Pole Dance Instructor
Salary Information

By Susan Peach

Do you think teaching pole dance (after becoming advanced enough) is lucrative? Even in today's economy? I'd love to work at a pole school, take classes, work really hard at it, then take a certification course.
~ Monica

Are you curious what an average pole dance instructor salary is?

Whether you're an aspiring instructor who'll soon be looking for a job teaching pole dancing, or a studio owner looking to hire your first instructor, this is an important question!

Unfortunately, there's no easy answer, because there are so many variables that determine pay rates. But while it's impossible to give a firm figure on how much you should expect to be paid as an instructor, or how much to pay your pole dance teaching staff, understanding the factors that can influence salaries can help you figure it out.

Knowing which of these factors apply to you and your situation can help you negotiate better, whether you are "selling yourself" as a potential instructor, or looking to attract quality staff with an appropriate salary, while staying within your studio budget.

Here are some of the main factors to consider as you think about what an appropriate pole dance instructor salary might be for your situation:

• Experience level and reputation of the instructor - obviously a brand new instructor won't command the same salary as a championship performer and well-known teacher.
  

• Geography - teaching jobs in larger cities and urban centers tend to pay more than those in smaller towns and rural areas, simply because the cost of living is higher in big cities.
  

• Quality and quantity of training or certification - an instructor who has graduated from a respected certification program may be considered more desirable than one who is completely self-taught. And if the instructor has gone beyond the basics to take additional training in specialties such as flexibility training or pre/post-natal pole classes, that can add up as well.
  

• Will the studio be providing additional in-house training, as with an apprenticeship program for example? This may be seen as a job perk or benefit, particularly if a potential instructor has had little formal training and stands to benefit from on-the-job training.

• Teaching responsibilities - classes involving advanced aerial moves require a different skill set and a higher awareness of safety requirements than beginner, fitness based classes or pole parties designed as an introductory experience.

• Other instructor expectations - for example, if the classes are all taught on-site in a dedicated pole studio, such that the instructor just has to show up and teach, then a pay scale that accounts only for teaching time may be reasonable. However, if the instructor will be required to travel to a satellite location such as a recreation center, and perhaps set up their own equipment such as portable dance poles, then a higher rate of pay may be more appropriate to account for the extra time, travel and responsibilities required.
  

• The current supply/demand ratio for instructors in a given area. If you're looking to hire, and haven't had many suitable applicants, you may need to be prepared to pay a higher salary, provide additional training, or offer some perks and/or bonuses in order to attract qualified pole instructors. And if you're an instructor looking for a studio teaching position, the same applies in reverse...if the studios you've applied to have indicated they don't need teachers at this time, think about what you can do to further your education and training to make yourself more attractive as a candidate. Alternatively, you may need to accept a lower starting salary to get your foot in the door.
  

Whew, that's a lot to consider! Of course, there are other, somewhat more personal factors that will come into play as well.

For example, you may have just completed a pole dance teacher certification course, are super jazzed about starting to teach, but are not particularly concerned about how much you earn because you're financially supported by other people in your life. In this case, the salary you earn is less important than achieving your goal of become a pole dance instructor.

Or, you may be single and willing and able to relocate to another city to take a teaching job that pays a higher salary, so you may want to hold out for a teaching position that pays more, even though it might mean a big move.

As a studio owner, if you're just starting out and don't have a huge budget, you may have a real need to cap your pole dance instructors' salaries until you're in the black. If this is the case, you may be able to get creative with other perks in order to attract good instructors.

Or, after several successful years in business, you may decide you want to attract some top notch teaching talent in order to bring more students in the door. In this case, since you have the budget, increasing your pole dance instructor salary budget to accommodate hiring the right teacher might be seen as a wise investment in your business, rather than an expense.

So, what should you expect to pay or receive as a pole dance instructor salary? Whether you're an aspiring pole teacher or a studio owner, start by evaluating your situation against the above considerations, then factor in any special circumstances that apply to you.

In the end, salaries are a matter of negotiation between the employer and the employee. And if you have a good grasp of your own priorities as an instructor - or what your expectations are as a studio owner - you'll be in a much better position to negotiate a pole dance instructor salary that's fair for your situation.  

Susan Peach is an early pioneer in pole dance fitness and the voice behind Your Pole Pal, a long-running resource for the pole community. She taught dance & fitness for nearly 30 years, leading hundreds of classes and working with thousands of students aged 6 to 80+, and created original programs when formal training did not yet exist. She also produced one of the first pole fitness DVD series, along with instructor training and Latin dance fitness programs. Today, she writes and builds Your Pole Pal, still with a soft spot for Latin dance music.

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