How Much Do Dancing With The Stars Pros Make Anyway?

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Many consider Dancing with the Stars to be one of the best reality TV shows ever made, and it recently celebrated its 20th season! The show remains popular, and while viewers enjoy seeing the celebrities compete, the professional dancers are really what make DWTS special. However, with all the rehearsals, performances, and touring, people are curious about how much these dancers actually earn. Let’s take a look at their salaries.

What’s The Usual Salary For A DWTS Pro?

Sources told Us Weekly that dancers on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) initially earn around $1,200 per episode, with their pay increasing as the season goes on. Experienced pros can make about $5,000 an episode. However, dancers may be moved to the show’s troupe after a season or two if producers feel they need further development. This happened to Lindsay Arnold, who was a professional dancer starting in Season 16 but was moved to the troupe for Seasons 17-20 after previously winning Season 25.

Being demoted also meant a significant pay reduction. As Arnold shared on Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets podcast in 2022, her income was reduced by more than half. She explained that while she was on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), she could comfortably earn a living because the show filmed two seasons each year, effectively doubling her annual income. However, the current situation is less secure, as there’s no guarantee of returning for future seasons, as Arnold further explained.

Living in Los Angeles is expensive – rent, food, gas… it all adds up quickly. If you only work one season a year, you’d likely struggle financially and need another source of income. What’s really concerning, though, is the uncertainty of future work – there’s no guarantee you’ll even have another season.

However, professional dancer and two-time champion Jenna Johnson shared on the podcast The Morning After last year that pros have guaranteed contracts for a certain amount of weeks. She clarified that contracts vary, so she couldn’t speak for all professionals. Even if a pro is eliminated with their celebrity partner, they usually stay on the show for the rest of the season, participating in group dances and occasionally helping with choreography. But what happens when a pro actually wins the competition?

How Much Do DWTS Pros Make If They Win The Mirrorball?

Johnson explained in the interview that professional dancers only receive the Mirrorball Trophy when they win – there’s no extra prize money. However, they are paid a salary throughout the season and receive a bonus just for reaching the finale. Both the pros and celebrities are happy with that arrangement, regardless of whether they ultimately win the competition.

Everyone who reaches the final round will be paid for their time up to that point, and they’ll also receive a bonus. If you make it to the very end of the season, you’ll be paid for the entire season, plus an additional bonus for reaching the finale. Just so you know, winning doesn’t come with a large cash prize; you’ll share a trophy with your teammate instead.

Given how much preparation goes into Dancing with the Stars – with weeks of rehearsals before the season even begins – it’s surprising the winners don’t receive a bonus. This is especially true now that there’s only one season each year, unlike in the past. Although many of the professional dancers participate in tours, which are currently ongoing, their pay for those appearances hasn’t been made public. It’s safe to say, however, that these experienced dancers consistently work to earn a living.

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2026-01-27 08:08