DWTS Salaries Exposed: How Much Do the Celebrities Really Make?
Fans often wonder: How Much Do the Celebrities Get Paid to Be on Dancing With the Stars? Behind the glittering ballroom and dramatic eliminations, there is a financial structure that has long intrigued viewers. Now, insider interviews and past reporting shed new light on how much everyone—from top-billed contestants to behind-the-scenes costume designers—actually earns on ABC’s hit series.
Celebrity Earnings on Dancing With the Stars
According to Variety, contestants reportedly start the season with a $125,000 payment for rehearsals plus the first two weeks of competition. If they avoid elimination and continue dancing, the pay increases weekly. Sources told the outlet the maximum possible payout was roughly $295,000 as of 2019.
Yet radio host Bobby Bones, who took home the Mirrorball in Season 27, claimed he earned considerably more.
“That show pays OK,” the radio personality said on a Sept. 2025 episode of Jason Tartick’s podcast Trading Secrets. “Like, first episode, no money. Second episode, $10,000. I think it’s like, $10,000, $10,000, $20,000, $20,000. It ends up being $50,000 an episode if you last.”
Bones added he also received a base salary on top of the weekly earnings.
“I ended up making close to $400,000 from that show.”
ABC has never publicly confirmed these numbers, leaving fans to wonder how the pay scale may have evolved over the years.
Do DWTS Pros Really Earn Less Than the Celebrities?
The Professional Dancers’ Pay Structure
While the pros train harder and rehearse longer than almost anyone on the show, exact salary details remain largely private. Still, pro dancer Jenna Johnson offered a rare behind-the-curtain glimpse during her appearance on The Morning After podcast.
“You’re guaranteed until a certain amount of weeks,” she said. “I think there’s different contracts though. I can’t speak for everybody.”
Unlike contestants, pros do not receive a larger paycheck if they lift the Len Goodman Mirrorball.
“If you make it all the way to the end, you’re getting paid the whole season, which is amazing, and you get a bonus on top of that for making it to the finale,” she explained. “If you win, it’s not like you win a $1 million and split it with your partner. You’re just getting a cute trophy together.”
What the Troupe Earns Compared to the Pros
Not every dancer gets the same treatment—or paycheck.
- Lindsey Arnold revealed her salary was cut “more than in half” when she moved from a pro position to the troupe.
- Troupe dancers rehearse and perform just as intensely but receive significantly lower pay.
- This pay gap highlights the competitive hierarchy within the DWTS dance company.
Understanding the pay tiers reveals how much the show relies on talent willing to work under intense pressure for prestige rather than huge financial rewards.
How DWTS Pairs Celebrities and Pros
Matching celebrities with the right pros is a delicate science—and far less glamorous than fans imagine.
Pro dancer Lindsay Arnold said on the Hot Smart Rich podcast:
“You get no say. It’s very much just, ‘Here’s your partner. Make it work.'”
Jenna Johnson confirmed the secrecy is intentional:
“They really want to keep it a secret until you meet them live… Absolutely not. They do not tell us. They really don’t even want us to know the cast.”
Former showrunner Rob Wade once told E! News that pairings depend on:
- Height
- Personality
- Physical compatibility
- Potential chemistry
“We don’t pair people who aren’t going to get on. It’s too intense… we have made that mistake pairing people up who didn’t get on so well.”
Rehearsals, Music Choices & Nonstop Work Behind the Scenes
If you think performing one dance per week sounds manageable, the dancers would like a word.
Rylee Arnold revealed in a 2024 episode of the Lightweights Podcast:
“Every day we have four-hour rehearsals… It’s either 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.”
The schedule is relentless—six straight days of rehearsals followed by camera blocking on Monday and a live show on Tuesday.
“Literally my whole life is devoted to it,” she said. “But it’s my passion… it makes me so happy.”
When it comes to weekly song choices, Emma Slater and Britt Stewart admitted dancers have input:
“Mostly yes… though it’s a collaboration with producers.”
Costume Design: The Fastest Department on Set
Costumes may sparkle under the ballroom lights, but the speed behind their creation is astonishing.
Costume designer Daniela Gschwendtner told TV Insider:
“We meet with the set and lighting designers, dancers and talent and create a story [for each pair]… We have five days, max, to make all the outfits.”
Her team of 20 works with a separate tailor shop to complete dozens of custom looks weekly.
Designer Steven Norman Lee added:
“We might use a pair of pants again for the boys, but everything is generally made custom each week.”
Group numbers may involve reused pieces, but competition costumes are almost always new.
This department works faster than any quickstep—half a day per costume before rhinestone detailing even begins.
Dancing With the Stars continues to fascinate viewers with dazzling performances and even more dazzling behind-the-scenes secrets. From paychecks to pairings, the ballroom hides a complex world built on creativity, pressure, and passion.
DWTS Salary Breakdown — Quick Facts
- Celebrities reportedly earn $125,000 for rehearsals and the first two weeks of the competition (Variety).
- Weekly pay increases the longer a celebrity stays on the show, with earlier reports suggesting a max payout of around $295,000.
- Bobby Bones claimed he earned closer to $400,000, including a base salary plus weekly episode earnings.
- Episode pay can reach roughly $50,000 for contestants who survive multiple rounds, according to Bones.
- ABC has not confirmed any salary figures for celebrity participants.
- Professional dancers (pros) earn more the longer they remain on the show, though exact amounts are not publicly disclosed.
- Pros do NOT receive extra money for winning, but they do get a finale bonus if they reach the end.
- Troupe members earn significantly less, with Lindsay Arnold noting her salary was cut “more than in half” when moved from pro to troupe.
- All pros are guaranteed pay for a set number of weeks, even if they are eliminated early.
For DWTS Fans
If you’re inspired by DWTS journey and want to bring a bit of that energy and glam into your own home, check out our hand-picked Amazon picks. These items let you feel like a Mirror Ball champion in your own space.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Robert Irwin 2026 Calendar
- LED Strip Lights for a “Ballroom” Glow
- Bluetooth Speaker
- Luxury Self-Tanner or Glow Lotion
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