How to become a dancer

Arts, design, media & film · SOC 27-2031

How you get in

Most people are hired and trained on the job, so school is optional. A program can still help you stand out.

1. No formal educational credential (a program is optional for this job)
2. Long-term on-the-job training
3. Work as a dancer

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Dance, General	CIP 50.0301	291
Musical Theatre	CIP 50.0509	109
Dance, Other	CIP 50.0399	19
Theatre and Dance	CIP 50.0512	11
Ballet	CIP 50.0302	4

See the 364 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a dancer?

Typically no schooling after high school, then more than a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

Do you need a degree to become a dancer?

No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.

Where can you train to become a dancer?

364 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Arts, design, media & film

Coaches and scouts · Public relations specialists · Musicians and singers · Merchandise displayers and window trimmers · Graphic designers · Art directors · Producers and directors · Writers and authors