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Salary Information
- Job offers usually come with 1 or 2-year contracts. Most performers make between $30,000 and $100,000 per year. Employees are offered shared accommodations or traveling accommodations while on tour.
- The salaries of Circus Ringmasters range from $36,480 to $52,802, with a median salary of $41,931.
- The salaries of Circus Performers range from $16,640 to $74,880, with a median salary of $35,360.
Big Apple Circus
- Does Big Apple Circus have animals? The only animals included in our show are rescue dogs and horses/ponies.
- Is the Big Apple Circus still in business? The Big Apple Circus is a circus based in New York City. Opened in 1977, later becoming a nonprofit organization, it became a tourist attraction.
- Why did the Big Apple Circus close? The new Big Apple Circus quickly abandoned its spring-summer tours and limited its activity to its Lincoln Center four-month winter season.
How Much Circus Performers Make
- Generally speaking, the average salary of a circus performer ranges from $30,000 to $75,000 per year, although some performers may earn significantly more or less depending on their experience and the type of circus they work for.
- Circus performers primarily earn their income from a combination of sources, including salary from a performing company or circus, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and sponsorship deals.
- Who gets paid the most in a circus? Entry-level performers earn around $20,000 to $30,000 per year, while experienced professionals can make up to $70,000 or more annually. Aerialists, acrobats, and animal trainers are among the highest-paying roles in the circus.