17.7x: NYC Ballet's Pay Gap Is the Widest in 191-Org Survey
An AGMA apprentice dancer at NEW YORK CITY BALLET INC earns $44,200 a year at union minimum. Executive Director KATHERINE BROWN earned $780,182 in fiscal year 2025, a ratio of 17.7 to 1. Across 191 performing arts organizations, only 2 had sufficient union contract data to calculate a verified gap, and the one that did is at the top of the performing arts pay-gap table.
New York City Ballet's executive compensation structure reveals a significant disparity between top leadership and entry-level union performers. This analysis examines the pay gap between the organization's Executive Director and apprentice dancers operating under union contract, a comparison that illuminates broader questions about resource allocation within elite performing arts institutions. The ratio between these compensation levels offers a concrete measure of how a major ballet company distributes its financial resources across its workforce hierarchy.
Pay-gap analysis across the performing arts sector remains constrained by data availability, as most organizations lack standardized union contract documentation in their public filings. This examination of New York City Ballet's verified gap contributes rare empirical evidence to conversations about equity and sustainability in dance administration. Understanding how compensation structures function at flagship institutions helps the field assess whether current models align with stated values around artist support and organizational mission.
Financial and compensation data is sourced from public filings and reports. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Past figures do not indicate future performance. See disclaimer.