The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders secured a significant boost to their salaries last season, but how much are they actually paid?
How Much Are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Paid?
Despite the Dallas Cowboys being valued at over $10 billion (£7.45 billion), their cheerleaders reportedly earned only between $15 and $20 an hour (£11.18 - £14.90) for practice and $500 (£372) per game before the 2025 season. This added up to a salary of around $75,000 (£55,890) a year for squad members, according to NBC Boston. However, this was already an increase from even lower pay just a few years prior.
Historical Pay Disputes
In 2018, former cheerleader Erica Wilkins successfully sued the organization, leading to a 2019 settlement that raised wages from $8 (£5.96) an hour to $12 (£8.94) an hour. Game day pay also increased from $200 (£149) to $400 (£298). During the 2024-25 season, the DCC squad was still unhappy, as many took second jobs to make ends meet. Even the Cowboys' newest players earned around ten times more than veteran cheerleaders, with rookie salaries starting at $750,000 (£558,900) and veterans at $850,000 (£633,460). Quarterback Dak Prescott is the highest earner, with an average salary of $60 million (£44.75 million) a year.
The 400% Pay Raise
Throughout the 2024-25 season, cheerleaders held meetings and considered walkouts, though they ultimately didn't happen. Jada McLean, instrumental in securing the new deal, told TIME: “We didn't want to let people down who were so excited to see the cheerleaders.” In the final episode of America’s Sweethearts season two, Megan McElaney announced a “life-changing” salary increase of 400%, with cheerleaders now earning around $75 (£55.89) per hour. Veteran cheerleaders can earn around $150,000 (£111,770) a year. However, exact salaries are undisclosed, and Reece Weaver claimed the increase was “more like 300 percent” on the Unplanned podcast, though she remains grateful. The increase does not include a flat fee for game appearances, which Weaver says is a “huge improvement,” and the job remains part-time without health insurance.
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders season 3 is available on Netflix.
