Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Win 400% Pay Raise, Amid Netflix Season 2 Debut
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders getting a 400% pay raise (photo: "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" Season Two. Courtesy of Netflix)
Today is a monumental moment for professional dancers and NFL cheerleaders across the nation - as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders just received a 400% pay raise following the release of Netflix’s: America’s Sweethearts, Season 2. The raise, confirmed by a current Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader in the season premier, marks one of the most significant salary shifts in NFL cheerleading history. This effects all dancers across the pro dance and cheer world -
Jada McLean (Season 2, America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders) Photo, Courtesy of Netflix.
As well all know, the standard for professional dancers and cheerleaders has been as low as $15 per hour. The iconic Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders now report game day pay rates close to $650-$1,600 per game - a leap that is termed, “life changing” by the NFL cheerleaders themselves. The announcement comes after growing security around NFL cheerleading compensation and working conditions, which Season1 of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Netflix, brought into national focus.
While the exact numbers have not been officially confirmed by the Dallas Cowboys organization, a spokesperson from the team shared that the cheerleaders were “happy with the outcome,” as highlighted in Netflix’s new season. The current and upcoming wages weren’t officially detailed in the series or in any official statements, but according to former squad member Jada McLean - who helped lead the push for higher pay - veterans were receiving around before this 400% pay increase: $15/hour and $500 per game.
The Dallas Cowboys team website officially confirms that the Cowboys Cheerleaders are compensated for: rehearsals, games, appearances, and performances but the pay upgrade is a huge jump that has the rest of the pro dance world seeing a very hopefully recognition for us in the future to come.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders getting a 400% pay raise (photo: "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders" Season Two. Courtesy of Netflix)
As a professional dancer who has spent almost a decaide in the professional dance and cheerleading world, I have seen firsthand how much: time, talent, and sacrifice goes into being the face of a franchise - and how little compensation often follows..
“We should be grateful to be paid at all, right?! sigh..”
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, like many NFL dance teams and cheerleading teams, have long faced criticism for these known low wages (from most of the media outlets that are now hoping on trend and talking about how great our industry is…) despite being skilled performers, brand ambassadors, women the youth can look up to, and athletes.
Back in 2018, former DCC Erica Wilkins filed another class action lawsuit (Read the Lawsuit Here) against the National Football League after learning that she and her teammates were earning less than the team’s mascot (an industry standard, btw). That lawsuit helped the Cowboys Cheerleaders boost pay from $8 to $12 per hour and raised game-day rates from $200 to $400 for these NFL cheerleaders. Still, many pro cheerleaders and pro dancers were reportedly earning less than minimum wage.
In Season 1 of “America’s Sweethearts”, one dancer even compared her pro cheer pay to that of a full-time Chick-fil-a worker - an honest, painful reality for many of us in the industry of professional cheerleading and dance.
What Sparked the Pay Raise for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders?
The conversation has gown louder with Netflix’s spotlight on the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but in reality, a BTS look into professional dance and cheerleading across the nation (as we all know, not much is different than what we see on the show, from team to team).
Some breakout stars from DCC Season1 have leveraged their popularity into influencer partnerships, but the behind-the-scenes truth remains: most dancers are juggling full-time jobs while performing at the professional dance level (and for some of the wealthiest franchises in America). The Season 2, DCC Netflix premiere digs into that tension - including the moment when cheerleaders realized that their new contracts weren’t as groundbreaking as they had hoped.
The Dallas Cowboys executive Charlotte Jones, even admitted there’s long been “cynicism” around the DCC pay, adding that “They are not paid a lot,” but many dancers come for the experience over the paycheck. And while we recognize the heart behind that - trust me, we all love what we do - dancers deserve both:
the dream and the proper compensation for becoming a master of their craft.
The Long Fight for Fair Pay in Professional Pro Sports Cheerleading
The Cowboys Cheerleaders have been advocating on fair dancer pay for years. Back in 2019, a lawsuit brought by another former squad member led to their per-game rate doubling from $200 to $400. Fast forward to 2025 and they have quadrupled that number - with a major win not just for the Cowboys Cheerleaders, but for dancers across the pro sports world.
In 2015, the organization reportedly paid $2.4 million to settle claims made by four cheerleaders who alleged they were secretly filmed in the locker room. While the team denied any wrongdoing, the executive team involved retired shortly before the story broke in 2022. This famous incident added fuel to a long-stranding conversation around dancer rights and respect.
“We spoke up - they listened,” said veteran DCC Megan McElaney in the latest season of America’s Sweethearts on Netflix. The result? A 400% pay raise that she calls “life-changing.”
All of this from the world’s most valuable sports franchise - Forbes valued the Dallas Cowboys at $10.1 billion last year. So yes, this raise? It’s overdue. And it is setting the tone for the rest of the pro dance industry.
At the end of the day, this is not just a hobby. It is elite-level performance and talent. It really is time that the industry finally reflects on that. I am so excited to hopefully see this make waves across all professional sport team franchises and their cheerleaders. From the NFL to the NBA - our dancers deserve the pay that hard work and mastery of a craft, earns you.
What do you all think?
Should all professional dancers and cheerleaders earn a pay increase? Drop your thoughts in the comments - or share your own sideline story around the topic!
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date with all-things professional dance and cheerleading!