dallas cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders secured a significant boost to their salaries last season, but how much are they actually paid?

They still don’t get nearly as much as the Dallas Cowboys football players.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are back on screens this week with a thrilling third instalment of Netflix’s hit docuseries.

Each seven-episode season of the show created by Greg Whiteley chronicles the latest NFL season as both rookie and seasoned cheerleaders compete for a spot on the 36-strong squad.

The newcomers are guided by director Kelli Finglass, head choreographer Judy Trammell and a number of cheerleading veterans who have performed for DCC for up to six years running.

After the first season premiered on Netflix back in 2024, many viewers were shocked by how little the cheerleaders were paid compared to NFL players.

This led to a push for higher pay, spearheaded by a number of veteran cheerleaders, that played a major role in America’s Sweethearts’ second season. But was the dispute successful? And how much are they paid now?

How much are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders paid?

Despite the Dallas Cowboys being valued at over $10 billion (£7.45 billion) at the time, their cheerleaders reportedly only earned between $15 and $20 an hour (£11.18 – £14.90) for practice and $500 (£372) per game before the 2025 season.

This all added up to a salary of around $75,000 (£55,890) a year for cheerleaders who made the squad, according to reports from NBC Boston.

However, this itself was an increase from even lower pay just a few years previously, following historical dissatisfaction with the cheerleaders’ wages.

In 2018, former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Erica Wilkins successfully sued the organisation, leading to a 2019 settlement that bumped up wages from $8 (£5.96) an hour to $12 (£8.94) an hour. Game day pay was also increased from just $200 (£149) to $400 (£298).

During the 2024-25 season depicted in the Netflix documentary’s second outing, the DCC squad was still unhappy with their income as many of them would have to take on second jobs to make ends meet.

Plus, even the Dallas Cowboys’ newest players were earning around ten times more than veteran cheerleaders, with salaries for rookies starting at $750,000 (£558,900) and veterans at $850,000 (£633,460). Quarterback Dak Prescott is the team’s highest earner, with a current average salary of $60 million (£44.75 million) a year after signing a $240 million (£178.83 million) four-year contract.

Throughout the 2024-25 season, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders held meetings to discuss the issue of pay and even considered staging walkouts during games, though this ultimately didn’t happen.

Jada McLean, who played an instrumental role in securing the squad’s new pay deal, told TIME magazine: “We didn’t want to let people down who were so excited to see the cheerleaders after supporting us through the first season of our television show.”

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In the final episode of America’s Sweethearts season two, four-year veteran Megan McElaney announces the squad has secured a “life-changing” salary increase of a staggering 400 percent, with cheerleaders reportedly earning around $75 (£55.89) per hour. Veteran cheerleaders can now earn around $150,000 (£111,770) a year.

However, the cheerleaders’ exact salaries are not disclosed in the series and there has been some dispute over whether the 400 percent figure is accurate.

Veteran Reece Weaver disclosed on the Unplanned podcast last November that the increase was “more like 300 percent”, though maintained the team is still “so grateful with the outcome”.

“I really don’t know all the behind-the-scenes on how it all works out, but what I can say is that it has been such an improvement and a very big increase [over] what we have seen in the past,” she added.

Importantly, the increase does not include a flat fee for game appearances, which Weaver says is a “huge improvement”, and the job has remained part-time and does not include health insurance for cheerleaders.

America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders season 3 is available on Netflix.

This might be the first time in the NFL’s modern era that Pittsburgh has hosted the draft, but the whole format was actually invented here.

Back in 1935, the league’s founders met at the Fort Pitt Hotel and voted unanimously to put in place a selection process in reverse order of the previous season’s standings. That would promote competitive balance, which has been a hallmark of the NFL ever since.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Las Vegas Raiders. The franchise went 21-41 over the past four seasons and its offense scored a league-worst 241 points last season.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to a national championship, won’t be at the draft but almost certainly will hear his name called first. He’s likely to be the only quarterback selected in the opening round.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

The rest of the first round figures to be heavy on edge rushers and receivers — the Rams are in the market for a pass catcher — with a couple of Notre Dame running backs who could also make a splash.

