Celebrity contestants on Dancing with the Stars typically make around $125,000 for rehearsals and the first two weeks on air. After that, they earn additional money each week they remain in the competition, with weekly bonuses increasing as the season progresses. The maximum a contestant can earn is reported to be around $295,000 per season, including bonuses for reaching the finale. In the past, payments ranged from $10,000 per episode in early weeks up to $50,000 for the final episodes. The winner also receives the Mirror Ball trophy but no huge additional cash prize.
Professional dancers start at about $1,200 per episode, and more experienced pros can earn up to $5,000 per episode, translating to roughly $50,000 to $75,000 per season. Their pay is generally much lower than that of celebrity contestants.
Hosts and judges earn significantly more, with former host Tom Bergeron reportedly making $150,000 per episode, totaling between $1.5 million and $1.8 million per season. The current hosts and judges presumably earn similar sums.
In summary, the pay structure for Dancing with the Stars in 2025 is approximately:
Role| Pay Estimate
---|---
Celebrity Contestant| Starting at $125,000 + weekly bonuses up to $295,000 max
Professional Dancer| $1,200 to $5,000 per episode ($50,000 to $75,000 per
season)
Hosts| Around $150,000 per episode ($1.5M to $1.8M per season)
Judges| Comparable to hosts, varies by contract
This offers a clear picture of how much participants get paid on Dancing with the Stars in 2025.
