Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Wage: How A lot DCC Dancers Earn

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 might say I’m making, like, a substitute trainer [salary],” Kat Puryear stated throughout the first season of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. “I might say I’m making, like, [the same as a] Chick-fil-A employee [who] works full time.”

With the intention to make ends meet, many DCC stars complement their incomes. A number of of the women 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 aspect hustles to make ends meet.

Preserve scrolling to be taught extra in regards to the DCC stars’ salaries — and what they’ve stated in regards to 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 recreation.

“Flat price for appearances — $100 (x # of years on the group),” she wrote in a June 2025 Instagram Story publish, noting a rookie would make $100, whereas a second-year veteran would earn $200 and so forth.

Jada McLean additional instructed The New York Instances that she made $15/hour with a $500-per-game price throughout the 2024-2025 season, her fifth with the DCC.

Further Perks

In accordance with Jada, the Cowboys contemplate the cheerleaders “part-time staff,” which is why they don’t obtain full salaries or medical insurance protection. The dancers do get entry to the group’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 numerous companies gave them free magnificence merchandise and coverings in alternate for on-line posts.

Cheerleaders Vs. Athletes

The soccer gamers, nonetheless, make extra than simply hourly wages and get insurance coverage by the general NFL group.

“I do know there’s lots 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 situations, some NFL packages don’t receives a commission as a lot as we do. So, we’re very grateful in that sense,” Reece Weaver stated on the “Unplanned” podcast in 2024. “Like every other NFL cheerleader, you’ve got to have the ability to have one other revenue coming in [and] you need to have one other job with it.”

She added, “Sure, you do see these soccer gamers and also you’re, like, ‘Wow, you make a lot cash,’ however on the finish of it is 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 fee of $200 per recreation. Whereas Erica claimed that she made lower than the group mascot, Rowdy, the case was settled out of courtroom in 2019 for an undisclosed sum.

Pay Improve 

As seen on season 2 of the Netflix doc, Jada led the cost for increased pay together with teammates Megan McElaney and Amanda Howard, ultimately securing a 400 p.c pay enhance on the finish of the 2024-2025 NFL season.

“We have been fairly severe, as leaders, this was one thing that we actually wished to see a change occur,” Jada solely instructed Us Weekly in June 2025. “It’s a really nice change and I believe the women are gonna profit loads from it shifting ahead. … It’s gonna take lots of the monetary stresses out of their lives, which is one thing that we wished to see.”

She added, “I’ve struggled financially on this group and that was one thing that I didn’t need anybody else to should take care of whereas they’re cheerleaders. I believe they’re in a great place shifting ahead.

Jada additional instructed The Instances that the brand new wage increase might see veteran cheerleaders earn $75 per hour. The Cowboys, nonetheless, haven’t disclosed the brand new quantities.

What Kelli Finglass Has Mentioned

Kelli is the longtime director of the DCC, however she wasn’t concerned within the wage dialogue.

“My objective was to maintain the group’s momentum ahead shifting, 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 occurring. We additionally know that each spring, we reevaluate as a company — all issues on all packages. We’re thrilled that the women are proud of the enhancements which might be made. We had an ideal season with the cheerleaders.”