Every franchise is looking for that game-changing find. The goal: Be a Pittsburgh stealer.

A look at how the draft could unfold:

1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana — Mendoza gets Tom Brady’s stamp of approval, and Raiders begin yet another reboot.

2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State — Pie in the sky, but the Jets are praying to find a Micah Parsons of their own.

3. Arizona Cardinals: David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech — Amid rumblings that Cardinals might take a running back, they grab a pass rusher instead.

4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame — Cam Ward needs help, and Love bolsters that Titans backfield with big-play burst.

Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is projected to be selected No. 5 by the New York Giants.

(Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

5. New York Giants: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State — John Harbaugh loves those smart safeties who can play quarterback on the back end of the defense.

6. Cleveland Browns: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State — The Browns got an up-close look at this guy in college, and they need to score points in the worst way.

7. Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State — The Commanders get a versatile leader in the middle who can play all four downs.

8. New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State — Chris Olave has been great for the Saints, but he’s prone to concussions. Tyson is insurance.

9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami — If the Chiefs don’t take a receiver, they would be perfectly happy with a do-it-all pass rusher.

LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane is projected to be the Giants’ second pick of the NFL draft.

(Michael DeMocker / Getty Images)

10. New York Giants: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Giants will hold their breath making this pick as they have an illustrious history of drafting busts at corner.

11. Miami Dolphins: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn — Dolphins are a trade-up candidate, but they are sorely in need of pass-rush help. Faulk is a good fit.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon — The Cowboys surrendered a league-worst 30.1 points per game last season and need help all over.

13. Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC — The Rams have shown a knack for identifying receivers who will become stars. This would be a great landing spot.

USC receiver Makai Lemon, who made many acrobatic catches during his career with the Trojans, could be selected by the Rams.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

14. Baltimore Ravens: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami — With the best of the receivers gone, the Ravens look to bolster their offensive line. They need help at guard and tackle.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami — The Buccaneers haven’t had anyone with 10 sacks since 2021. Mesidor has that potential.

16. New York Jets: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington — The Jets need a bookend for Garret Wilson, and this gives Geno Smith a big target over the middle.

17. Detroit Lions: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah — Taylor Decker is gone. The Lions get a player who can line up on either side, opposite Penei Sewell.

18. Minnesota Vikings: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo — Harrison Smith is in the sunset of his career, and if there’s a top-notch safety here, the Vikings need to grab him.

19. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon — The Panthers take an elite safety if there’s still one around, but a target for Bryce Young would be nice too.

20. Dallas Cowboys: Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — More help for the Cowboys defense. This could be Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez as well.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana — Steelers receivers coach is the brother of Indiana’s head coach. Pittsburgh knows this player well.

Penn State offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane could be selected by the Chargers in the first round of the NFL draft.

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

22. Chargers: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State — The Chargers have huge draft investments in their tackles, but they still need to fortify that offensive line.

23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama — With Lane Johnson near the end of his career, the Eagles need to start developing a huge young successor.

24. Cleveland Browns: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia — Thanks to a trade with Jacksonville, the Browns have the draft capital to take a left tackle here.

25. Chicago Bears: Zion Young, Edge, Missouri — Lots of talent on offense, but the Bears need to do everything they can to fortify their defense. Young can get to quarterbacks.

26. Buffalo Bills: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M — SEC Defensive Player of the Year should be a nice complement to newly-acquired Bradley Chubb off the edge.

27. San Francisco 49ers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M — This receiver and return specialist fits the mold for Kyle Shanahan. A crisp route runner with speed to get deep.

28. Houston Texans: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State — The Texans need help along the interior of both of their lines. McDonald can make an immediate impact.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — Chiefs need a corner, and if Jermod McCoy is gone, Hood would be a good alternative.

30. Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech — The reliable Rodriguez could go earlier – maybe to Dallas – but would help stabilize rebuilding Dolphins defense.

31. New England Patriots: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson — The Patriots have made no secret about their desire to beef up their rush off the edges.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame — The Seahawks didn’t re-sign Kenneth Walker III, so there’s opportunity for a young running back to fill the void.