Choreographers build instructing, coordination and social perceptiveness skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance (75%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance | 75% | $97,150 | +76% | None |
| 2 | Art Directors | 75% | $114,850 | +108% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Fashion Designers | 72% | $80,960 | +46% | None |
| 4 | Graphic Designers | 70% | $62,960 | +14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Costume Attendants | 68% | $50,400 | −9% | None |
| 6 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 68% | $78,620 | +42% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Music Therapists | 64% | $77,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Therapists, All Other” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Self-Enrichment Teachers | 63% | $46,800 | −15% | None |
| 9 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 63% | $76,910Pay for the broader BLS group “Writers and Authors” | Not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Special Effects Artists and Animators | 60% | $102,030 | +84% | Bachelor's degree |
Compared with Choreographers, median $55,310. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as choreographers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
75% skill match · $97,150 · +76% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Management of Material Resources · Equipment Selection
75% skill match · $114,850 · +108% pay
Management of Financial Resources · Quality Control Analysis · Management of Material Resources
72% skill match · $80,960 · +46% pay
Quality Control Analysis · Management of Material Resources · Management of Financial Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance (75% skill match, median $97,150), Art Directors (75% skill match, median $114,850) and Fashion Designers (72% skill match, median $80,960), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 16 pay more than choreographers at the median. The biggest increases: Advertising and Promotions Managers (+142%, $133,660), Art Directors (+108%, $114,850) and Special Effects Artists and Animators (+84%, $102,030).
8 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. 3 usually need a graduate degree: Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Set and Exhibit Designers and Art Therapists.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.