If you’ve recently binged America’s Sweethearts, the new seven-episode docuseries on Netflix, you might be wondering: How much does a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader make? The answer is…not much.
If you’ve dreamt of being a professional cheerleader, be ready to pinch your pennies. While NFL players can make millions, the cheerleaders who perform at games have no base salary, and some teams pay only minimum wage. Lack of pay and other issues have led to a number of lawsuits against NFL teams in recent years.
With the premiere of America’s Sweethearts: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the question of how much an NFL cheerleader is paid is once again on the tips of our tongues. Here’s everything we know about a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader’s salary, and how it compares to the compensation of dancers on other squads.
How much does a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader make
We don’t have an official number, unfortunately. NBC Sports Boston found that “on average,” a cheerleader can expect to earn around $150 per game (approx. £120); however, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders program apparently pays more.
Greg Whiteley, the director and executive producer of America’s Sweethearts, told Glamour, “Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are on the highest end of that [NFL cheer] pay scale. I’ve heard horror stories of what a typical NFL cheerleader [makes], but I think the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders fall into a new category. None of them are rich. None of them are getting paid a ton, but it isn’t the same dearth of payment that I think other NFL cheerleaders have to experience.”
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. (Center) Kelcey in America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024Courtesy of Netflix
Salary may also vary depending on position within the squad. As Whiteley explained, “It varies depending on how senior you are in the group. You may even get paid more if you’re a group leader.”