Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles players celebrate with cheerleaders after winning against Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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How Much Do NFL Cheerleaders Make? NFL Cheerleaders’ Payouts Revealed!

NFL cheerleaders earn less than mascots and waterboys.

NFL cheerleaders are contract workers. They are not salaried employees, and they do not receive benefits. Their pay is based on a per-game rate and hourly wages for practices, appearances, and other team events.

Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Katherine Puryear compared her earnings to that of a fast-food employee, saying, “I would say I’m making like a Chick-fil-A worker that works full time.” In the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Puryear broke down the structure: a flat fee per game, an hourly rate for game day and practice, and additional pay for appearances, which increase with tenure.

In reality, the hideous feminist left's only objection to what is happening here is that NFL cheerleaders are not paid a living wage and are often sexually harassed at the workplace. We literally like and support these women more than y'all do, we see them as workers with rights https://t.co/ieTHhqG47N
— janey-e jones (@elizabethbelsky) February 17, 2025

NFL Cheerleader Salary

A 2022 NBC Sports Boston report estimated that Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders earn between $15-20 per hour and $500 per game, adding up to an estimated $75,000 per year. That’s a lot more than most NFL cheerleaders, who, on average, make $150 per game or $22,500 per season.

Despite the pay, Cowboys executive Charlotte Jones made it clear on the show that cheerleaders aren’t in it for the money. “They come here for something that’s actually bigger than that to them,” she said. “They have a passion for dance.”

Who are the highest-paid NFL cheerleaders?

Not all NFL cheerleaders are paid equally. The Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers’ Carolina TopCats pay the most, offering wages well above the league average.

For comparison:

Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders: $500 per game, $15-20 per hour
NFL league average: $150 per game, $22,500 per year

ZipRecruiter data suggests that NFL cheerleader wages vary widely, with some making as much as $41.83 per hour while others earn as little as $9.86. The majority fall between $16.83 and $23.56 per hour.

Is this the norm? Do all NFL cheerleaders have to have other jobs? Why can’t you pay them more? pic.twitter.com/CTosMfRDq2
— hannah🦋✨ (@stanhannah13) January 21, 2024

Geography also plays a role. Cities like Soledad, CA, Portola Valley, CA, and Nome, AK offer the highest average salaries, exceeding $50,000 per year.

NFL cheerleaders have fought for better wages for years. In 2014, former Oakland Raiders cheerleader Lacy Thibodeaux-Fields sued the NFL for wage theft, alleging that she made only $1,250 for an entire season. Another former Buffalo Bills cheerleader claimed she made just $105 for a season but had to pay $600 for her uniform.

By 2020, 10 NFL teams faced lawsuits from cheerleaders over unfair wages. Investigations revealed that some, like the Raiders’ cheerleaders, earned as little as $5 per hour, well below minimum wage.

How does cheerleader pay compare to other game-day staff?

NFL cheerleaders make far less than other staff working on game day.

Waterboys: $50,000 – $60,000 per year
Mascots: Around $60,000 per year
NFL league minimum salary (for players): $795,000 per year
Joe Burrow’s 2024 salary: $65.7 million
Travis Kelce’s 2024 salary: $17.1 million

Unlike cheerleaders, mascots and waterboys are full-time employees with benefits, paid holidays, and job security.

Is cheerleading a full-time job?

The short answer: no. The commitment is full-time, but the pay is part-time. “It’s like a full-time… full-time commitment, part-time pay,” Puryear said.

Many cheerleaders work second jobs. Kelcey Wetterberg, a Cowboys cheerleading captain, is also a pediatric nurse. Rookie Reece Allman works at a flower shop. The docuseries highlighted that in December 2023, Cowboys cheerleaders worked 21 straight days, all while juggling other jobs.

Image: Imagn Images

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NFL Cheerleaders

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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