How to become a choreographer

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What choreographers do

• Advise dancers on standing and moving properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
• 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 that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Learning Strategies
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Writing

Is choreographer a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 8% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• New York $173,100
• California $75,000
• Minnesota $74,810
• Maryland $69,140
• Ohio $66,910

Choreographers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.