Perform choreographed movement in stage, screen, touring, entertainment, or commercial productions.
You may also see this posted as: Ballet Dancer, Company Dancer, Soloist Dancer, Ballerina, Ballet Company Member, Ballet Soloist.
Studios, theaters, sets, and touring venues.
Irregular and physically demanding; rehearsals, performances, and travel vary by project.
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 25.4% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
No formal credential
Training path: Long-term dance training and auditions; no required degree.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
No license required to start in most places.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Dance work is seasonal and project-based, so the federal wage survey publishes hourly pay rather than an annual median.
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Standard Occupational Classification 27-2031. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.