Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Just Got a 400% Raise. Here’s Why It Matters

Obsessed with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Us too. You probably had the same reaction to us when the squad’s salaries were revealed in series one. 

For years, the DCC, known for their iconic routines, endless rehearsals and non-stop promo appearances, were making just $15-$20 an hour or around $500 per game. And that’s while most of them are juggling multiple other jobs just to make ends meet. All this while representing a football team worth over $11 billion. 

However, after two seasons from Netflix, contract talks and some courage from group leaders, things are finally changing.

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What happened?

In Season two, three of the DCC’s group leaders, Megan, Jada and Armani, led negotiations with HR and legal to push for fairer pay. Not everyone in the team agrees and there was even pushback from leadership who focused more on the “privilege” of being a DCC than the financial burden of it. But they persisted…and won.

So, how much do the DCC get paid now?

The cheerleaders landed a 400% raise, set to kick in from the 2025 season. That’s around $2000 per game, up from the previous $500.

That means the DCC could earn about $34,000 per season (based on 17 games), before counting their extra paid appearances and shows!

While this still may not reflect the true value of the hours and the pressure the girls are succumbed to, it’s a massive step in the right direction. However, it still barely scratches the surface compared to their counterparts on the field. 

To put it into perspective, Dallas Cowboys football players earn anywhere between $796,000 and $60 million per year, depending on experience, position and contracts.

Why does this matter?

This isn’t just about cheerleaders. It’s about women’s work being valued properly. Too often, roles that involve performance, entertainment or emotional labour are underpaid and underappreciated. 

The DCC standing up for themselves sends a message: loving what you do doesn’t mean you should accept being underpaid for it. 

For Megan, the only leader returning to the squad next season, the raise is already “life changing”.