How ’bout them Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ salaries?
After a long struggle to earn a fair wage, the team was completely surprised and thrilled to learn they would receive roughly a 400% raise before starting the 2025 season.
Jada McClean, who finished performing after five seasons in 2025, showed The New York Times a new routine and described the change as significant. She revealed she earned $15 an hour plus $500 each time she performed during her final year.
With the new pay rate, experienced workers could earn up to $75 per hour, potentially allowing them to reduce or eliminate the need for additional jobs or side work they previously depended on for income.
McClean told TopMob News that her main goal wasn’t personal gain, but to improve things for future team members. She wanted to leave the organization in better shape than she found it, and ensuring the women who followed her had more financial security was especially important, as she had faced financial difficulties herself during her time on the team.
The iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders—the team everyone tries to copy but never quite matches—are back for a third season on Netflix, premiering June 16th at AT&T Stadium in Texas. And they’re not the only ones with exciting news!
Daniel Kelly II, a dean and professor at New York University’s Tisch Institute for Global Sport, told the Times that the raise would significantly improve pay for NFL cheerleaders, putting it above what most entertainment staff and performers like mascots earn.
Professional sports team mascots earn an average salary of around $60,000 a year, according to Pro Football Network – about the same amount as someone working as a waterboy.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are considered the best, just like their impressive high kicks are the most notable part of their performances.
Before getting a raise, cheerleaders for the Washington Commanders (DCC) were earning around $500 per game, according to NBC Sports Boston – the same pay rate as the Carolina TopCats of the Carolina Panthers. Although calculating exact earnings based on games and practices is complex, this works out to about $75,000 a year.
Other dancers typically earned between $75 and $150 per performance. ZipRecruiter estimates the average annual income for dancers nationwide is around $45,000.
DCC members were very happy to hear they would be receiving a raise.
Last July, Kelly Villares told TopMob News that being a newcomer last year, she was still focused on improving and giving her best effort. She shared that having strong leaders like Jada, who aren’t afraid to speak up for what’s right, is incredibly valuable and motivates her to one day lead the team in the same way.
As for what else it takes to don those coveted stars, we’re running through the entire routine.
As someone who’s followed the world of professional cheerleading for years, I can tell you those iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders jumps aren’t easy! Caroline Sundvold, who was on the squad and recently shared her experience in Netflix’s American Sweethearts alongside her sister and current DCC rookie Anna Kate Sundvold, explained just how demanding they are. It really gives you a glimpse into the athleticism it takes to be one of those amazing cheerleaders.
Caroline learned from her doctor that she needed surgery on her joints after years of pushing them too far while cheerleading, as she explained on the show. She knew recovery would take three to six months, but she was determined to cheerlead for one more year and wanted to tough it out.
After five seasons, she finally got the surgery and felt the recovery was completely worthwhile. However, a later foot surgery turned out to be much more difficult than expected.
“I expected hip surgery to be more painful,” Caroline explained, “but my foot actually has a lot more nerves. Since the end-of-season banquet, I’ve mostly been focused on recovery, and it’s made me realize how much work that takes.”
None of which deterred Anna, who after making the 2023 squad was back on the roster for 2024.
Madeline Salter, known for being a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and nicknamed “America’s Sweetheart,” has been openly sharing her health journey on Instagram. She’s regularly visited places like Kinetic Centre for spine and sports rehabilitation to manage headaches and foot issues as she supports the team during the 2024 NFL season.
Chiropractic sports practitioner Dr. Kristina Myles explained in a recent post, while treating Salter, that their main goal is to address the layers of tissue in the face that can become painful, stiff, or limited in movement after injury or overuse.
As someone who’s looked behind the scenes at a lot of performance jobs, people are often surprised to learn that being a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader isn’t primarily about a huge salary! While they absolutely bring incredible energy to game days, it’s actually the other opportunities – appearances, photoshoots, and brand partnerships – that make up the bulk of their earnings. The cheerleading itself is truly a passion project alongside those income streams.
In 2017, ESPN revealed that NFL cheerleaders typically earned between $75 and $150 per game. This surprised many fans, who often assume cheerleaders are well-compensated, or at least earn enough to cover basic living expenses.
Kelcey Wetterberg, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader who appeared on the first season of America’s Sweethearts, works as a pediatric nurse. Reece Allman (formerly Weaver), a newer member who returned for the 2024 season, supplemented her income by working at a flower shop in Dallas while cheerleading.
The Dallas Morning News reports that cheerleaders now earn around $400 per game, in addition to hourly pay for practice and appearances.
During her appearance on Netflix, DCC alumna Kat Puryear explained that her income was comparable to either a substitute teacher or a full-time Chick-fil-A employee.
