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The average salary for a dance instructor or choreographer in the United States is $46,612 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry. For example, instructors in performing arts schools may earn different salaries than those teaching in community centers or private studios.
Geographic location plays a significant role in salary potential. States like California and New York often offer the highest salaries due to the demand for dance professionals in urban centers. Additionally, metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and New York City consistently rank among the top cities for high-paying opportunities in this field.
Experience is another critical factor impacting salary. Typically, instructors with more years in the industry command higher wages. Entry-level positions may start at lower rates, but with dedication and skill development, professionals can advance to higher-paying roles over time.
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The highest-paying states for dance instructor/choreographers are New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The lowest average dance instructor/choreographer salary states are North Carolina, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $69,474 | $33.40 |
| 2 | New York | $79,422 | $38.18 |
| 3 | Nevada | $55,695 | $26.78 |
| 4 | Colorado | $54,650 | $26.27 |
| 5 | Michigan | $53,700 | $25.82 |
| 6 | South Carolina | $52,752 | $25.36 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $61,539 | $29.59 |
| 8 | Maryland | $58,276 | $28.02 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $58,096 | $27.93 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $55,796 | $26.82 |
| 11 | Maine | $57,288 | $27.54 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $60,306 | $28.99 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $51,616 | $24.82 |
| 14 | Indiana | $54,141 | $26.03 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $53,008 | $25.48 |
| 16 | Idaho | $53,251 | $25.60 |
| 17 | California | $52,360 | $25.17 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $51,545 | $24.78 |
| 19 | Utah | $50,480 | $24.27 |
| 20 | Montana | $48,738 | $23.43 |
| 21 | Hawaii | $57,430 | $27.61 |
| 22 | Delaware | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| 23 | Washington | $54,065 | $25.99 |
| 24 | Oregon | $49,354 | $23.73 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $49,479 | $23.79 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $46,687 | $22.45 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $50,491 | $24.27 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $48,048 | $23.10 |
| 29 | Arizona | $49,153 | $23.63 |
| 30 | Florida | $48,702 | $23.41 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $49,962 | $24.02 |
| 32 | Ohio | $47,064 | $22.63 |
| 33 | Texas | $48,311 | $23.23 |
| 34 | Vermont | $48,458 | $23.30 |
| 35 | Georgia | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $46,144 | $22.18 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $46,796 | $22.50 |
| 38 | Alaska | $44,264 | $21.28 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $42,642 | $20.50 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $44,444 | $21.37 |
| 41 | Kansas | $46,509 | $22.36 |
| 42 | Virginia | $45,073 | $21.67 |
| 43 | Illinois | $45,918 | $22.08 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $42,579 | $20.47 |
| 45 | District of Columbia | $49,200 | $23.65 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $43,977 | $21.14 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $40,510 | $19.48 |
| 48 | Iowa | $32,006 | $15.39 |
| 49 | Missouri | $44,025 | $21.17 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $40,774 | $19.60 |
| 51 | Alabama | $38,661 | $18.59 |
The highest-paying cities for dance instructor/choreographers are Las Vegas, NV, Lakewood, WA, and Cupertino, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | $55,475 | $26.67 |
| 2 | Lakewood, WA | $54,825 | $26.36 |
| 3 | Cupertino, CA | $53,241 | $25.60 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $51,525 | $24.77 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $49,809 | $23.95 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $49,229 | $23.67 |
| 7 | Chandler, AZ | $49,148 | $23.63 |
| 8 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $49,054 | $23.58 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $46,289 | $22.25 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $44,248 | $21.27 |
| 11 | Fayetteville, AR | $40,663 | $19.55 |
A dance instructor/choreographer's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $46,612 | $3,884 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
The highest paying types of dance instructor/choreographers are voice teacher, private music instructor, and piano instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Aid Instructor | $44,903 | $3,742 | $21.59 | 50,978 |
| Martial Arts Instructor | $34,287 | $2,857 | $16.48 | 24,925 |
| Dance Teacher | $47,909 | $3,992 | $23.03 | 71,355 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| Guitar Instructor | $46,506 | $3,875 | $22.36 | 24,514 |
| Field Instructor | $52,928 | $4,411 | $25.45 | 69,156 |
Top companies hiring dance instructor/choreographers now:
The average dance instructor/choreographer salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $51,220 | $24.63 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $46,885 | $22.54 |
| 3 | Real Estate | $45,247 | $21.75 |
| 4 | Media | $44,934 | $21.60 |
| 5 | Retail | $40,704 | $19.57 |
| 6 | Non Profits | $39,338 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Health Care | $38,891 | $18.70 |
The average dance instructor/choreographer salary has risen by $4,502 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average dance instructor/choreographer earned $42,110 annually, but today, they earn $46,612 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for dance instructor/choreographers over the last decade.
Compare dance instructor/choreographer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare dance instructor/choreographer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $46,600 | $22.41 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $45,700 | $21.98 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $45,200 | $21.71 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $44,800 | $21.56 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $43,500 | $20.93 | +1.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer | Westmont, CA | 06/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer | Forest Park, GA | 06/26/2025 | $62,610 |
| SCU Credit Union | Quarterly Lecturer: Dance Choreographer | Santa Clara, CA | 06/25/2025 | $114,624 |
| Santa Clara University | Quarterly Lecturer: Dance Choreographer | Santa Clara, CA | 06/20/2025 | $114,624 |
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer | Boston, MA | 06/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer-Morning | Westerville, OH | 05/27/2025 | $62,610 |
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer | McKinney, TX | 05/21/2025 | $62,610 |
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer | Chandler, AZ | 05/15/2025 | $62,610 |
| Divadance | Instructor/Choreographer | Sandy Springs, GA | 04/25/2025 | $62,610 |
| Divadance | Dance Instructor/Choreographer | Oak Park, IL | 04/20/2025 | $62,610 |
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