The Shocking Truth: How Much Do NFL Cheerleaders Really Get Paid In 2024?
The question of "Do NFL cheerleaders get paid?" is a complex one, and the answer, as of December 12, 2025, is a resounding but qualified "Yes." While they are compensated for their work, the true financial picture reveals a massive disparity, a history of legal battles, and a compensation structure that has only recently begun to catch up with the demanding nature of the job. For years, the average NFL cheerleader salary was notoriously low, often hovering near or even below minimum wage when accounting for all mandatory, unpaid hours, but landmark lawsuits have finally started to shift the paradigm, with some elite squads now commanding wages that are significantly higher than the league average.
The compensation for an NFL cheerleader is not a simple annual salary; it’s a patchwork of per-game pay, hourly rates for appearances and rehearsals, and team-specific bonuses. The fight for fair wages has brought to light the intense commitment required—including countless hours of unpaid rehearsal time, mandatory charity events, and strict personal conduct rules—all for a paycheck that rarely reflected a professional athlete or entertainer’s worth. The recent, highly-publicized pay raises for squads like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) serve as a powerful case study, illustrating both the historical underpayment and the potential for a more equitable future in the industry.
The Great Divide: Typical NFL Cheerleader Pay vs. The Elite Squads
The most crucial factor in determining an NFL cheerleader's earnings is the team they dance for. The league lacks a standardized, collective bargaining agreement for its cheerleaders, meaning each team sets its own pay scale, leading to a dramatic wage gap across the NFL. This disparity is the core of the ongoing financial conversation.
The Average NFL Cheerleader Compensation
For many of the 26 teams that currently have a cheerleading squad, the compensation remains shockingly modest, even in 2024. The typical payment structure is based on a per-game rate and an hourly rate for appearances.
- Per-Game Pay: The average compensation for a regular-season home game is often cited to be around $150.
- Public Appearances: Cheerleaders typically earn between $50 and $75 per public appearance.
- Annual Salary Estimate: Based on these rates, the average yearly income for an NFL cheerleader is estimated to be around $22,500. However, this figure can vary greatly depending on the number of appearances and the team’s playoff success.
- Rehearsal Time: Historically, and for many teams still, the mandatory rehearsal time—which can be 10–20 hours per week—was either unpaid or paid at a rate far below minimum wage, a practice that fueled numerous wage lawsuits.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) Benchmark: A Case Study in Change
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, often called "America's Sweethearts," are the most famous and, recently, the highest-paid squad in the league. Their pay structure has undergone a dramatic, 400% increase thanks to settlements from former cheerleader lawsuits.
- New Hourly Rate: Veterans on the DCC squad are reportedly making more than $75 an hour, a significant jump from the previous rate of about $15 an hour.
- Per-Appearance Pay: The rate for each appearance is substantial, with former cheerleaders reporting earnings of $500 per appearance.
- Estimated Annual Earnings: This new structure has pushed the estimated annual salary for a DCC member to around $75,000, placing them in a different financial league compared to their peers.
This massive shift in DCC pay highlights the potential for the profession, but it also underscores how far behind the rest of the league still lags in fair compensation for their dancers.
The Battle for Fair Wages: Lawsuits and the Catalyst for Change
The reason for the recent, albeit uneven, increase in NFL cheerleader pay is almost entirely due to a decade of groundbreaking wage lawsuits. These legal battles exposed the exploitative employment practices that had been standard across the league for years. These lawsuits are crucial entities in the discussion of NFL cheerleader compensation.
Key Lawsuits That Reshaped Compensation
The lawsuits were typically filed on the grounds that teams violated state and federal minimum wage laws by failing to pay for all mandatory work hours, including rehearsals, workouts, uniform fittings, and travel time. The plaintiffs argued they were being treated as independent contractors while being subjected to the control and demands of employees.
- Erica Wilkins vs. Dallas Cowboys: In 2018, former DCC member Erica Wilkins sued the organization, alleging she was paid only $8 an hour for some of her work hours and was not compensated for all mandatory time. This lawsuit, settled in 2019, was a direct catalyst for the doubling of the DCC’s per-game pay from $200 to $400, and eventually the 400% raise seen today.
- New York Jets Settlement: The New York Jets were compelled to pay a $324,000 settlement to their cheerleaders over wage claims, further establishing a legal precedent for fair compensation.
- The Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders: One of the earliest and most impactful lawsuits involved the former Oakland Raiders, whose settlement set a significant benchmark for paying cheerleaders for all hours worked, including rehearsals.
These legal actions forced teams to reclassify cheerleaders as employees rather than independent contractors, which made them subject to minimum wage and overtime laws. The efforts of these former cheerleaders, like Jada McLean and Katherine Puryear, have been instrumental in pushing for pay equity and better working conditions across the entire NFL.
Beyond the Paycheck: The True Cost of Being an NFL Cheerleader
To gain a complete understanding of the financial reality, one must consider the expenses and non-monetary demands placed on NFL cheerleaders. The low base pay is often compounded by significant out-of-pocket costs and a heavy time commitment, illustrating the true "wage gap" in the profession.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Hidden Costs
Before the recent legal changes, cheerleaders were often required to pay for numerous work-related expenses themselves, effectively lowering their take-home pay to almost nothing. These costs can include:
- Hair and Makeup: Maintaining a "game-day look" often requires professional services and high-end products.
- Travel: Travel expenses to and from rehearsals, which are often not reimbursed.
- Fitness and Training: Mandatory gym memberships, fitness classes, and specialized training to maintain the required physique.
- Uniform Maintenance: While the uniform itself is provided, the cost of dry cleaning and upkeep often falls to the cheerleader.
The demands of the job are immense. Cheerleaders are expected to maintain an impeccable professional image, adhere to strict personal conduct rules, and manage a full-time commitment of practices, games, and appearances, all while typically holding down a separate full-time job to make ends meet. The average annual salary of around $22,500 is not a living wage in most major U.S. cities where NFL teams are located, forcing cheerleaders into a demanding dual-career lifestyle.
The Future of NFL Cheerleader Compensation
The trend is clear: the era of severely underpaid NFL cheerleaders is slowly coming to an end, driven by public scrutiny and legal intervention. The Dallas Cowboys' decision to dramatically increase their pay structure in 2024 sets a new, high-water mark for the industry, creating pressure on other teams to follow suit.
As more former cheerleaders continue to advocate for fair labor practices, the league is being forced to treat its entertainers with the same professional respect afforded to other personnel. While the typical NFL cheerleader salary is still far from the multi-million dollar contracts of the players they cheer for, the movement toward a living wage, compensation for all mandatory hours, and better benefits is gaining unstoppable momentum. The ultimate goal is a standardized, league-wide compensation model that recognizes the professional level of talent, time, and dedication required to be an NFL cheerleader.
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