# Choreographers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/choreographers
- SOC code: 27-2032.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $55,310 (10th percentile $34,090, 90th percentile $138,630)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.1%
- Openings a year: 600
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ASE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 44 |
| Investigative (I) | 20 |
| Artistic (A) | 100 |
| Social (S) | 49 |
| Enterprising (E) | 46 |
| Conventional (C) | 19 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 97/100)
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (importance 88/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 88/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 82/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 81/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 80/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 79/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 76/100)
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others (importance 76/100)

## Skills

Instructing, Active Listening, Coordination, Speaking, Monitoring, Learning Strategies, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Time Management

## Knowledge

Fine Arts, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Production and Processing, Communications and Media, Design, English Language, Psychology, Personnel and Human Resources, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Ballet Director, Choreographer, Choreography Director, Dance Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Instructor, Dance Maker, Dance Master, Dancing Master, Musical Choreographer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5005) (CIP 5005, 1,130 colleges)
- [Dance](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5003) (CIP 5003, 372 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $62,573 | $64,880 | $19,000 |
| [University of Iowa](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-iowa-2929) | Dance | not reported | $60,188 | not reported |
| [University of California-Davis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-davis-2882) | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $31,185 | $56,823 | not reported |
| [Muhlenberg College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/muhlenberg-college-1804) | Dance | $34,496 | $56,503 | $26,000 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $43,297 | $55,555 | $9,273 |
| [University of South Carolina-Columbia Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-south-carolina-columbia-main-campus-3042) | Dance | not reported | $55,274 | not reported |
| [Drake University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/drake-university-832) | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $27,600 | $54,950 | $24,250 |
| [Miami University-Oxford](https://www.collegesref.com/college/miami-university-oxford-1675) | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | not reported | $54,215 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Dancers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dancers)
- [Music Directors and Composers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/music-directors-and-composers): $73,710 median pay
- [Musicians and Singers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/musicians-and-singers)
- [Actors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/actors)
- [Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-drama-and-music-teachers-postsecondary): $78,620 median pay
- [Talent Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/talent-directors): $90,360 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.