Best states for a dance instructor

Q: What is the best state for dance instructors?

The best state to be a dance instructor is New York based on dance instructor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for dance instructors?

The highest paying state for dance instructors is Iowa based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for dance instructors?

The worst state for dance instructors is Alabama, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Marlene McCarty

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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for dance instructors in the United States. Dance instructor positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for dance instructors.As dance instructors are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for dance instructors. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a dance instructor, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

In order to get you the best states for dance instructors, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that New York is the best state for dance instructor jobs, whereas Alabama is the worst.

10 best states for dance instructors in 2026

1. New York
Total dance instructor jobs: 646
Average annual salary: $47,781
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Dance instructor jobs in New York
2. South Carolina
Total dance instructor jobs: 378
Average annual salary: $37,404
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.85
Dance instructor jobs in South Carolina
3. Vermont
Total dance instructor jobs: 32
Average annual salary: $46,247
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
0.91
Dance instructor jobs in Vermont
4. Hawaii
Total dance instructor jobs: 58
Average annual salary: $47,984
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Dance instructor jobs in Hawaii
5. Nevada
Total dance instructor jobs: 133
Average annual salary: $36,614
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
1.39
Dance instructor jobs in Nevada
6. California
Total dance instructor jobs: 1,684
Average annual salary: $42,882
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Dance instructor jobs in California
7. Massachusetts
Total dance instructor jobs: 313
Average annual salary: $48,226
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Dance instructor jobs in Massachusetts
8. New Jersey
Total dance instructor jobs: 467
Average annual salary: $39,042
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Dance instructor jobs in New Jersey
9. Louisiana
Total dance instructor jobs: 136
Average annual salary: $36,398
Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000
Location Quotient:
0.93
Dance instructor jobs in Louisiana
10. Maine
Total dance instructor jobs: 45
Average annual salary: $40,310
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
0.74
Dance instructor jobs in Maine

Dance instructor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a dance instructor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a dance instructor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New York	$47,781	$30,000	19,849,399	646
2	South Carolina	$37,404	$25,000	5,024,369	378
3	Vermont	$46,247	$30,000	623,657	32
4	Hawaii	$47,984	$42,000	1,427,538	58
5	Nevada	$36,614	$24,000	2,998,039	133
6	California	$42,882	$28,000	39,536,653	1,684
7	Massachusetts	$48,226	$30,000	6,859,819	313
8	New Jersey	$39,042	$24,000	9,005,644	467
9	Louisiana	$36,398	$24,000	4,684,333	136
10	Maine	$40,310	$26,000	1,335,907	45
11	New Hampshire	$39,473	$25,000	1,342,795	60
12	West Virginia	$36,268	$24,000	1,815,857	55
13	Michigan	$34,664	$23,000	9,962,311	422
14	Maryland	$37,688	$24,000	6,052,177	287
15	Connecticut	$40,284	$25,000	3,588,184	92
16	Florida	$35,341	$23,000	20,984,400	712
17	Indiana	$35,768	$24,000	6,666,818	127
18	Rhode Island	$34,613	$21,000	1,059,639	47
19	South Dakota	$32,827	$23,000	869,666	40
20	North Dakota	$32,465	$23,000	755,393	39
21	Delaware	$33,076	$21,000	961,939	69
22	Georgia	$31,527	$21,000	10,429,379	730
23	Wisconsin	$34,498	$23,000	5,795,483	181
24	Montana	$31,892	$22,000	1,050,493	80
25	Wyoming	$30,659	$21,000	579,315	46
26	Tennessee	$32,141	$22,000	6,715,984	238
27	Oklahoma	$33,897	$23,000	3,930,864	92
28	Arizona	$33,636	$22,000	7,016,270	222
29	Idaho	$33,964	$23,000	1,716,943	56
30	Minnesota	$33,320	$23,000	5,576,606	233
31	Washington	$35,393	$24,000	7,405,743	0
32	Oregon	$30,271	$20,000	4,142,776	279
33	Utah	$30,946	$21,000	3,101,833	131
34	Ohio	$30,338	$20,000	11,658,609	377
35	Colorado	$29,390	$20,000	5,607,154	489
36	Kansas	$31,501	$21,000	2,913,123	99
37	Pennsylvania	$30,661	$19,000	12,805,537	432
38	North Carolina	$29,251	$19,000	10,273,419	660
39	Virginia	$29,204	$19,000	8,470,020	610
40	New Mexico	$29,680	$19,000	2,088,070	85
41	Kentucky	$28,985	$19,000	4,454,189	151
42	Nebraska	$29,759	$20,000	1,920,076	80
43	Mississippi	$28,264	$19,000	2,984,100	91
44	Illinois	$30,051	$20,000	12,802,023	434
45	District of Columbia	$31,744	$20,000	693,972	29
46	Missouri	$30,110	$20,000	6,113,532	146
47	Alaska	$24,012	$17,000	739,795	52
48	Texas	$27,425	$18,000	28,304,596	853
49	Iowa	$21,419	$14,000	3,145,711	163
50	Arkansas	$28,008	$19,000	3,004,279	39
51	Alabama	$27,245	$18,000	4,874,747	144

