Prevailing Wage for Dancers
Prevailing wage for Dancers (SOC 27-2031) is set by the Department of Labor across four experience levels, from entry-level ballerinas to fully competent ballet company members and company dancers. The floor shifts considerably by city, so whether a job offer clears the DOL threshold depends on where you'll be working.
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Entry-level performers with limited professional stage or recording experience. Typically recent graduates or those early in their performing careers who work under close direction and handle routine choreographic assignments with minimal autonomy.
Qualified performers with moderate professional experience who work independently on standard productions. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Dancers, reflecting established technique and the ability to take on varied performance roles without close supervision.
Experienced performers who regularly handle complex or lead roles, mentor junior company members, and exercise considerable judgment in rehearsal and performance settings. Typically several years into a professional company or touring career.
Fully competent senior or principal performers, including principal ballet soloists and artistic leads, who set creative direction, carry headline billing, and work with full autonomy on major productions or recording engagements.
Prevailing Wage for Dancers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Dancers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm which SOC your title falls under
Titles like ballet soloist or belly dancer are filed under SOC 27-2031, but some employers misfile performing artists under broader entertainment or production codes. Confirm the SOC on the LCA before accepting an offer, since a wrong code means the wrong wage floor applies.
Watch for performance-bonus exclusions in comp packages
Touring bonuses and per-diem stipends are common in dancer contracts but typically cannot count toward the prevailing wage calculation. DOL requires the base wage alone to meet the floor, so total compensation appearing sufficient can still leave a filing short.
Factor in metro concentration when evaluating offers
Wage floors for this occupation vary sharply across metros, with top markets like New York and Seattle setting significantly higher thresholds than lower-paying areas such as Guam or Puerto Rico. The worksite listed on the LCA, not the company's headquarters, determines which floor applies.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with dancer hiring history
Performing arts employers vary widely in visa-sponsorship activity. Migrate Mate shows which companies have historically sponsored dancers and filters listings by visa type, helping you focus on arts organizations and production companies that have actually filed for this occupation before.
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Find Jobs for DancersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 27-2031.00 alongside Dancers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Ballerina Prevailing Wage
Ballerina Prevailing Wage
Ballerina positions fall under SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Ballet Company Member Prevailing Wage
Ballet Company Member Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Ballet Company Member for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Ballet Dancer Prevailing Wage
Ballet Dancer Prevailing Wage
Ballet Dancer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Ballet Soloist Prevailing Wage
Ballet Soloist Prevailing Wage
Ballet Soloist positions fall under SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Belly Dancer Prevailing Wage
Belly Dancer Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Belly Dancer for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Company Dancer Prevailing Wage
Company Dancer Prevailing Wage
Company Dancer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Latin Dancer Prevailing Wage
Latin Dancer Prevailing Wage
Latin Dancer positions fall under SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Performing Artist Prevailing Wage
Performing Artist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Performing Artist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Soloist Dancer Prevailing Wage
Soloist Dancer Prevailing Wage
Soloist Dancer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 27-2031.00 (Dancers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Dancers?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish four wage levels for each SOC code, including SOC 27-2031. OFLC publishes these figures by metropolitan area and updates them periodically. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored dancer must offer at least the wage level that matches the position's experience and responsibility requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
Level 1 applies to entry-level performers working under close supervision. Level 2 covers qualified dancers working independently on standard productions and is the most common filing level. Level 3 applies to experienced performers in complex or lead roles. Level 4 covers principal or senior performers with full autonomy. Your level should match the actual duties and supervisory context of the offered position, not just your years of total experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same dancer role vary so much by city?
OFLC derives wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro reflects local labor market conditions for performing artists. A role in New York or Seattle sits in a dense employer market with higher living costs and stronger union presence, pushing the floor up significantly compared to smaller metros. The LCA rule requires the employer to use the wage for the actual worksite, not a lower-cost city where the company is headquartered, which is why a national tour engagement and a resident company position can carry very different wage floors.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If the offered wage falls below the applicable DOL prevailing wage, USCIS will deny the H-1B or other work visa petition because the LCA cannot be certified at a sub-floor wage. The employer must either raise the offered salary to meet the floor or reclassify the position at a lower experience level if the duties genuinely support that. Filing at a wage below prevailing wage also exposes the employer to DOL audit and back-pay liability.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific Dancers position in a U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up the current DOL wage by SOC code, experience level, and metropolitan area. Search for SOC 27-2031 and select the metro matching the worksite address on the LCA. You can also reference the O*NET occupation profile for job zone and title guidance. For finding employers who have historically sponsored dancers and filtering open roles by visa type and location, Migrate Mate lists vetted sponsoring employers with their past sponsorship counts.
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