Megan McElaney is returning in 2024 and shared a video showing what a typical day looks like for her. She balances being an NFL cheerleader with three jobs, and her day starts early – at 6:15 a.m.
Let me tell you, this woman is a total powerhouse! Between managing marketing and recruiting at Bluecrest Financial Alliances – I checked her LinkedIn, it’s impressive – she also works as a makeup artist for The Styling Stewardess. And if that wasn’t enough to fill her day, she heads over to AT&T Stadium every evening for practice that often runs until eleven at night! Talk about someone who knows how to juggle life and pursue their passions.
According to Salter in an interview with TopMob News, participating in DCC has helped many people improve their time management skills. It’s important to balance work, DCC commitments, and personal well-being, he explained.
Staying in shape is important for our cheerleaders, but we’ve also made a point of moving away from focusing too much on body image. Now, we provide custom-fitted uniforms for each cheerleader, which helps everyone feel comfortable and confident.
Instead of focusing on weight, we prioritize how the uniform looks and ensuring clean lines,” explained Kelli Finglass, director of DCC since 1991, in an interview with TopMob News. “The dancers are all responsible for their own health – they understand nutrition and have personal workout routines. We also provide access to a gym right next to the studio, as well as nutritionists and mental health professionals if they need support.
The women are able to concentrate on their individual wellness plans, and we aim to support them with information and resources,” Finglass explained. “We respect their choices and don’t push further, and I believe that approach benefits everyone involved.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders website’s FAQ section states that auditionees should appear physically fit and proportionate in their dance attire. They emphasize that there are no specific height or weight requirements.
Although the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have changed over time – their iconic uniforms, for example, weren’t introduced until 1972 – the core of the organization remains largely the same as it was in the beginning.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been watching the world of cheerleading evolve, and honestly, everything surrounding the sport is different now. It’s amazing to see how they’re embracing things like social media and increased public attention. But what truly remains constant is their incredible athleticism – they’re world-class dancers, really – and a genuine dedication to service. That spirit of giving back has been a cornerstone of cheerleading throughout its history, and it’s wonderful to see it still thriving.
Another resource at the ready: An etiquette coach.
According to Finglass, these individuals attend dinners with top military leaders, exposing them to experiences and situations they likely wouldn’t encounter growing up in a small town as teenagers.
And since people get so excited to see the DCC all around the world, she continued, “I love them learning all the different facets and being polished and poised and prepared. All I’m trying to do is give them every tool possible, so they can be confident.”
The cheerleaders can get help with their appearance when needed and have professional makeup artists for photoshoots. However, they do their own hair and makeup before games. Sophy Laufer, a member of the squad since 2022, even shared a TikTok tutorial showing how she achieves her game-day look.
There are a few beauty standards to follow: avoid red lipstick and nail polish. Also, women are expected to wear their hair down, and Dallas’ Tangerine Salon is well-known for giving great bounce and volume to clients’ hairstyles.
Even if a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader had flawless legs, they’d still have to wear skin-colored stockings as part of the uniform.
Okay, so listen, I’m totally dedicated here, right? And they said… tattoos are okay! Which is amazing! But – get this – they absolutely HAVE to be covered. Like, completely hidden under makeup and bronzer for every single game. It’s a small price to pay to show my support, honestly. I already have my kit ready!
Spray tans look best when they’re warm-toned, not orange, and when the color matches both your face and body. Getting a tan that’s too dark can make your facial features appear washed out.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are also important figures in their community, something head choreographer Judy Trammell appreciated seeing portrayed in America’s Sweethearts.
Kelli Finglass expressed disappointment that their CMT reality show, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, which ran for 16 seasons and concluded in 2022, didn’t showcase all of the team’s work throughout the year. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she explained they do a lot beyond what viewers saw on TV – including tours supporting the USO, visits to veterans hospitals, and spending time with children at local hospitals.
After leaving the team, players can join a lively and involved alumni group called ‘The Spirit of DCC,’ according to Finglass in an interview with TopMob News.
As someone who’s seen a lot of transitions, let me tell you, retiring from something as all-consuming as cheerleading—it’s a huge shift, a bit like leaving the military, honestly. You go from spending every night with your team at practice to… well, not seeing them as often. That’s why we really focus on keeping our cheerleaders connected with alumni events right away. It’s tough for everyone when a chapter closes, and we want to ease that transition.
Finglass observed that the cheerleaders often remain connected through life’s big moments – like weddings and eventually their children’s weddings – long after their time on the squad is over. He explained, ‘It feels like being a teacher – you’re thrilled for each new group of students, but you also feel a little sadness knowing you won’t see your former students every day, and you’ll miss those relationships.’
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2026-06-16 10:19