Cheryl Burke’s exact final salary on Dancing with the Stars has not been publicly confirmed in the available reporting. When asked about commonly repeated pay figures for veteran pros, Burke called them “ridiculous” and “so off,” said the real amount was higher, and declined to give a number.
What Cheryl Burke said about her DWTS pay
In a Money Rehab conversation, Burke was asked about reports that pros started at $1,600 per episode and experienced dancers could earn about $5,000 per episode. She rejected those figures, saying, “That is ridiculous. It’s higher. That’s all I’m going to say.” She also said the reports were “so off,” but did not disclose her own compensation.
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Those amounts were figures raised in the interview about online reporting—not confirmed terms of Burke’s contract. Her comments establish that she disputed the estimates, not what she was paid.
How published salary estimates differ
Articles have circulated estimates for professional dancers, but they do not establish Burke’s personal pay. Their figures also use different time units, so they should not be treated as directly comparable.
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| Source and date | Figure reported | What it does—and does not—show |
|---|---|---|
| Money Rehab interview, transcript hosted by Podscripts | $1,600 per episode and about $5,000 per episode | Figures put to Burke during the discussion; she disputed them. They are not verified salary amounts. |
| International Business Times Australia, September 2020 | Veteran pros could earn up to $5,200 per week | A reported estimate for pros generally. The article said exact professional pay was unknown and contracts were renegotiated each season; it does not establish Burke’s season 31 pay. |
| BollywoodShaadis, October 2025 | $5,200 per episode and roughly $100,000 per season for experienced dancers | Repeated estimates that the article says are not officially confirmed. They do not disclose Burke’s compensation. |
The episode, week, and season figures describe different units and come from different publications. Without a confirmed contract or a reliable account of Burke’s own pay, they cannot be combined into a trustworthy estimate of her total earnings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When Burke left the show
Burke announced on November 20, 2022, that the season 31 finale would be her final performance as a pro. She called leaving “one of the absolute hardest decisions of my life,” while saying she was confident it was the right one, according to ABC News / Good Morning America. Entertainment Tonight and TVLine also covered her departure.
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Accounts differ on how to count her tenure: Burke and some outlets described it as 26 seasons, while ABC characterized it as 25 seasons as a pro. Entertainment Tonight’s October 2022 interview reported that she had difficulty saying goodbye after 26 seasons and that her body was telling her to stop. She said wanting children was not the reason she was leaving. At that point, she discussed possible off-floor roles such as correspondent, host, or judge, but did not announce a confirmed appointment.
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- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: Region 1 U.S. and Canada only
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Run Time: 51 minutes
What can be stated with confidence
- Burke left the professional dancer role after season 31, announcing her decision in November 2022.
- Her exact final salary has not been disclosed in the cited departure coverage or the interview about pay estimates.
- She said commonly reported figures were substantially wrong and that her actual pay was higher, but named no amount.
- Published estimates concern professional dancers generally, vary by source and unit, and are not verified evidence of Burke’s contract.
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