Dancers
Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.
Dancers perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording. The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows low AI exposure (0.19 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include labour legislation, intellectual property law, acting techniques, perform live, understand the physical language of a live performance.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £25,344 a year for Other elementary services occupations n.e.c. (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 9269). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Dancers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Fine Arts
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- Psychology
- Sales and Marketing
- Therapy and Counseling
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Dancers do?
Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.
What is the job outlook for Dancers?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 12,300 workers.
How do I become a dancers?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Dancers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include labour legislation, intellectual property law, acting techniques, perform live, understand the physical language of a live performance, manage feedback. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Dancers?
Our AI-durability model gives Dancers a score of 0.19 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Dancers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.
Is Dancers a stable career?
Dancers is a lottery-shape career — the median outcome is modest but a small number of practitioners earn dramatically more. Success depends heavily on breakout events, not just competence. Plan for the median, not the mean.