Career Explorer Arts, media and sport
Human edge, steady
Choreographers
Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 84% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it moderate), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.1% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.
AI struggles with much of this work. Hiring is expected to grow slower than average, or to shrink.
- Median pay (2025)
- $55,310
- Job growth to 2035
- +3.1%
- Openings a year
- 600
- People doing it (2025)
- 4,700
- Usual route in
- High school diploma, then long on-the-job training
Where people already use AI for this work
- Create artistic designs or performances
- Monitor external affairs, trends, or events
- Study details of artistic productions
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Train others on operational or work procedures
- Coordinate artistic or entertainment activities
- Perform recruiting or hiring activities
What the work looks like
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Recreation workersHuman edge, growing, Index 87, +4.3%
- Makeup artists, theatrical and performanceHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +6.1%
- Exercise trainers and group fitness instructorsHuman edge, growing, Index 99, +7.3%
- Animal trainersHuman edge, growing, Index 94, +4.2%
Also known as: Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Maker, Opera Choreographer, Ballet Director, Musical Choreographer.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.