How Much Do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Make? How They Fought For A 400% Raise

Forbes values the Dallas Cowboys at more than $10 billion. Yet when viewers were given a closer look at the women competing for a spot on the team’s iconic cheerleading squad, many were surprised by how little the dancers were paid. Season two of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders delves into the squad’s ongoing push for fair compensation after years of being historically underpaid.

In 2024, Dallas Cowboys Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones faced backlash after stating in season one that the cheerleaders “don’t come here for the money,” but rather for their passion for dance. “There are not a lot of opportunities in the field of dance to get to perform at an elite level,” Jones said at the time. “It is about being a part of something bigger than themselves.”

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While the Cowboys did not directly respond to criticism over compensation, a team spokesperson told Sports Illustrated that the organization “pays cheerleaders for games, practices and appearances and covers the cost of uniforms, some meals, health club memberships and salon services.”

However, across both seasons, several dancers have been vocal about the financial challenges. While Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders earn significantly more than their counterparts across the league, the pay is still not enough to make ends meet. One dancer revealed in the series that she juggled three jobs in addition to her cheerleading duties to sustain her career on the squad.

How Much Money Do The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Make?

In 2022, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were earning approximately $15 to $20 per hour, which added up to about $500 per game. That brought their annual salary to roughly $75,000, which is significantly higher than the NFL average of around $150 per game, or $22,500 per year, according to NBC Sports Boston.

Jada McLean, a five-year veteran, told The Times that in 2024, her fifth year with the squad, she was earning $15 an hour and $500 per appearance.

In Season 2, Episode 7, it was announced that the team had secured a massive 400% raise for the upcoming 2025–26 season. Following the pay increase, McLean confirmed to The New York Times that veteran cheerleaders could now be earning more than $75 an hour. (In an emailed statement, the franchise would not confirm the new wages to the newspaper.)

“We pushed and we got back good results,” fifth-year veteran Armani Latimer said in the series. “I get emotional knowing that I was a part of that. I love the fact that I made change for the girls that are coming up behind me, even if I’m not getting a chance to benefit.”

How Did The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Get A Pay Raise?

In Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts, several veteran cheerleaders joined forces to advocate for a pay increase, a topic that gained national attention following the docuseries’ premiere on Netflix in 2024.

In one episode, McLean and fellow veterans Armani Latimer, Chandi Dayle and Megan McElaney discuss raising the issue of pay before signing their contracts for the next season. However, when McLean and Latimer brought their concerns to management, they “were met with ‘OK, we hear you and we understand where you’re coming from, unfortunately, this is just not the time for that,’” Latimer told The New York Times. “That was a little disheartening to hear.”

McLean later explained to TIME.com that, at the beginning of the summer of 2024, the cheerleaders began consulting family members and alumni in the legal field to explore their options. They also held meetings with the Cowboys’ HR and legal teams, though those conversations were not shown in the Netflix series.

Amanda, a member of the squad, described an emotional moment in a meeting with management. “It was just breaking my heart the way they were speaking about us,” she said in a Zoom call featured in the series.

Later in the show, the team discussed skipping practice or staging a walkout to put pressure on Cowboys management, but ultimately decided against it, McLean told TIME.com.

“We didn’t want to let people down who were so excited to see the cheerleaders after supporting us through the first season of our television show,” the veteran said.

Head choreographer Judy Trammell said in the series that a walkout would make her “nervous,” but added, “I know people have to fight for certain things to make changes, and I understand that.”

At the 2024–25 end-of-year banquet, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Director Kelli Finglass praised the dancers who had led the fight for better pay.

“You guys have moved some mountains this year that will forever change our organization, and hopefully, dancers’ organizations across the world,” she said. “It’s just amazing, because that has been 60-plus years long overdue.”

Season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.