The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) are back for another season, resurfacing an age-old point of discussion: how much do these dancers actually get paid? Anyone who has ever watched an episode of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders knows that these women work incredibly hard for their money. Yet, for decades, their compensation failed to reflect the elite athleticism and global visibility required by the role.
A major plot point in the second season was the DCC’s fight for a pay rise, which resulted in a 400% increase. Across the first and second seasons, viewers gained insight into the gruelling schedules the squad maintains, with many members balancing intense second jobs, late-night training sessions and weekend competitions.
Historically, the Dallas Cowboys organisation has brushed off complaints regarding cheerleader pay. Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President, previously commented on the financial scrutiny, stating, “There’s a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders, and as it should be — they’re not paid a lot. But the facts are, they actually don’t come here for the money. They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them.” And of course, Director Kelli Finglass reminded the girls that they also received free spray tans, injectables, and hair extensions as part of their service.
Passion and a perfect tan weren’t enough for the DCC. The DCC argued that, as massive drawcards for the NFL, they deserved a median salary closer to the players’ salaries, which sit around $860,000 US. It turns out they were there for the money. Sports Illustrated previously estimated cheerleaders were paid roughly $15,000 AU ($10,000 US) per season, the new contract changes the landscape entirely.
So what does this 400% increase actually look like when you break it down?
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Salary Changes At A Glance
Game Day & Appearance Fees: Performance payouts have increased from $500 US per game to $2,500 US.
Estimated Annual Income: Historically comparable to full-time fast-food workers (approx. $10,000–$15,000 US per season), the new 400% bump brings per hour pay to $75 US from a historic baseline of $15. A highly utilised veteran who makes the elite “Show Group – a subset of the squad who travels, does paid corporate appearances and appears in the Netflix series – can now earn up to $150,000 per year.
Health Insurance: The DCC are classified as part-time employees which means they do not receive health insurance and pay out of pocket for essential medical and physical therapies. This is compared to NFL rookies and long-time vets who receive health coverage, retirement savings and insurance according to the NFL Players Association.
Image: Netflix
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Pay Increase: Before and After
The DCC is a part-time role with an 18-week season, so individual earnings vary based on the number of rehearsals and promotional events a dancer takes on. Season stars who we see on the Netflix series are typically the top tier of the DCC, attending the most special events and engagements, so they stand to clock more hours and make more money. With that in mind, looking at the fee for individual hours and events gives you an idea of average salaries.
Compensation Type: Past Rates (2024 Season & Prior) New Rates (2025-2026 Season Onward) Net Change:Hourly Rehearsal: $15 p/h $75 p/h 400% increasePer Game/Performance Fee: $500 p/appearance$2,500 p/appearance+ $2000 per event Estimated Based Season Payout: $10,000-$15,000 USUp to $150,000 US 900% increase for top earnersHealthcare & Benefits: None None No change
Unaccounted for are the opportunities for sponsored partnerships or revenue earned through social media creator funds and brand deals that high-profile DCC members like Reece Weaver, who now has 2.3 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, can generate.
It might not be perfect, but for some of the DCC, like veteran Megan McElaney, the historic increase is nothing short of “life-changing.”
Hats off to the girls.
Senior Writer, Fashion + Beauty
Sign up for our newsletter
Sign up for the latest news from ELLE including offers and discounts we choose to share with you
By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
About your privacy Are Media Pty Limited collects your personal information through this site to process registrations, send out newsletters, communicate offers, discounts, competitions, or surveys, and to provide you with targeted advertising based on your online activities. Our Privacy Policy contains information on how you can access or correct your personal information, which entities we may disclose your personal information to (including overseas recipients), how to opt out of targeted advertising, and how to lodge a complaint.