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The Shocking Truth: How Much Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get Paid (The 400% Raise And $75/Hour Salary)

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The financial landscape for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) has undergone a dramatic, historic transformation, making the "America's Sweethearts" compensation package a major talking point in professional sports. As of the current date, December 23, 2025, the conversation is dominated by a massive, reported 400% pay increase set to take effect for the upcoming 2025-2026 season, a monumental shift from the historically low wages that led to previous lawsuits and public scrutiny. This raise is poised to redefine the standard for professional cheerleading pay across the entire NFL.

For the most recent completed season (2024), cheerleaders were operating under a pay structure that, while better than the NFL average, still required many members to hold second, full-time jobs. However, the new contract details, which are now public knowledge thanks to reports from former squad members, reveal a salary structure that could see veteran DCC members earning a substantial, near-six-figure income, finally reflecting the immense brand value they bring to the Dallas Cowboys organization and owner Jerry Jones.

The New DCC Pay Structure: $75 Per Hour and the 400% Raise

The biggest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' compensation is the unprecedented 400% pay raise that has been reported for the 2025-2026 NFL season. This increase is a direct response to years of advocacy and legal action, finally placing the DCC's compensation in a category far above the rest of the league.

Hourly Rate vs. Game-Day Pay: The Breakdown

The DCC compensation is structured in two primary ways: an hourly wage for rehearsals, appearances, and media work, and a flat fee for game days. Both categories saw significant bumps.

  • The New Hourly Wage (2025-2026): Veteran cheerleaders are now expected to earn a reported $60 to over $75 per hour. This is a massive leap from the previous rate.
  • The Previous Hourly Wage (2024): Prior to the new contract, cheerleaders were typically earning around $15 to $20 per hour for practices, community appearances, and media obligations.
  • Game-Day Pay: While the exact new flat fee for a single home game is not yet confirmed under the 400% raise, the previous rate for a game day was approximately $500 per game. This fee covers an entire day of work, including pre-game rehearsals, the game itself, and post-game obligations.

This new structure effectively transforms the role from a poorly compensated, high-profile hobby into a legitimate, high-paying part-time job, though most cheerleaders still maintain other professional careers due to the seasonal nature of the NFL.

Estimated Annual Income: $75,000 and Beyond

Due to the numerous hours required—including up to 10 hours of rehearsal per week, plus charity events, photo shoots, and a full slate of home games—the total annual income for a dedicated DCC member has always exceeded the NFL average.

In the 2024 season, the estimated average annual salary for a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader was approximately $75,000 USD, which was already substantially higher than the typical NFL cheerleader who might earn only around $22,500 annually. With the 400% increase on the hourly wage for the 2025-2026 season, veteran DCC members who maximize their appearances could potentially push their earnings into the high five-figure or even low six-figure range, depending on the final game-day and appearance fee structure.

The Hidden Costs and The Full Compensation Package

While the salary figures are impressive, the full compensation package for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders extends beyond the paycheck. Being a DCC member comes with perks that are nearly impossible to quantify, as well as significant hidden costs.

The Intangible Value and Career Boost

The true value of being a DCC member often lies in the exposure and career opportunities it provides. The DCC brand is arguably the most famous cheerleading squad in the world, thanks to the popular CMT docuseries, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, and the global recognition of the Dallas Cowboys organization.

  • Appearance Fees: Cheerleaders are frequently paid for appearances at corporate events, military tours (USO tours), and private parties, with appearance fees for former squad members often reaching $500 per event.
  • Travel and Media: The DCC travel extensively, including domestic and international trips, which are generally covered by the organization. This exposure can be a massive networking and career boost.
  • Brand Value: The title of "America's Sweetheart" is a powerful personal brand builder, leading to modeling contracts, endorsements, and successful careers in media, real estate, and entrepreneurship after their cheerleading tenure ends.

The Part-Time Reality and Hidden Expenses

Despite the high profile, the DCC role is officially considered a part-time job. This means members must balance their cheerleading duties with their primary careers, which can include nursing, teaching, and other full-time professions. Historically, cheerleaders have also had to cover certain expenses, such as:

  • Hair, makeup, and tanning costs to maintain the stringent "DCC look."
  • Personal fitness and training outside of official rehearsals.
  • The cost of travel to and from rehearsals, which can be frequent and mandatory.

The new 2025-2026 contract is expected to address some of these financial burdens, aligning the compensation more closely with the time and financial investment required of the cheerleaders.

The Controversies That Forced the Pay Raise: Lawsuits and Scandals

The recent 400% pay raise did not happen in a vacuum; it is the culmination of years of legal battles and public pressure that exposed the stark disparity between the DCC's brand value and their actual compensation.

The Erica Wilkins Lawsuit (2018)

A pivotal moment in the fight for fair pay came in 2018 when former DCC member Erica Wilkins filed a class-action lawsuit against the Dallas Cowboys. Wilkins alleged that the organization violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay cheerleaders for all hours worked, including mandatory rehearsals, and that their hourly rate was far below minimum wage.

At the time of her lawsuit, Wilkins claimed she was paid a mere $7 to $8 per hour and only $200 per game. The eventual settlement from this lawsuit led to the previous significant pay increase, doubling the game-day pay to $400 and raising the hourly rate to $12, a necessary step that paved the way for the even larger 2025 increase.

The $2.4 Million Peeping Scandal Settlement (2022)

In a separate, highly damaging incident that further highlighted the organization's financial control over the cheerleaders, the Dallas Cowboys organization paid a confidential $2.4 million settlement in 2022 to four former cheerleaders. The settlement was related to allegations that a team executive had secretly filmed them in a locker room during a 2015 event and that the team attempted to cover up the incident.

This scandal, and the subsequent massive settlement, underscored the financial power the organization held and became another key factor in the push for more transparent and equitable compensation, ultimately contributing to the environment that made the 400% raise possible.

DCC vs. The NFL Average: A Staggering Comparison

To truly appreciate the significance of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders' new pay scale, it must be viewed in the context of the broader NFL.

Compensation Metric Average NFL Cheerleader Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader (2024 Est.) Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader (2025 Est.)
Hourly Wage ~$10 - $15 $15 - $20 $60 - $75+
Game Day Pay $150 - $200 $500 Likely $1,000+
Estimated Annual Income $22,500 $75,000 Potentially $100,000+

The new pay raise secures the DCC's position as the highest-paid cheerleading squad in the world, setting a new benchmark for what professional cheerleaders should expect from multi-billion dollar franchises like the Dallas Cowboys. The move is a victory for fair labor practices and recognizes the critical role the cheerleaders play in the team's global brand and revenue generation, which is estimated by owner Jerry Jones to be in excess of one million dollars.

The Shocking Truth: How Much Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get Paid (The 400% Raise and $75/Hour Salary)
how much do dallas cowboy cheerleaders get paid
how much do dallas cowboy cheerleaders get paid

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