How Much Money Do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Make? Game and Season Pay

Cheerleaders have been a fixture in the NFL for over 60 yearssince the 1954 season, when the Baltimore Colts became the first team to introduce them to games. Since then, the practice of game-day cheerleading has evolved to become an integral part of the NFL. Cheerleaders have become an important part of marketing and merchandisingand many of them perform regularly overseas for U.S. Armed Forces personnel through United States Organizations Inc.

What’s up with the cheerleaders today?

Even though cheerleading is very popular in the NFL, there has traditionally been a huge disparity in pay. According to data collected by SportyJunior cheerleaders earn less per year ($20,000) than the NFL mascot ($25,000) and significantly less than an NFL water boy ($53,000). The standard salary for a cheerleader is $150 for a home game and approximately $50 to $75 for public appearances on behalf of the franchise, which can include visits to schools, conferences and corporate events.

Some cheerleaders are professionals and can earn up to $75,000 a year. However, the vast majority are not professionals and are in college or have just graduated. Many of them only stay in the NFL for a few years, and those who earn higher salaries usually have many years of experience in high-ranking positions on the cheerleading team and may have also represented several different teams. Typically, older cheerleaders receive larger game-day honors than newcomers and may also earn more in bonuses.

Today, cheerleading remains a popular sport, but it would be unfair to say that it doesn’t have its detractors. Consider for a moment that as recently as 2021, seven of the league’s 32 teams did not have a cheerleading squad: the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Why do NFL cheerleaders get paid so little?

Technically, this is because NFL cheerleaders, as well as NBA cheerleaders, are independent contractors. That means teams don’t necessarily have to pay cheerleaders the state and federal minimum wage. As a result, NFL cheerleaders, who once made as little as $5 an hour, have been a problem for decades. In 2021, a series of lawsuits brought by these cheerleaders led to 10 of the 26 NFL teams being sued for wage theft, unsafe working conditions, sexual harassment and discrimination.

The lawsuits targeted teams including the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to the Expert Institute, the Tampa Bay cheerleaders’ lawsuit was settled for $825,000, and the Cincinnati cheerleaders’ lawsuit was settled for $255,000. Since then, the country has seen a heated debate about the exploitation of women in sports, and cheerleaders are now respected and earn a bit more – although still not as much as they should.

Do cheerleaders make good money?

Yes, some do. By comparison, the highest paid cheerleaders typically make around $500 per game. According to a report by NBC Sports Boston, the highest paid cheerleaders in the league are the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers, who can earn from $15 to $20 per hour and $500 per game.

How do Dallas Cowboys cheerleading salaries compare to other NFL cheerleading teams?

Thanks to a lawsuit led by former DCC Erica Wilkins, Cowboys cheerleaders now earn significantly more than they did in the past. Known as “America’s Sweethearts,” the Cowboys cheerleaders are not only among the most popular in the NFL, but in sports nationwide, and expectations are sky high. Before the trial, the Cowboys cheerleaders made $8 an hour, less than minimum wage. Now, They receive an hourly rate of $15-20 per practice and $500 per match. The more experienced, Cheerleaders at the highest level reportedly earn up to $75,000 a year.

Despite the pay increase and the enormous responsibility that comes with being on the team, being a Cowboys cheerleader is still just a part-time job for most members. Many of them work full time in various jobs to keep up with minimum wage. Tina Kolina, a 1989 DCC graduate, explained that today’s Cowboys cheerleaders view the position more as a job, whereas “us old-timers viewed it more as a privilege.”