A mirrorball trophy gleams with allure, yet it isn't the sole motivation propelling the cast of "Dancing With the Stars" to cha-cha their hearts out until the finale. Jenna Johnson, who made her grand entrance on "DWTS" in 2012, recently shed light on the compensation structure for her fellow professional dancers, their partners, and herself within the series. During her insightful conversation with Kelly Stafford on "The Morning After" podcast, Johnson, who secured the season 33 trophy alongside "The Bachelor's" Joey Graziadei, revealed that winning the competition doesn't entail a cash prize. Instead, she said, "All finalists receive payment up until the final episode, along with a delightful bonus." However, this remuneration isn't sufficient to sustain a lifetime of bronzer and sequins. "If you win, it's not a million-dollar payday," Johnson clarified. "You just get a charming trophy to share." For those who exit the competition earlier, "you're guaranteed payment for a specific number of weeks," she added.
Johnson further elaborated that, aside from their on-screen time during a season, dancers' salaries are also determined by their seniority. "There are various contracts," she stated. According to various reports, dancers reportedly earn a starting salary of $1,200 to $1,600 per episode, which can escalate to a maximum of $100,000 per season, although these figures have not been officially confirmed by ABC. In stark contrast, celebrities receive an initial salary of $125,000, which also compensates them for their intensive training both before and during the premiere. As the weeks roll on, competing stars receive additional bonuses, with semifinalists and finalists earning up to an extra $50,000.
Johnson knows the ins and outs of rumba-ing her way to the finale. Two years after debuting as a professional dancer on "So You Think You Can Dance" in 2016, she claimed her first Mirrorball Trophy during a season themed around athletes, partnering with Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon. She has also been a runner-up twice, placing second with Nev Schulman in 2020 and JoJo Siwa in 2021. Despite the fact that it takes two to tango, Johnson dismissed rumors that professional dancers have the liberty to choose their own partners. "They don't tell us," insisted Johnson, who is also a mother to 2-year-old son Rome with fellow professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. "They prefer to keep it a surprise until you meet them in person."
