Harmonize body movements to rhythm of musical accompaniment.
- Train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency, physical ability, and physical fitness.
- Coordinate dancing with that of partners or dance ensembles.
- Develop self-understanding of physical capabilities and limitations, and choose dance styles accordingly.
- Perform classical, modern, or acrobatic dances in productions, expressing stories, rhythm, and sound with their bodies.
- Collaborate with choreographers to refine or modify dance steps.
- Audition for dance roles or for membership in dance companies.
Also called: Ballerina · Ballet Company Member · Ballet Dancer · Ballet Soloist · Belly Dancer · Company Dancer · Dancer · Latin Dancer
Outlook and AI
Dancers held 13,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,100 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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