The Shocking New Salary: How Much Do Professional Cheerleaders Really Make In 2024–2025?

The financial landscape for professional cheerleaders has undergone a dramatic, long-overdue transformation in 2024, fundamentally rewriting the rules of compensation for one of the most visible and iconic roles in professional sports. For decades, the reality of a professional cheerleader's salary was a shocking secret: a full-time commitment for part-time pay that often amounted to less than minimum wage when accounting for mandatory practice hours and hidden expenses. However, recent legal actions and a high-profile 400% pay raise by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) have set a new, higher benchmark for the entire industry, pushing annual earnings into the potential five-figure range for the first time.

This deep dive explores the new, updated salary figures for professional cheerleaders in the NFL and NBA as of late 2024 and early 2025, detailing the complex pay structure that includes hourly wages, game-day fees, and lucrative appearance opportunities. The goal is to provide a fresh, accurate look at the true financial commitment and reward of being an elite professional dancer on the sidelines of the world’s biggest sports leagues.

The New Financial Standard: NFL Cheerleader Salary Breakdown (2024 Update)

The National Football League (NFL) has historically been the center of controversy regarding cheerleader pay, with numerous lawsuits brought by former cheerleaders alleging wage theft and poor working conditions. While pay remains highly variable between franchises, the industry is now moving toward a more equitable compensation model, largely driven by the high-profile actions of the Dallas Cowboys.

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• The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) Pay Spike: The most significant development is the reported 400% pay increase for the DCC, widely considered "America's Sweethearts" and the most famous squad in the world. This raise is a direct result of continued pressure following a 2019 lawsuit settlement.
• New DCC Hourly Wage: Veteran DCC members are now estimated to earn between $60 and $75 per hour for practices and appearances. This is a massive jump from the previous rate of $15 per hour reported by a five-year veteran in 2024.
• New DCC Annual Potential: With the 400% increase applied to game-day fees and a full schedule of appearances, top-tier DCC members are now rumored to be earning an annual salary that could approach $75,000 to $100,000, though the team has not officially confirmed the exact figure. This marks a potential shift from a "hobby" to a viable, full-time equivalent income.
• General NFL Compensation (The Old Normal): For most other NFL squads, the pay is still significantly lower. Cheerleaders typically earn an hourly wage for rehearsals and a flat fee for game days. Hourly pay for rehearsals generally ranges from $9 to $15 per hour. Game-day pay averages from $75 to $200 per game.
• Annual Low-End Salary: Due to the part-time nature of the job, the annual salary for a cheerleader on a non-DCC squad often falls below $10,000, sometimes only reaching about $22,500 per year on the higher end of the old pay scale.

The Three Pillars of Professional Cheerleader Income

A professional cheerleader's total annual earnings are not based on a single salary figure but are pieced together from three distinct sources of compensation:

1. Hourly Wages (For Practices and Rehearsals)

This is the most contested area of pay, as mandatory practices often consume 10 to 15 hours per week. Historically, many teams failed to pay for these mandatory hours, leading to the "less than minimum wage" controversy. Lawsuits forced many teams to begin compensating for practice time, typically at the state's minimum wage or slightly above. The new DCC rate of $60-$75 per hour for veterans is a revolutionary step in valuing their time commitment.

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2. Game-Day Fees

Cheerleaders are paid a flat fee for each home game. The pay covers the entire game-day experience, which can be an 8-10 hour commitment including pre-game warm-ups, the four quarters, and post-game routines. Before the recent DCC raise, the high end of this fee was about $400 per game (DCC's pre-raise rate), with many other teams paying $150 to $200 per game. The new DCC pay is expected to be four times the old $400 rate, suggesting a per-game fee potentially exceeding $1,600 for the most elite performers.

3. Appearance Fees and Endorsements

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This is often the most lucrative part of the job. Cheerleaders are frequently booked for corporate events, charity functions, military tours (like USO tours), and meet-and-greets. These appearances are paid separately, usually at an hourly rate or flat fee. A DCC veteran like Jada McLean reported earning $500 per appearance in 2024 before the major raise. The number of appearances can significantly boost the annual income, especially for veteran members and squad leaders.

NBA Dancers vs. NFL Cheerleaders: The Compensation Contrast

While NFL cheerleaders are often the focus of the salary discussion, NBA dancers and cheerleaders, such as the famous Laker Girls or the Atlanta Hawks Dancers, operate under a similar but often slightly more stable pay structure.

• NBA Annual Averages: The average annual salary for an NBA dancer typically ranges from $15,000 to $35,000 per year.
• Per-Game Rate: NBA dancers generally earn between $200 and $600 per game.
• High-Profile Squads: Elite teams like the Los Angeles Laker Girls are reported to pay up to $600 per match, with some sources claiming an annual salary around $30,000 plus bonuses.

The key difference is that NBA teams play 41 home games in a regular season, significantly more than the 8-10 home games in an NFL season. This higher volume of guaranteed game-day pay often leads to a more predictable and higher base annual salary for NBA dancers compared to their NFL counterparts, though the recent DCC raise may now challenge this dynamic.

The Hidden Costs and Full-Time Time Commitment

To accurately assess a professional cheerleader's net earnings, one must account for the immense time commitment and the significant out-of-pocket expenses, which is a major factor in the low historical pay.

The Full-Time Schedule for a Part-Time Job:

Professional cheerleading is not a casual part-time job; it is a full-time commitment. Squads like the New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders require a relentless schedule that includes:

• Mandatory Practices: Typically three evenings a week, often lasting from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Game Days: An all-day event, often 8-10 hours, including rehearsals, makeup, and the game itself.
• Mandatory Appearances: Numerous events, charity functions, and sponsor obligations throughout the year.
• Rehearsal Camps: Intensive training camps that can last for weeks before the season begins.

The total time commitment can easily exceed 20 to 30 hours per week, which is why the low hourly pay was the subject of so many labor lawsuits.

The Hidden Financial Costs:

Even with recent pay increases, cheerleaders often face substantial out-of-pocket costs that erode their net income. These expenses are rarely covered by the team and include:

• Beauty and Maintenance: Strict appearance codes require constant maintenance. Costs can include professional hair styling, makeup, tanning, and nail care. One former cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens described the expense of maintaining her look.
• Audition Costs: Travel, lodging, specialized training, and clothing for the multi-stage audition process.
• Fitness and Training: Gym memberships, personal trainers, and dance classes to maintain the elite physical standard.
• Uniform Costs (For some teams): While the most famous teams like the DCC cover their uniforms, many smaller squads require cheerleaders to purchase or contribute to the cost of their own practice wear and accessories.

In conclusion, the salary for a professional cheerleader in 2024–2025 is a story of two extremes. On one hand, the majority of cheerleaders on teams like the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles still earn a modest supplemental income, often under $25,000 annually. On the other hand, the unprecedented 400% pay raise for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders signals a potential turning point, establishing a new, livable wage standard for the industry. This shift, largely driven by labor disputes and the demand for fair compensation, suggests that the days of professional cheerleaders being paid a pittance for a full-time commitment may finally be coming to an end.