How Much Money Do Exotic Dancers Make?
How Much Can a Stripper Earn? Breaking Down the Real Salary Expectations
Hi Bohemians, welcome to the end-of-year edition for all things financial. This year was tough for many financially, and the strip club was no exception. I get asked often how much I made and dream about those $$$ nights I made bank, especially when I want extra cash around the holidays. However, that was not a true industry reality or a stripper’s salary.
In this post, I’ll cover the reality of how much you make as a dancer in almost every city.
This varies widely depending on the location, but I can tell you what you can expect to make realistically.
Disclaimer: This is not financial advice.
Working at the club or as a dancer gives you “unlimited earning potential,” but what does this mean? Technically, you could work whenever the club was open and make as much as you wanted. However, this is far from the reality of most dancers and their schedules.
First, it isn’t likely that you would work the above schedule. Normal clubs are open every day from noon to 2 AM the next morning – do the math, and that’s a 14-hour shift. I don’t know many people who work those long hours at any job, period. Also, this job is mentally, emotionally, and physically demanding, which will limit the time you spend making money before exhaustion (vs. a less demanding job where you could work more hours at one time).
Most dancers try to work 3-5 days per week. Depending on the hustle, you might work more/less during peak seasons. For where I live in a tourist area, that is the springtime wedding season.
The average salary a dancer makes depends on the shifts they work. Traditionally, night shifts earn more than day shifts. This is because there are more people out at night, and they are more intoxicated, leading to spending decisions that might be more thought out during a more sober day shift. Split shifts are a mixed bag, and most clubs don’t offer them anyway.
Here's the REALITY:
For night shifts, realistically, dancers should earn between $300-$1000. Some nights it might be less and some days more. This is why the 3-5 days is important.
If you only make $250 for the first night and $300 for the second, that’s only $550 for the week, so it’s ideal to plan for this and adjust your schedule to include more shifts. The club does not assign shifts to dancers, and I’ve only had one club turn away girls (not me) because they were “too full.”
The earning potential might be closer to $200-$700 during day shifts. This is why it is important to be consistent with the day shift and build a local clientele to fall back on. Day shift clients are also more likely to buy gifts and spend money when they know you and see you every week.
For either shift if you are working 3-5 nights/days per week (low and high end for shifts and $):
Nights $900-$5000 per week
Days $600-$3500 per week
Even on the low end of the scale, working three days or nights per week can bring in almost $1k. That would be working the normal shift hours 11-8 Day, 6 PM-2 AM Night (8-hour and 9-hour shifts respectively).
This is where the myths come in, which I will touch on more later, but most of the time, the reason dancers don’t make as much as they want comes down to a few factors:
· They do not come in on time or stay for the full shift. Coming in late or leaving early will be the biggest hindrance to making money. I understand that sometimes it’s hard to leave the house or the clients are so frustrating that you want to leave, but those should be the exception, not the rule.
· They think each shift, they should make X amount of money and take it personally when they don’t, leading to negativity or burnout.
· They switch clubs too often to have regular clients and know how the club works the best.
Tips for maximizing income as an Exotic Dancer
1. Connect with your clients. This is the number one thing. If you are trying any insincere hustle, they will pick up on it. No matter how attractive you are, you will always make more money by showing a genuine interest and connection with the person, not just their wallet.
2. Find one club and stick with it for at least 6 months. If, after that period, you still aren’t making the money that you want and haven’t found a single regular, I would consider switching.
3. Stay in shape, both body and mind. Don’t let yourself go mentally and physically because you work too much.
4. Regular clients are an absolute must (see this post on how to get a regular client)
5. Don’t make friends; be cordial but not too friendly. Strippers are not your friends. And never ask another dancer what they made: THEY WILL ALWAYS LIE. They will say much more than reality because they want to mess with your head or lie to themselves (or both). Or they will say they made much less because they want you to feel sorry for them and help them somehow. You will never get an accurate number and shouldn’t ask, but sometimes they will “brag” about how much they made – trust me if they are talking about it, they didn’t make that much. Those nights, I made a ton of money. I sometimes had to wait an hour after the club closed to cash out. (No one talks about it or carries that kind of cash and shares; that’s an easy way to get robbed, lol)
6. Try not to get overly intoxicated at work or home. Too many dancers get money and unlimited access to substances and go down a rabbit hole that is hard to get out of financially.
