From Cosmopolitan · Mehera Bonner · · 1m 10s
Dancing With the Stars pay gap revealed
Troupe members earn a fraction of what pro dancers make per episode on the hit ABC show.
In brief
Troupe members earn a fraction of what pro dancers make per episode on the hit ABC show. Troupe dancers on Dancing With the Stars earn $600 to $800 per episode while veteran pros make over $5,000, creating a significant pay disparity for similar on-air work. Originally reported by Cosmopolitan.
Troupe dancers earn far less
New troupe members make $600 per episode, averaging $800, while veteran pros earn over $5,000 per episode on Dancing With the Stars.
“Brand new troupe members make $600 an episode, but the average is roughly $800 per episode.”
Season earnings tell the story
With 10 to 15 episodes per season, troupe members max out around $12,000 while pros earn roughly $75,000 per season.
Lindsay Arnold's pay cut shock
When pro dancer Lindsay Arnold moved to the troupe, her salary was cut by more than half, making it difficult to afford living expenses in Los Angeles.
“I'd be really tight" on troupe pay while "living in L.A., paying rent, buying food there, paying for gas.”
Troupe role offers limited benefits
While the show highlights troupe members to boost their social media following and opportunities, there's no guarantee of paid work or automatic promotion to pro status.
Salary details kept secret until now
The troupe's pay structure has been confidential, but a source revealed the numbers to The Sun, shedding light on the show's compensation practices.
The bottom line
Troupe dancers on Dancing With the Stars earn $600 to $800 per episode while veteran pros make over $5,000, creating a significant pay disparity for similar on-air work.
