Choreographers Salary
Choreographers in New York make a median of $173,100 a year, or about $83.22 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $333K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $176,255 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $173K get you in New York?
About choreographers
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for choreographers, local pay runs about 213% higher than the U.S. median of $55K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,917/month, 19.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New York offers a genuinely strong financial position for choreographerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level choreographers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $173K. Top earners bring in $333K or more, a $285K spread from bottom to top.
Choreographers salary by metro in New York
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $171K | -1% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track choreographers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a choreographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $173K, rent takes 19.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for choreographers in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new choreographers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,908/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is choreographer a high-paying job in New York?
Local pay is 213% above the national median — $173K here vs. $55K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for choreographers?
New York pays $173K median vs. the U.S. average of $55K — that’s +213%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $176K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do choreographers make in New York?
The median is $173,100 a year, that works out to about $83 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,470, and experienced choreographers can clear $333,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $173K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,977/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 19.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a choreographers salary go in New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median choreographers salary is worth about $176,255 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do choreographers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.