The Shocking Truth About NFL Cheerleader Salaries In 2024: From $150 A Game To $75,000 A Year

The financial reality of being an NFL cheerleader is often far less glamorous than the dazzling routines performed on the sidelines. As of late 2024, the compensation structure remains highly variable and, despite recent, significant pay raises for a few elite squads, the vast majority of professional cheerleaders still earn a surprisingly low wage that requires them to hold down full-time jobs outside of the stadium. This article breaks down the updated figures, the dramatic impact of landmark lawsuits, and which teams are finally leading the charge for fair pay in the National Football League.

The conversation around how much NFL cheerleaders make has been dominated by legal battles over the past decade, forcing teams to move away from the historical, often illegal, practice of paying a low flat rate per game. The result is a current landscape where pay can range from an average of about $150 per game to an estimated annual salary of $75,000 for top veterans on the highest-paying squads, highlighting a massive disparity across the league.

The General NFL Cheerleader Compensation Breakdown

The standard pay for most NFL cheerleading squads is structured around three main components: a per-game fee, an hourly wage for practices, and a fee for public appearances. Even with recent adjustments, the base pay for many remains a side income, not a primary salary.

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• Per-Game Pay: Historically, the typical per-game pay for an NFL cheerleader was in the range of $75 to $150. This fee covers the entire game day, which can easily span 8 to 10 hours of work, including pre-game rehearsals, fan interactions, and the game itself.
• Hourly Wages: For mandatory activities like rehearsals, photo shoots, and community service events, the base hourly salary for many NFL cheerleaders typically ranges between $9 and $15 per hour. This is often barely above minimum wage, despite the highly competitive and professional nature of the job.
• Annual Average: Based on the traditional low-end pay structure, the average estimated yearly salary for an NFL cheerleader is around $22,500. This figure can vary wildly depending on the number of home games, practices, and paid appearances.

One of the most significant issues is that until recently, many teams failed to compensate cheerleaders for all mandatory hours, including lengthy practice sessions and administrative tasks, which led directly to a wave of high-profile wage theft lawsuits.

Lawsuits That Revolutionized Cheerleader Pay

The fight for fair compensation has been a decade-long battle, with several major lawsuits forcing NFL franchises to dramatically restructure their pay and employment practices. These legal actions have been the single biggest driver of recent salary increases.

Landmark Lawsuits and Settlements

The movement began with the Oakland Raiderettes (now the Las Vegas Raiderettes), who filed the first major class-action lawsuit against an NFL team for wage theft. This was a pivotal moment that exposed the unfair labor practices across the league.

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• Oakland Raiderettes (Raiders): Their 2014 lawsuit resulted in a $1.25 million settlement, which was the first major victory for NFL cheerleaders. The suit highlighted that cheerleaders were being paid a flat, low seasonal rate that did not account for all hours worked.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Buccaneers faced a class-action lawsuit (Pierre‑Val v. Buccaneers L.P.) that was court-approved for an $825,000 settlement. This case, like others, focused on the failure to pay minimum wage for all hours worked.
• Buffalo Jills (Buffalo Bills): The Buffalo Bills were also sued by former cheerleaders, the Buffalo Jills, for wage theft. The lawsuit claimed the team failed to pay for mandatory activities, including rehearsals, and required cheerleaders to pay for their own uniforms and travel.
• New York Jets: The New York Jets were among at least four other NFL teams sued by former cheerleaders for wage theft and breaking state labor laws.

These legal battles have fundamentally changed the employment classification of cheerleaders, moving them from independent contractors to official employees entitled to minimum wage and overtime pay for all mandatory activities.

The Highest Paid: A Look at the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC)

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC), arguably the most famous cheerleading squad in the world, have historically been one of the better-compensated groups, and recent updates show they are setting a new, higher standard for the league.

The 400% Pay Increase

Following a 2019 lawsuit settlement, the Dallas Cowboys made significant adjustments to their compensation structure, resulting in a dramatic pay increase for the squad.

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• Veteran Hourly Wage Spike: Veteran DCC members, like five-year veteran Jada McLean, were reportedly earning $15 an hour and $500 per appearance in the 2024 season. However, newer reports indicate a massive 400% pay raise, with veteran cheerleaders now earning between $60 and $75 per hour.
• Per-Game Pay: The per-game pay for DCC members is reportedly up to about $500, a significant increase from the $200 per game reported after their 2019 settlement.
• Estimated Annual Earnings: With the combination of high hourly pay for practices and appearances, and the elevated per-game rate, veteran Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are now estimated to earn roughly $75,000 a year. This figure is a stark contrast to the $22,500 league average and establishes the DCC as the highest-paid cheerleading squad in the NFL.

This pay structure, which includes a high hourly rate for all work, effectively treats the cheerleaders as professional performers, a model that other NFL teams are slowly being pressured to adopt.

The True Cost and External Income Streams

While the focus is often on the pay, the expenses and the non-game income streams are crucial elements of the cheerleading economy. Cheerleaders often incur personal costs that eat into their modest earnings, and their value to the team extends far beyond the field.

The Financial Burden on Cheerleaders

The lawsuits often revealed that cheerleaders were required to pay for or maintain expensive items out-of-pocket, including:

• Travel to mandatory events.
• High-end makeup, hair, and fitness maintenance.
• Uniform cleaning and specific personal items needed for performances.

For a cheerleader earning only $15 per hour, these mandatory expenses can quickly negate their earnings, which was a core argument in the wage theft claims.

Appearance and Media Revenue

The value of an NFL cheerleader to the franchise is enormous, especially through public appearances and media deals. Teams often charge high rates for their squads to appear at corporate events or community functions.

• Appearance Fees: Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders charge a general fee of $250 per hour per cheerleader for appearances, with a minimum of two cheerleaders required. This revenue stream is substantial for the team, yet only a small fraction is historically passed on to the cheerleaders themselves.
• Calendar and Media Sales: Revenue from swimsuit calendars, reality TV shows (like the DCC's), and other merchandise also generates significant income for the franchises, further highlighting the economic value of the cheerleaders' brand and image.

The significant gap between the revenue generated by the cheerleaders and their personal compensation continues to be the central issue in the ongoing fight for equitable pay. While the Dallas Cowboys have set a new benchmark, the majority of the league's cheerleaders are still fighting for a living wage that truly reflects their professional status and the intense demands of the role.