Highest paying states for dance instructors

Rank	State	Avg. Dance Instructor Salary
1	New York	$47,781
2	South Carolina	$37,404
3	Vermont	$46,247
4	Hawaii	$47,984
5	Nevada	$36,614
6	California	$42,882
7	Massachusetts	$48,226
8	New Jersey	$39,042
9	Louisiana	$36,398
10	Maine	$40,310
11	New Hampshire	$39,473
12	West Virginia	$36,268
13	Michigan	$34,664
14	Maryland	$37,688
15	Connecticut	$40,284
16	Florida	$35,341
17	Indiana	$35,768
18	Rhode Island	$34,613
19	South Dakota	$32,827
20	North Dakota	$32,465
21	Delaware	$33,076
22	Georgia	$31,527
23	Wisconsin	$34,498
24	Montana	$31,892
25	Wyoming	$30,659
26	Tennessee	$32,141
27	Oklahoma	$33,897
28	Arizona	$33,636
29	Idaho	$33,964
30	Minnesota	$33,320
31	Washington	$35,393
32	Oregon	$30,271
33	Utah	$30,946
34	Ohio	$30,338
35	Colorado	$29,390
36	Kansas	$31,501
37	Pennsylvania	$30,661
38	North Carolina	$29,251
39	Virginia	$29,204
40	New Mexico	$29,680
41	Kentucky	$28,985
42	Nebraska	$29,759
43	Mississippi	$28,264
44	Illinois	$30,051
45	District of Columbia	$31,744
46	Missouri	$30,110
47	Alaska	$24,012
48	Texas	$27,425
49	Iowa	$21,419
50	Arkansas	$28,008
51	Alabama	$27,245

Expert opinions on the best states for dance instructors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for dance instructors to find work opportunities?
Marlene McCarty
Clinical Professor of Visual Arts, New York University
Large universalized geographic hubs of creativity (such as NYC used to be) will not play the same importance as in the past. Anywhere that is local will offer opportunities, if someone is imaginative enough to see them. Participatory placemaking requires critical and holistic thought concerning the world around us. Communities of friends, acquaintances, and cross-disciplinary associates, some formed online - some in person, will be more important than actual geographical areas.

Dance instructor best states FAQs

What is the best state for dance instructors?

What is the highest paying state for dance instructors?

What is the worst state for dance instructors?

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Best states for Dance Instructors

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total dance instructor jobs:	646
Average annual salary:	$47,781
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$30,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$75,000
Location Quotient:	1.1

Best states for a dance instructor

10 best states for dance instructors in 2026

1. New York

2. South Carolina

3. Vermont

4. Hawaii

5. Nevada

6. California

7. Massachusetts

8. New Jersey

9. Louisiana

10. Maine