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How Much Do NFL Cheerleaders Make? The Fight for Pay Equity

No reliable public figure captures what NFL cheerleaders earn league-wide. The 2025 Cowboys raise made headlines, but the exact new amount was not disclosed.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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There is no dependable, publicly verified salary figure for NFL cheerleaders as a group. Pay varies by team, and published figures mix per-game fees, hourly practice pay and estimates from different seasons. The best recent example is the Dallas Cowboys: cheerleaders said in 2025 that they received a 400% raise, but the Associated Press did not report the new dollar amount. That increase cannot establish what cheerleaders earn across the league.

What the published pay figures actually show

Available numbers are tied to specific teams and dates, and they do not add up to a reliable current NFL average.

Figure What it describes How to interpret it
400% increase Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders’ reported raise in 2025 Cheerleader Megan McElaney described the increase to the Associated Press; the AP report did not state the resulting dollar amount. Do not use the percentage to infer a salary without a verified starting figure and calculation. Associated Press, June 18, 2025
$200 to $400 per game Reported historical Dallas Cowboys per-game pay before the 2025 raise The AP described these figures in connection with a 2019 lawsuit settlement. They are historical reported rates, not a verified current rate. Associated Press, June 18, 2025
$500 per game; $15–$20 per practice hour Figures for Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders reported for 2022 TIME recounted the figures from NBC Boston and said the team did not respond to TIME’s request to verify them. They are estimates tied to a past season, not confirmed current compensation. TIME, 2024
$75–$150 per game NFL cheerleader range reported by ESPN in 2017 TIME cited this older range; it cannot establish current pay or an average across teams. TIME, 2024

The 2025 Cowboys announcement is notable because it describes a substantial change, but it still does not answer the question with a verifiable current dollar figure. A single team’s raise also cannot be applied to the other 31 NFL squads. Axios New Orleans and Sports Illustrated likewise do not establish an authoritative nationwide average.

Why per-game pay can understate the commitment

A game fee only captures one part of the work. Cheerleaders may also be required to attend practices, games and public appearances, along with other team activities. Comparing compensation fairly requires knowing which of those hours are paid, what rate applies to each type of work, and whether additional expenses or benefits affect the overall value.

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Former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Kat Puryear called the work a “full time-commitment, part-time pay,” in a statement reported by Axios New Orleans in July 2024. That description reflects her account, not a standardized schedule or pay arrangement for every team.

  • Pay basis: distinguish game fees from hourly practice pay and appearance compensation.
  • Required time: account for rehearsals, games, appearances, training and other mandated activities.
  • Season and team: label every figure with its squad and season rather than treating it as an NFL-wide rate.
  • Employment terms: classification, overtime rules and benefits can affect the value and protections associated with compensation.
  • Costs: expenses can change take-home value, but the available reporting does not establish a uniform expense or benefits package across teams.

What the legal disputes do—and do not—say

Pay lawsuits and employee classification

Past lawsuits and settlements shed light on disputes over compensation, but allegations and historical outcomes are not proof of current pay rates. A secondary legal overview recounts, for example, a 2014 Oakland Raiders suit alleging $125 per home game and a 2016 Jets settlement. Those accounts concern specific past disputes; they do not set a present-day NFL standard. LegalClarity’s overview of NFL cheerleader pay lawsuits and labor rights

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The same overview describes California’s AB 202, signed in 2015, as requiring covered professional sports teams in the state to classify cheerleaders as employees. Classification can affect access to labor protections, but the statute’s application depends on its text and circumstances. This is general context, not legal advice; consult the statute and a qualified employment lawyer about a specific situation.

The 2025 Kelsey K. antitrust ruling

In April 2025, a federal judge rejected a proposed amended complaint in the Kelsey K. antitrust case because it did not plausibly plead the alleged conspiracy on the facts presented, and entered judgment for the NFL, according to Courthouse News Service. The ruling addressed the sufficiency of that complaint; it was not a finding that cheerleader compensation is fair or a resolution of every pay-equity concern. Courthouse News Service, April 2025

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What a meaningful pay comparison would require

A useful comparison would publish team-level rates alongside the rules that determine what a cheerleader is paid for. At minimum, that would mean specifying the season, rate for each required activity, which hours are compensated, and applicable employment terms, benefits and expense policies. Without those details, a game fee or a headline percentage cannot tell readers what the work pays in practice.

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