Arts, Design, Media & Sports
Choreographers
Also called: Ballet Director, Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Maker
US median pay
$55,310
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.1%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
600
4,700 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
What they do day to day
- Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
- Advise dancers on standing and moving properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
- Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
- Record dance movements and their technical aspects, using a technical understanding of the patterns and formations of choreography.
- Direct and stage dance presentations for various forms of entertainment.
- Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
- Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.
- Seek influences from other art forms, such as theatre, the visual arts, and architecture.
- Develop ideas for creating dances, keeping notes and sketches to record influences.
- Coordinate production music with music directors.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Instructing4.0/5
- Coordination3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.6/5
- Time Management3.4/5
- Service Orientation3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.2/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.1/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
Knowledge
- Fine Arts4.5/5
- Education and Training3.3/5
- Production and Processing3.2/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Design3.1/5
- Communications and Media3.1/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma33%
- Bachelor's degree19%
- Post-secondary certificate19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Artistic
Creating, designing and self-expression
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.