How Much do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Make?

Veteran Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders now earn upward of $75 an hour at games after a 400% pay raise for the 2025 season. That works out to a season estimate of roughly $75,000 to $150,000 for the most experienced members, before appearance and sponsorship money. Before the raise, the same veterans made about $15 an hour plus around $500 per appearance in 2024. The raise was revealed in season 2 of the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which premiered June 18, 2025.

How much do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders make now?

After the 2025 raise, veteran cheerleaders earn more than $75 an hour at games, up from about $15 an hour the year before. Cheerleader Jada McLean, a five-year veteran, told the New York Times she made $15 an hour in 2024 and would now make north of $75 an hour at games (Variety).

The $75 figure applies to game-day pay. Practices pay less. The squad has not released a full salary scale, so season totals are estimates: reporting puts top veterans at roughly $75,000 to over $150,000 per season once appearances and sponsorships are added (SheKnows).

Cheerleaders still get no team health insurance, but they do have access to a team doctor and physical therapist (Fortune).

What did they make before the raise?

The 2024 numbers were the baseline that sparked the fight. Veterans earned about $15 an hour and around $500 per appearance. A 2018-era cheerleader earned even less: $7 an hour and a flat $200 per game (Fortune).

That low pay drew a 2018 lawsuit. Former cheerleader Erica Wilkins sued the franchise over unpaid overtime, noting how much more the Cowboys mascot, Rowdy, earned. The case pushed the team to raise base hourly pay for the 2019 season.

What is the 400% pay raise?

At the end of the 2024 season, a group of cheerleaders banded together and negotiated a roughly 400% increase for 2025. Squad member Megan McElaney called it “life-changing,” saying on the show, “we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is, like, life-changing” (NBC News).

The team did not publish exact dollar amounts. The 400% figure and the $15-to-$75 hourly jump come from the cheerleaders themselves, reported by the New York Times and confirmed across outlets (Washington Post).

Why did the raise happen now?

The Netflix series put the pay gap in front of millions of viewers. Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders premiered June 18, 2025, and showed the cheerleaders making their case. The exposure gave their argument weight: since the show’s 2024 debut, the squad has generated about $50.2 million in equivalent brand value for the Cowboys, per an Apex Marketing Group estimate cited by The Hollywood Reporter (Fox Business).

How much do NFL cheerleaders make in general?

Pay outside Dallas is lower and varies by team. Many NFL cheerleaders earn between $50 and $75 per public appearance plus around $150 per game. Reports have put yearly totals for most squads in the $15,000 to $20,000 range, far below player pay.

Costs eat into that. One former cheerleader told Cosmopolitan she cleared only about $3,000 a season after paying for manicures, makeup, and personal trainers. Some teams even charge audition fees. The Dallas raise is the exception, not the league norm.

How do you become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader?

You must be at least 18 and a high school graduate. You also need to prove you can legally work in the U.S. There is no body-size restriction, but visible tattoos and piercings are not allowed during the audition.

Be ready for a heavy schedule. The team rehearses and performs often, so applicants need good health and the time to commit.

Questions People Usually Ask

How much do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders make per game?

Veterans now earn more than $75 an hour at games after the 2025 raise. Before that, game-day and hourly pay landed closer to $15 an hour plus about $500 per appearance.

Did the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders really get a 400% raise?

Yes. The squad negotiated a roughly 400% increase for the 2025 season, revealed in season 2 of the Netflix series in June 2025. The team did not release exact dollar figures.

Are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders famous?

They are the most recognizable squad in the NFL, with their own Netflix docuseries and a large social following. That fame is part of why their brand value to the team runs into the tens of millions.

What is the oldest a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader has been?

Cheerleading director Kelli Finglass has said the oldest woman to perform with the squad was 37.

Do NFL cheerleaders get health insurance?

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders do not get team health insurance, though they can use a team doctor and physical therapist.

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