How to become a Choreographer

Official title: Choreographers

Also called: Ballet Director, Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Maker, Musical Choreographer, Opera Choreographer

Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.

Main tasks

• 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.

How to become one

Entry requirements for dancers and choreographers vary. Dancers typically need formal training, and they develop their skills through years of practice. Choreographers usually need at least a high school diploma and experience as a dancer. Some employers may require or prefer that candidates have a bachelor's degree.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $55,310 a year The middle half earn $41,600 to $75,710.
• About 4,700 people work in this job now, and about 4,900 are projected by 2035. (+3.1%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Dancers
• Coaches and Scouts
• Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
• Actors
• Producers and Directors
• Media Programming Directors

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Choreographer?

Entry requirements for dancers and choreographers vary. Dancers typically need formal training, and they develop their skills through years of practice. Choreographers usually need at least a high school diploma and experience as a dancer. Some employers may require or prefer that candidates have a bachelor's degree.

How much does a Choreographer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $55,310 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $41,600 to $75,710.

Is a Choreographer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 4,700 to about 4,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Choreographer?

Not always. 39% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Choreographer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.