It’s a grueling seven-day-a-week commitment when the cameras are rolling, so the question, How Much Does The Dancing With The Stars Pros Make, is a valid one. These professional dancers dedicate their lives to the show, and their pay reflects their experience and dedication. Unsurprisingly, the longer they stay in the competition each season, the more their earnings increase, providing a strong incentive to perform at their absolute best.
Dancing with the Stars is the US adaptation of the British hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, which first graced screens on the BBC in 2004. The Dancing With the Stars format has since become a global phenomenon, reaching over 74 countries including Brazil, India, France, and New Zealand, captivating audiences worldwide.
The show’s premise is simple yet captivating: Celebrities are paired with seasoned professional ballroom dancers. Each week, they immerse themselves in rehearsals, learning and perfecting intricate, themed dance routines. These duos then showcase their hard work in front of a panel of judges, who score their performances out of ten. Adding to the excitement, viewers at home and in the studio audience can also vote for their favorite couples.
Related Content: Exploring the Salaries of Dancing With The Stars Hosts Through the Seasons
The scores from judges and viewer votes are combined, and each week, the couple with the lowest combined score faces elimination. This thrilling process repeats weekly until the finale, where one winning couple is crowned champion and awarded the coveted Mirrorball Trophy. With a clear understanding of the Dancing With the Stars format, let’s delve into the earnings of the professionals – specifically, how much do the dancing with the stars pros make per episode?
Dancing With The Stars broadcasts Tuesday nights at 8pm ET on ABC.
Understanding Dancing With the Stars Contestant Salaries
Audience members hold up signs during Dancing with the StarsDiverse audience members holding signs expressing support and excitement at a live taping of Dancing with the Stars.
Before we focus on the pros, it’s insightful to briefly touch upon how much do Dancing With the Stars contestants make. Celebrity contestants on Dancing With the Stars reportedly start with a base salary of $125,000, according to Variety. This initial amount covers their rehearsal period, which involves around 20 hours of practice per week in the weeks leading up to the season premiere, as well as their participation in the first two weeks of live shows. However, for celebrities who resonate with audiences and impress the judges, the financial rewards can significantly increase.
For celebrities who advance beyond the initial two weeks, their earnings are structured to rise every two weeks. Those who reach weeks three and four see an additional $10,000 added to their weekly pay. Making it to week five brings a $15,000 weekly bonus. Weeks six and seven increase the weekly bonus to $20,000. Contestants who endure to weeks eight and nine earn an impressive extra $30,000 per week.
Those stars fortunate enough to reach the coveted semi-finals and grand finale experience the most substantial pay jump. Reports over the years indicate that celebrities at this advanced stage in the competition can earn an additional $50,000. This is on top of the potential grand prize of the Mirrorball Trophy for the ultimate winner. In total, these weekly bonuses can accumulate to over $360,000, depending on the season’s duration and how far a contestant progresses. However, a Variety report indicated that the maximum a celebrity contestant could earn as of 2020 was capped at $295,000.
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Decoding Dancing With the Stars Pro Salaries Per Episode
Two professional dancers perform a routine on Dancing with the StarsTwo professional dancers in elegant costumes performing an intricate ballroom dance routine under bright stage lights on Dancing with the Stars.
Now, let’s address the core question: how much do Dancing With the Stars pros make per episode? While official salary figures for celebrities, professional dancers, and judges are not publicly available, insights have emerged from various reports. Us Weekly reported in 2022 that professional dancers who are new to the show start at around $1,200 per episode. This base pay increases with tenure and experience on the show. Veteran pros, who are familiar faces and return season after season, can earn significantly more, reportedly closer to $5,000 per episode. This level of per-episode pay can translate to a total seasonal salary reaching approximately $100,000 for seasoned professionals.
In a 2014 interview with The LA Times, former contestant Amy Purdy shed light on the demanding schedule that both celebrities and professionals endure. She emphasized the intense workload, stating, “I know how hard everyone on the cast is working. This show is no joke. The other day someone asked me what I do on my off days. My off days??? There are no off days.”
Purdy further detailed the relentless schedule: “Everyone is dancing every day, building right up until Mondays/show days, when you arrive on the set at about 7 a.m. and you are there all day and all night. Then last night we had dance practice after the show until midnight. Then we all start our routines for next week today. It’s exhausting, but it’s also a total blast.”
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