7. Set aside a savings account that you can’t touch. I used stocks and CDs (certified deposits) to save my money. These days, you can deposit money into a stock app like STASH or another savings app that you can’t withdraw from easily.
And here are the biggest myths and misconceptions about an exotic dancer’s salary.
1. Myth: Strippers Make a Fixed Salary
Reality: All exotic dancers are paid through tips, dances, private rooms, and stage performances, not a fixed salary. Earnings vary greatly depending on the club, location, shift hours, and the dancer’s connection with the clients.
2. Myth: Strippers Make Thousands of Dollars a Night
Reality: Income varies so widely depending on a huge range of factors. There are ways to engineer nights that can make $1000 or more, which is not average. (See the post on “How to Make $1000/night Stripping”). Usually, only dancers with experience, regular clientele, and a solid schedule can make thousands consistently.
3. Myth: Stripping is a Get-Rich-Quick Career
Reality: Stripping is hard work. It involves long hours, physical demands, and emotional labor. Consistent earnings require skill, charm, and persistence, not just showing up. Dancers who claim it’s easy are lying to you. Only very financially savvy dancers or those who use their income toward a degree or goal move onto higher wealth.
4. Myth: Strippers Don’t Have to Pay Taxes
Reality: Strippers are considered independent contractors, meaning they must report their earnings and pay taxes, including income and self-employment taxes. There are ways to deduct most of the $ income tax, but most dancers need to file taxes for other financial reasons (loans, proof of income, etc.)
5. Myth: All Strippers Earn the Same Amount
Reality: No dancers will ever earn the same amount, period. Even identical twins working in the same club on the same night sitting with the same guy.
6. Myth: You Can Make Money Just by Dancing
Reality: Successful dancers typically make most of their income through private dances, lap dances, or VIP room bookings, not just through stage performances. Most curious about the industry think things like they won’t have to get naked or dance on strangers, but the reality is that is the actual job. You can make money on talking, but it’s still sex work.
7. Myth: Strippers Don’t Need to Spend Much on Their Appearance
Reality: Strippers spend a good deal of time and money on their appearance. Traditional beauty stereotypes don’t necessarily have to be followed unless the club has rules. I have seen goth girls spend just as much on high heels and lingerie as preppy girls. Whatever the aesthetic, you’ll spend time maintaining fitness, hair, skin, and makeup. Your appearance is how you make money, so it should be paramount.
8. Myth: Strippers Are Always Financially Secure
Reality: Hardly any dancers I ever met were financially secure. If they tell you this, they are not being completely truthful. To be financially secure as a dancer, invest money in a degree, real estate, crypto, stocks, or something outside of the club. Dancing is not a career; it should be a means to an end. Make the inconsistent money in the club to invest in something more stable outside of the club.
9. Myth: Strippers Only Make Money from Tips
Reality: While tips are the main source of income, some dancers also make money through merchandise sales, social media (such as online fan subscriptions or private shows), and even private events like bachelor parties. (See the post on working for private parties HERE).
10. Myth: Strippers Don’t Need a Financial Plan
Reality: There is no long-term security in this industry. And most dancers only strip for less than 10 years. The reality is that you might make $100k one year, and then the next, it could be half that. When the recession and COVID-19 hit, many clubs closed or laid off their dancers. Exotic dancers need a budget and financial plan even more so than jobs that might be consistent even during a down economy.
Regardless of anything above, the range of how much you can make as an exotic dancer is wide. The one thing always predictable is that you have no idea how much you will make. I have left the club with well over five figures and left owing money back to the club for house fees. It has been that wide of a range. I will say those nights that I made a ton are always glamorized in my memory, but the reality is I was making well over a living wage in my 20s if you do it right ;)
Love & glitter,
BW
