Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Receive 400% Raise After Years of Wage Battles

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have received a 400% raise. This comes after years of battling for higher wages. The higher salary was revealed on a Netflix docuseries.

NFL Cheerleaders, by and large, don’t earn a lot of money. But the Dallas Cowboys cheer squad will be pocketing a lot more in the 2025 season.

The cheerleaders disclosed in the latest episode of America’s Sweethearts, a Netflix docuseries about the squad, that they would receive a 400% raise starting this year.

The Cowboys cheerleaders did not disclose hard numbers about the salary increase. Nor did they discuss what they were making previously.

It’s the end of a long fight, though. In 2018, former cheerleader Erica Wilkins sued the team for unfair pay, saying she received $7 per hour and a flat fee of $200 per game. That case was settled out of court the following year and hourly wages had not gone up considerably in the years in between.

One former cheerleader told that she made $15 an hour and $500 for each appearance in 2024. Cheerleaders with more experience earn higher amounts. That brings salary levels to $60 and higher per hour.

The Netflix series, which gave the squad a new burst of popularity, focused somewhat on the financial struggle of members in its first season, showing the need of many to hold full-time jobs in addition to their duties to the team. (That includes several hours of rehearsals each week, attending 10 home games each season, halftime performances, and special appearances.)

They do not receive health insurance through the team, but do have access to a team doctor and physical therapist.

“We got our contracts and probably wrongly assumed that it maybe would have been different, just because of everything that was on TV,” cheerleader Kylie Dickson says on the show. “The world was kind of telling us, ‘Girls, fight for more.’”

This significant pay increase for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about fair compensation for professional cheerleaders. The 400% raise not only addresses the financial struggles faced by these athletes but also sets a precedent for other cheerleading squads across the league. The revelation of this pay increase on a widely viewed Netflix docuseries has brought renewed attention to the issue, potentially inspiring similar demands for fair wages from other cheerleading teams. The cheerleaders' long-standing battle for better pay, highlighted by the 2018 lawsuit filed by former cheerleader Erica Wilkins, underscores the importance of this victory. Wilkins' lawsuit, which alleged unfair pay practices, was settled out of court, but the issue of low wages persisted until this recent development. The new pay structure, which includes higher hourly rates and appearance fees, reflects a significant improvement in the financial well-being of the cheerleaders. The Netflix series America’s Sweethearts has played a crucial role in raising awareness about the cheerleaders' financial struggles, showcasing their dedication and the challenges they face. The series has not only increased the squad's popularity but also shed light on the need for better compensation. The cheerleaders' new contracts, which include higher pay rates, are a testament to their perseverance and the growing public support for their cause. The absence of health insurance through the team remains a concern, but the access to a team doctor and physical therapist provides some level of support. The cheerleaders' journey towards fair compensation serves as an inspiration for other athletes and professionals fighting for better wages and working conditions. The 400% pay increase for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to ensure that all athletes are fairly compensated for their hard work and dedication.