Choreographers
Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
Choreographers create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations. The role reports a median annual salary of $55,600 in the US and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows low AI exposure (0.30 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, art-historical values, understand the architecture of a live performance, 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 Choreographers, 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
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
- Communications and Media
- Design
- English Language
- Psychology
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Choreographers do?
Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
How much does Choreographers earn?
The median annual salary for Choreographers in the US is $55,600.
What is the job outlook for Choreographers?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 4,600 workers.
How do I become a choreographers?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Choreographers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include labour legislation, intellectual property law, art-historical values, understand the architecture of a live performance, understand the physical language of a live performance, be a role model in community arts. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Choreographers?
Our AI-durability model gives Choreographers a score of 0.30 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?
Choreographers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.