How Much Do Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Get Paid in 2026?

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders work hard for their money, and only recently did they get a raise that matched all of the effort they put in to be a member of the team.

In the first season of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Kat Puryear told cameras that the amount of money she made was similar to that of “a substitute teacher” or a “Chick-fil-A worker that works full time.”

Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President Charlotte Jones seemingly brushed off the complaints.

“There’s a lot of cynicism around pay for NFL cheerleaders, and as it should be — they’re not paid a lot,” Jones said. “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.”

In season 2, viewers saw some of the women on the team press for a salary increase, and in the finale, they were granted a 400 percent raise.

Speaking to The New York Times, veteran cheerleader Jada McLean revealed that she previously made $15 an hour and $500 per appearance during the 2024 season. She also said that pay varied by experience, and with her being in her fifth year on the team, the squad’s new contract significantly increased her salary with veteran members earning more than $75 an hour.

The cheerleaders are considered part-time employees of the Dallas Cowboys and they don’t receive access to health insurance. However, they are allowed to collaborate with local businesses, and season 2 shows the team attending “sponsorship day,” where they were offered beauty products and services in exchange for social media promotion.

Neither the DCC organization nor the NFL have officially addressed what cheerleaders are paid.

While DCC director Kelli Finglass supported the team’s push for more pay, she didn’t get involved with the situation herself, even when rumors swirled the women had planned a walkout if their requests were denied.

“My goal was to keep the team’s momentum forward moving, and that’s exactly what we did,” Finglass told Us Weekly in 2025. “We stayed focused on the job at hand. We knew there were some discussions going on. We also know that every spring, we reevaluate as an organization — all things on all programs. We’re thrilled that the girls are happy with the enhancements that are made. We had a great season with the cheerleaders.”