Dancers and choreographers: average salary and pay in the UK
The ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) puts median weekly pay for full-time dancers and choreographers at £605.10 in April 2025; no reliable annual figure is published.
What the figures show
A full-time median is published for women only; the sample of men is too small.
The Annual Population Survey counts 14,700 people in this line of work across the UK.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | £605.10 | £16.60 | £19.73 |
| Mean | £651.80 | £17.07 | £20.53 |
Pay since 2024
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 revised | £28,649 | £684.10 | £16.05 |
| 2025 provisional | – | £605.10 | £16.60 |
Dancers and choreographers by region
UK: 14,700 (± 4,700), April 2025 to March 2026.
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What dancers and choreographers do
Dancers and choreographers devise, direct, rehearse and perform classical and contemporary dance routines. (ONS SOC 2020, 3414)
Also covers: ballet dancer, choreographer, dance coach, dancer, dance teacher, ballet master, dance artist, dance instructor and dancing partner.
- Builds and maintains stamina, physical strength, agility and general health through fitness exercises and healthy eating
- Attends rehearsals to develop and practice dance routines for performance
- Participates in dance performance
- Demonstrates and directs dance moves, monitors and analyses technique and performance, and determines how improvements can be made
There are no formal academic requirements, although some dance schools may require candidates to have passed relevant dance graded examinations. Entry to courses is often via audition. Medical and physical assessments are required. Performers’ courses typically last three years and lead to a diploma or certificate awarded by the school. Some degree courses are also available.
Related
Artistic, literary and media occupations (median £39,135) · Actors, entertainers and presenters · Musicians · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026