How Much Do Dancing With the Stars Pros Make Per Episode? Their Salaries, Revealed
For fans captivated by the glitz, glamour, and gravity-defying moves on Dancing With the Stars, a burning question often arises: how much do Dancing With the Stars pros make? It’s no secret that these professional dancers dedicate themselves fully to the show, often working seven days a week during filming. If you’ve ever wondered about the financial rewards for their dedication, you’re in the right place. We’re diving into the details of Dancing With the Stars pro salaries, exploring how their earnings are structured and what factors influence their paychecks.
What is Dancing With the Stars?
Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) is a hugely popular reality competition show that pairs celebrities with professional ballroom dancers. Originating as the American adaptation of the British series Strictly Come Dancing, DWTS has become a global phenomenon, extending its franchise to over 74 countries worldwide. The show’s premise is simple yet compelling: celebrities from various fields step out of their comfort zones to learn challenging dance routines and compete for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
How DWTS Works
Each season, celebrities are carefully matched with seasoned professional dancers. These pairs embark on an intense journey of rehearsals, mastering choreographed routines in a variety of dance styles each week. The pressure is on as they must perform these routines in front of a panel of judges, who score their technical skills and artistry. Adding another layer of excitement, viewers at home also get to participate by voting for their favorite couples. The combination of judges’ scores and viewer votes determines which couple faces elimination each week. This elimination process continues week after week, heightening the stakes until only a few couples remain to battle it out in the finale for the ultimate prize and title of Dancing With the Stars champions.
How much do Dancing With the Stars contestants make?
Celebrity Contestant Salaries
Before we focus on the professional dancers, it’s interesting to note what the celebrity contestants earn. According to reports from Variety, celebrity contestants on Dancing With the Stars start with a base salary estimated around $125,000. This initial sum covers their rehearsal period, which involves approximately 20 hours of practice per week leading up to the season premiere, and their participation in the first two weeks of the live shows.
However, the financial incentive increases significantly for celebrities who prove their staying power. For each subsequent week a celebrity survives in the competition beyond the initial two weeks, their earnings receive a boost. Making it to weeks three and four adds an extra $10,000 per week to their paycheck. Reaching week five brings a bonus of $15,000. The rewards continue to climb, with an additional $20,000 per week for weeks six and seven, and a substantial $30,000 per week for those who reach weeks eight and nine. For the elite celebrities who make it all the way to the semi-finals and finale, reports suggest they can earn an additional $50,000. Through these cumulative weekly bonuses, a celebrity contestant could potentially earn upwards of $360,000, depending on the season’s length and their progression. However, it’s worth noting that some sources indicate a salary cap for contestants, reportedly around $295,000 as of 2020, according to Variety.
How Much Do DWTS Pros Make Per Episode?
Now, let’s turn our attention to the professionals and answer the key question: how much do Dancing With the Stars pros make per episode? While official figures for pro dancers, judges, and hosts are not publicly disclosed by ABC, reports offer insights into their earning structure. Us Weekly reported in 2022 that starting professional dancers on Dancing With the Stars earn approximately $1,200 per episode when they first join the show.
However, much like the celebrity contestants, the earning potential for DWTS pros increases with experience and longevity on the show. Seasoned professional dancers who are invited back season after season can command significantly higher per-episode fees. These returning pros are estimated to earn closer to $5,000 per episode. Considering a typical season, this per-episode rate can translate to an overall season salary reaching around $100,000 for the more experienced professional dancers. This figure reflects not only their performance on live shows but also the extensive rehearsal time and commitment required each week.
How much do Dancing With the Stars pros make per episode?
The Demands of a DWTS Pro
The salaries of Dancing With the Stars pros reflect not just their talent but also the immense dedication and grueling schedule the job demands. As former contestant Amy Purdy shared with The LA Times in 2014, being a DWTS pro is far from a part-time gig. She described the schedule as incredibly intense, emphasizing that “There are no off days.”
According to Purdy, professional dancers and their celebrity partners are immersed in dance practice every single day, constantly refining their routines in preparation for the live Monday night shows. Show days themselves are all-consuming, starting as early as 7 a.m. and stretching late into the night. Even after the broadcast, the work doesn’t stop, with dance practices often continuing until midnight to start preparing for the next week’s performance. This relentless cycle of rehearsals and performances highlights the sheer physical and mental stamina required to be a Dancing With the Stars professional dancer.
In Conclusion
So, how much do Dancing With the Stars pros make? While the exact figures remain confidential, it’s clear that Dancing With the Stars professional dancers can earn a respectable income, especially as they gain experience and become returning cast members. Starting at approximately $1,200 per episode for newcomers and reaching up to $5,000 per episode for veterans, their salaries reflect their skill, dedication, and the demanding nature of the show. Combined with the escalating earnings for celebrity contestants, Dancing With the Stars proves to be a financially rewarding, albeit challenging, endeavor for all involved in bringing the magic of dance to television screens.
