Designs, plans and supervises the stunts and action sequences on film and TV productions, keeping performers safe. BLS does not publish separate figures for choreographers; it counts them within choreographer (SOC 27-2032), whose median pay is $55,310 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 27-2032
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Stunt Coordinator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $55,310a year, or $26.59/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $139K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.1%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6004,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20254.7K
- Projected 20354.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 4.7K Projected 2035 4.9K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school9.5%
- High school33.3%
- Certificate19.1%
- Some college4.8%
- Associate's9.5%
- Bachelor's19.1%
Highest education held by choreographers Segment Value Less than high school 9.5% High school 33.3% Certificate 19.1% Some college 4.8% Associate's 9.5% Bachelor's 19.1%
Also advertised as: Fight Coordinator, Action Designer, Stunt Supervisor, Second Unit Director (Action), Action Coordinator.
Pay
How much do Choreographers make?
Every stunt coordinator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$55,310
Middle half earn $41,600 to $75,710
- 10th
- $34,090
- 25th
- $41,600
- 75th
- $75,710
- 90th
- $138,630
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,090 |
| 25th | $41,600 |
| Median | $55,310 |
| 75th | $75,710 |
| 90th | $138,630 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $55,310
- Median hourly wage
- $26.59/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $73,100
- People employed
- 2,860
Versus all US occupations
At $55,310, Choreographers earn 8% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,330 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 19% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $138,630 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,090, a gap of 4.1×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 27% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New York pays the most at $173,100, and still leads at $160,395 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Choreographers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New York | $173,100 | $160,395 | 340 |
| 2California | $75,000 | $67,738 | 410 |
| 3Minnesota | $74,810 | $75,856 | 40 |
| 4Maryland | $69,140 | $65,873 | 80 |
| 5Ohio | $66,910 | $72,121 | 120 |
| 6Louisiana | $51,170 | $58,011 | 210 |
| 7Nebraska | $49,490 | $54,926 | 60 |
| 8Texas | $46,460 | $47,869 | 380 |
| 9Indiana | $44,840 | $48,045 | N/A |
| 10South Dakota | $40,320 | $45,515 | 250 |
Job outlook
Is Stunt Coordinator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Choreographers | +3.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Choreographers to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 600 openings are projected each year, 12.8% of the 4,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Stunt Coordinator
Stunt coordinators nearly always begin as stunt performers, building years of experience across many types of action before coordinating smaller projects. There is no degree route, though experience in martial arts, gymnastics, driving or rigging is common.
Stunt coordinators work under SAG-AFTRA contracts in the United States, and the Television Academy began presenting Emmy awards for stunt coordination. Industry safety training such as that offered through the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund is part of the job, and professional stunt associations provide mentoring and standards.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as choreographers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)33.3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate19.1%
- Bachelor's Degree19.1%
- Less than a High School Diploma9.5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree9.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 33.3% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 19.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 19.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 9.5% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 9.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Stunt Coordinator do?
Stunt coordinators design the action. Reading the script, they plan each fight, fall, chase and crash, then hire and lead the stunt performers who carry it out. They work with the director and cinematographer on how action will be shot, and with special effects, rigging and art departments on equipment, breakaway props and set modifications.
Safety is their central responsibility. Coordinators assess risks, choose padding, airbags, rigs and vehicles, run safety meetings and decide whether a stunt can go ahead. They also train actors for fight scenes and physical work, and they often previsualize sequences by filming rehearsals so directors can approve the action before shooting.
Day-to-day tasks
- Break down scripts for stunts and action
- Design fight choreography and action sequences
- Hire and lead stunt performers
- Assess risks and choose safety equipment
- Run safety meetings before stunts
- Train actors for fights and physical scenes
- Film rehearsals to previsualize action for directors
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Coordinators work on sets and locations, in stunt gyms during rehearsals, and in production meetings during prep. Days are long, and the job involves physical work and travel. The pressure of keeping people safe during dangerous action is constant.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Monitoring3.8
- Learning Strategies3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Writing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.0
- Coordination3.9
- Social Perceptiveness3.6
- Time Management3.4
- Service Orientation3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Management of Personnel Resources3.1
- Persuasion3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.0 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software
- Graphical user interface development software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
- Video creation and editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Stunt Coordinator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ERA) built on O*NET's Choreographer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Stunt Coordinator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 7 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 2 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Artistic7.0
- Enterprising4.7
- Realistic4.5
- Social4.0
- Investigative2.2
- Conventional2.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Stunt Coordinator
O*NET related occupations
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+2.2%Master's - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
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More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with choreographers highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Stunt Coordinator$55,310
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Stunt Coordinator | $55,310 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Stunt Coordinator appears on
Questions
Stunt Coordinator: frequently asked questions
How much do Choreographers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for choreographers. It counts them within choreographer, whose median pay is $55,310 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $41,600 and $75,710, and the top 10% earn $138,630 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Stunt Coordinator?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Choreographers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 33.3% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Stunt Coordinator a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.1% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Stunt Coordinator do?
Stunt coordinators design the action. A typical task: break down scripts for stunts and action. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Office suite software, Presentation software.
Which states pay Choreographers the most?
The highest state medians for Choreographers are New York ($173,100), California ($75,000), Minnesota ($74,810) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Stunt Coordinator?
O*NET scores Choreographers highest on the Artistic, Enterprising and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ENFP personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.