Whereas dancing for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is taken into account a prestigious honor in itself, it doesn’t include a wage to match.
“I’d say I’m making, like, a substitute instructor [salary],” Kat Puryear mentioned throughout the first season of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. “I’d say I’m making, like, [the same as a] Chick-fil-A employee [who] works full time.”
So as to make ends meet, many DCC stars complement their incomes. A number of of the ladies have a number of jobs, whether or not it’s a company gig or working retail. Chandi Dayle even revealed in season 2 of the Netflix hit that she had 4 facet hustles to make ends meet.
Preserve scrolling to be taught extra concerning the DCC stars’ salaries — and what they’ve mentioned concerning the staggering quantities:
Particular Numbers
Kristin Westbrook danced with the DCC from 2019 to 2022, making $15/hour for follow after which a $400 flat price for every NFL sport.
“Flat price for appearances — $100 (x # of years on the staff),” she wrote in a June 2025 Instagram Story submit, noting a rookie would make $100, whereas a second-year veteran would earn $200 and so forth.
Jada McLean additional instructed The New York Occasions that she made $15/hour with a $500-per-game price throughout the 2024-2025 season, her fifth with the DCC.
Further Perks
Anna Kate on season 2 of ‘America’s Sweethearts.’ Netflix
Based on Jada, the Cowboys think about the cheerleaders “part-time workers,” which is why they don’t obtain full salaries or medical insurance protection. The dancers do get entry to the staff’s physician and bodily therapist and are inspired to discover social media partnerships.
In season 2 of America’s Sweethearts, the ladies went to a “sponsorship day” occasion, the place varied companies gave them free magnificence merchandise and coverings in change for on-line posts.
Cheerleaders Vs. Athletes
The soccer gamers, nevertheless, make extra than simply hourly wages and get insurance coverage via the general NFL group.
“I do know there’s a whole lot of controversy with how a lot we receives a commission and stuff like that. I’m grateful that we do receives a commission as a result of, in some cases, some NFL packages don’t receives a commission as a lot as we do. So, we’re very grateful in that sense,” Reece Weaver mentioned on the “Unplanned” podcast in 2024. “Like every other NFL cheerleader, you’ve gotten to have the ability to have one other revenue coming in [and] you must have one other job with it.”
She added, “Sure, you do see these soccer gamers and also you’re, like, ‘Wow, you’re making a lot cash,’ however on the finish of this can be a once-in-a-lifetime alternative and since it’s so prestigious, not everybody can say they’re a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. That in itself is a chapter I’m at all times going to cherish.”
Reece additional acknowledged that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott makes $160 million, which “might very effectively” be greater than each NFL cheerleader does mixed.
Lawsuit
Erica Wilkins sued the Cowboys in 2018 for unfair pay, claiming that she acquired round $7 per hour with none extra time plus a flat price of $200 per sport. Whereas Erica claimed that she made lower than the staff mascot, Rowdy, the case was settled out of court docket in 2019 for an undisclosed sum.
Pay Enhance
Jada on season 2 of ‘America’s Sweethearts.’ netflix
As seen on season 2 of the Netflix doc, Jada led the cost for larger pay together with teammates Megan McElaney and Amanda Howard, ultimately securing a 400 p.c pay improve on the finish of the 2024-2025 NFL season.
“We had been fairly critical, as leaders, this was one thing that we actually needed to see a change occur,” Jada completely instructed Us Weekly in June 2025. “It’s a really nice change and I believe the ladies are gonna profit lots from it transferring ahead. … It’s gonna take a whole lot of the monetary stresses out of their lives, which is one thing that we needed to see.”
She added, “I’ve struggled financially on this staff and that was one thing that I didn’t need anybody else to need to take care of whereas they’re cheerleaders. I believe they’re in place transferring ahead.
Jada additional instructed The Occasions that the brand new wage increase might see veteran cheerleaders earn $75 per hour. The Cowboys, nevertheless, haven’t disclosed the brand new quantities.
How the Pay Enhance Affected the 2025 Squad
“It has been such an enchancment and an enormous improve than what now we have seen up to now,” Reece mentioned on a November 2025 episode of the “Unplanned” podcast. “Once we do receives a commission, it’s a important improve, however how the avenues of the way it’s being drawn out, I’m unsure.”
The cheerleaders receives a commission for his or her appearances at NFL video games, different meet-and-greets and extra.
“Now the hourly pay [for game days] is totally totally different.” she defined. “Video games are an enormous enchancment to what they had been up to now. … I used to be simply [like], ‘I’m on board with this, it appears so encouraging and hopefully that is going to encourage so many different generations.’”
What Kelli Finglass Has Mentioned
Kelli Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell. Netflix
Kelli is the longtime director of the DCC, however she wasn’t concerned within the wage dialogue.
“My aim was to maintain the staff’s momentum ahead transferring, and that’s precisely what we did,” Kelli instructed Us, referring to the cheerleaders’ rumored plans for a walkout if their calls for weren’t met. “We stayed centered on the job at hand. We knew there have been some discussions happening. We additionally know that each spring, we reevaluate as a company — all issues on all packages. We’re thrilled that the ladies are pleased with the enhancements which might be made. We had an important season with the cheerleaders.”
