Career comparison
Choreographer vs. Producer and Director
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Producer and directors earn more at the median ($90,360 vs. $55,310), while producer and directors usually get to work faster (Years of production experience of training). Choreographers create dances and teach performers how to move. Producer and directors bring films, shows, plays and videos to life from idea to final cut.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Choreographer | Producer and Director | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $55,310 ($26.59/hr) | $90,360 ($43.44/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,090 – $138,630 | $45,780 – $198,540 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.1% (about as fast as average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 600 | 12,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Years of dance training | Years of production experience |
| Key credential | Dance degree | Film degree |
| Work setting | Choreographers work in studios, theaters and on sets.. | Producers and directors work on sets, stages, studios and offices.. |
What each job does
Choreographer
- Create dances
- Teach routines
- Run rehearsals
- Audition dancers
- Work with directors
Producer and Director
- Develop projects
- Raise funding
- Hire cast and crew
- Manage budgets
- Direct actors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, working with people, and a fast pace. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose choreographer if…
- I love dance
- I can teach movement
- I’m creative
Choose producer and director if…
- I love telling stories
- I can lead creative teams
- I make quick decisions
Still torn? Take the Choreographer fit quiz and the Producer and Director fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, choreographer or producer and director?
Producer and Directors earn more at the median: $90,360 versus $55,310 for choreographers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Producer and Directors typically train faster (Years of production experience) than choreographers (Years of dance training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects producer and directors to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +3.1% for choreographers.