How Much Do Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Make? Viewers Shocked By Their Low Pay

June 28, 2024, 1:13 p.m.

How much does an NFL cheerleader make? Netflix’s new docuseries about the iconic Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders has raised some questions among viewers.

Joining the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the NFL’s most iconic and well-known cheerleading squad, is a dream come true. But the coveted job doesn’t exactly pay well…

Netflix’s all-new docuseries America’s Favorites: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders became a viral hit with people on social media now obsessed with the show and the dancers. The 7-part series follows the DCC team throughout the 2023 to 2024 season, as they audition for the team, move on to training camp, and eventually perform on the field.

While people are mostly amazed by the hard work and talent shown by the dancers throughout the series, others are shocked by what is said about their salaries.

NFL cheerleaders are contract workers, meaning they do not work full-time for teams and do not receive a salary. Instead, they are paid by the game or hourly. Many cheerleaders hold down second jobs in addition to their team duties.

Cowboys cheerleaders earn more than the league average, but that may not be enough to make a living.

How much money do Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders make?

Former Cowboys cheerleader Kat Puryear revealed in the docuseries that she makes about the same amount of money as a “full-time Chick-fil-A employee.”

Cowboys chief brand officer Charlotte Jones said in the documentary: “There’s a lot of cynicism around how NFL cheerleaders are paid, as there should be. They’re not paid very well. But the fact is, they’re not coming here for the money. They’re coming here for something that’s actually more important to them than that. They have a passion for dance. There’s not a lot of opportunities in dance to perform at an elite level.”

“It’s about being part of something bigger than themselves,” she continued. “It’s about a sisterhood they can form, relationships they have for the rest of their lives. They get a chance to feel valued, special and like they’re making a difference. When women come here, they find their passion and their purpose.”

Her comments were criticized by viewers who believe cheerleaders should be paid more. One X/Twitter user wrote: “Charlotte Jones acknowledging and validating the low wages of #AmericasSweethearts because it’s a ‘dream’ even to be on the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad is so disgusting.”

According to Us Weekly, a 2017 ESPN report found that the average NFL cheerleader is paid around $150 per game. They also receive additional compensation for practice time and public appearances. They are said to earn around $22,500 per year, but given that this report is from several years ago, it’s possible they earn a bit more now.

However, Cowboys cheerleaders would be paid more per game. According to a 2022 report from NBC Boston, the DCC team apparently makes around $500 per game/around $15-20 per hour. The Dallas Cowboys are one of the richest sports franchises in the world, with a net worth of $9 billion.

Despite rumors and speculation, even docuseries director Greg Whiteley doesn’t know exactly how much each of them is paid.

“I think it’s because it varies depending on how long you’ve been in the group,” he said. Charm“You can even get paid more if you’re a group leader, although that never seemed obvious to me.”

In the past, several cheerleaders have filed lawsuits against the NFL in order to improve their salaries.

In 2014, former Oakland Raiders cheerleader Lacy Thibodeaux-Fields filed the first class-action lawsuit against the NFL over cheerleader compensation, alleging wage theft and gender discrimination .

Lacy claimed she was only paid for show time, not for rehearsal time or her work as an ambassador at Raiders events. By the end of the 2013-14 season, she was paid a total of $1,250.

The Guardian writes that by comparison, an NFL mascot could earn up to $65,000 a year.

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