Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are getting a 400% pay raise

USA Today

5 days ago

The Dallas Cowboys haven't been shy when it comes to opening up the checkbook, at least when it comes to the roster. Prior to the 2024 regular season, the team extended Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
This year, it's the world-famous Cowboys cheerleaders that are seeing some additional pay coming their way – to the tune of a 400% raise.
It was revealed on the Netflix series "America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders" when member Megan McElaney, a four-year veteran from Oceanside, California, mentioned the increase.
"Our efforts were heard and they wanted to give us a raise," McElaney said, via the Associated Press. "And we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is like, life-changing."
In 2019, the group fought for a raise in game rates, which doubled from $200 to $400 at the time. Former member Kristin Westbrook took to Instagram, where she revealed some of the pay structure.
'When I was on the team, it was: hourly for practice [of] $15/hour,' she wrote on her Instagram Stories on Saturday June 21, via US Weekly. She added that members would also get 'flat fees' for various other performances.
"Flat fee for appearances – $100 (x # of years on the team)," Westbrook added, pointing out that a rookie would make $100, while a second-year veteran would earn $200 and so on.
Veterans and rookies are on different pay scales, with the former earning more money with more experience. The El Paso Times noted that "a veteran will see her pay increase from a reported $15 per hour to $60 per hour, and there will be many appearances by the team outside of game days."
Salaries are not disclosed, but reports indicate that a veteran will make around $150,000 per year. Even though they received an increase in compensation, the group still does not receive health insurance from the team.
Former cheerleader, Jada McLean, told the New York Times in an interview that she made $15 an hour and $500 for each appearance in 2024. It's been a long battle for raises from cheerleaders, who have cited concerns dealing with financial stress in recent years.
They are a key component of the game day experience for many teams, giving them a unique position to negotiate from. Now that the Cowboys cheerleaders have received their raise, the hope is that the new deal will provide some financial security that was previously lacking under the old compensation package.
In December 2024, Forbes listed the Cowboys as the most valuable franchise in sports at $10.1 billion. It appears their cheerleaders are now going to be paid like it.