Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Secure Landmark Pay Raise
In a historic decision, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are to receive an estimated 400 percent pay hike for the 2025 season, not by court order, but by the cheerleaders‘ own advocacy. Featured in Episode 7 of Season 2 of Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts,” this marks a milestone in a job known for being underpaid but demanding.
Former DCC member Jada McLean called the pay raise a “drastic change” that enables financial security. While the Cowboys organization has yet to make new salaries official, McLean reported that in 2024, she earned $15 an hour and $500 per appearance. Veteran cheerleaders can earn upwards of $75 an hour under the new agreement. Health insurance is still not provided. This shift caps off years of activism, first coming into the public sphere after a 2018 suit by ex-cheerleader Erica Wilkins, who received around $7 an hour. Her suit settled in 2019, but hourly pay remained low for the most part until now.
The effects of the increase reach beyond the Dallas Cowboys. Daniel Kelly II, a professor at New York University, believes it will benefit the DCC and push the overall market rate for cheerleaders upward, positioning them “above the entertainment staff wages and independent contractors, like mascots.” The “America’s Sweethearts” docuseries has helped bring the intense realities and financial struggles to light, comparing their salaries starkly with players like quarterback Dak Prescott, who earns $60 million a season. The show includes many cheerleaders who work full-time jobs, and season two follows their battle for better pay.
The battle for better pay was accompanied by a tremendous amount of personal risk. Veteran cheerleaders, including McLean and Armani Latimer, were met with a dismissive response from management when going to them with demands, prompting discussion of a walkout. Risks of such activism are apparent from past incidents. One example is the Buffalo Jills cheerleading squad being disbanded after campaigning for improved workplace protections. Being a DCC is a very competitive role, with rigorous rehearsals, game participation, performances, appearances, and strict appearance policies.
Other than direct pay, cheerleaders receive some team perks, like access to a doctor and physical therapist (due to part-time status). The Netflix docuseries acted as a launchpad, catapulting a select few cheerleaders from the sidelines to social media stardom, making opportunities for more sponsors. DCC director Kelli Finglass defended the women’s campaign, calling the upgrades “60-plus years long overdue.” She pointed to “cost savings” she negotiated, such as free spray tans and facial injections. The honor of being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader was, for years, cited as justification for low pay. However, as Dr. Kelly points out, this argument is not applied to football players and undermines the cheerleaders’ crucial role. As Jada McLean states, “We are more than just cheerleaders. We’re talented, strong, educated women, and we’re hard-working athletes who deserve to be seen as such.” This landmark pay raise signifies a long-overdue recognition of their value.
