The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association is now the squad’s collective bargaining representative.
The recognition gives the squad a bargaining representative
A few days before the Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-21 on Monday Night Football, the cheerleaders gained collective bargaining representation. In collective bargaining, a representative negotiates employment terms on behalf of a group. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association now serves in that role for the squad.¹²
The Dallas Cowboys and the cheerleaders issued a joint statement about the recognition. They called the cheerleaders “an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit.” The Cowboys squad’s union is the only active one in the NFL, giving the recognition a distinction beyond the team itself.¹²
The pay increase did not bring health insurance
Before the 2025 season, the cheerleaders received a 400% pay raise. The increase did not include health insurance, leaving a gap in the compensation package even after the pay change. The raise is one part of the new employment terms; the contract also sets different pay arrangements for game days and other appearances.¹²
The Dallas Cowboys and the cheerleaders issued a joint statement about the recognition.
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Read More →Former cheerleader Jada McLean said she earned $15 an hour and $500 per appearance in 2024, her fifth year with the squad. Those figures show two separate parts of the job’s pay: an hourly rate and a fee for each appearance. Her account provides a specific comparison point for the revised structure, which changes how game days and other appearances are paid.¹²
The new contract restructures pay for game days and other appearances. The squad currently has 36 active members, and some veteran dancers are slated to receive more than $75 an hour. The hourly figure applies to some veteran dancers; it does not describe the pay of every squad member. The contract’s pay changes therefore cover more than one arrangement, rather than setting a single rate for the full squad.¹²
The Netflix docuseries “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” premiered in 2024. Compensation grievances resurfaced after its premiere, and dancers said on camera that they had received the pay raise. The on-camera comments brought the compensation issue into the series, while the new contract separately changed the structure for game days and other appearances.¹²
Cheerleader pay has varied across teams and decades
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ history dates back to 1961, before the squad professionalized in the early 1970s. Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders reportedly earned $15 per game in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s, the squad made as little as $15 a game; pay rose to $50 per game before the turn of the century. Those amounts describe per-game pay in earlier decades, distinct from the hourly and appearance rates in McLean’s 2024 account.¹²
The Buffalo Jills unionized in 1995, but the squad was essentially disbanded in 2014. That history provides a precedent for cheerleader unionization and a different outcome for a squad that later ceased to operate. The Cowboys cheerleaders’ union is currently the NFL’s only active one, according to the reported distinction, while the Buffalo Jills’ squad did not continue.¹²
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Read More →Pay figures for other NFL cheerleading squads also ranged widely. Buccaneers cheerleaders received a flat fee of $100 per game, while Jets cheerleaders got $150 per game. Bengals cheerleaders said they were paid about $2.85 an hour, and Bills cheerleaders received nothing. Former Oakland Raiderette Lacy Thibodeaux Fields was entitled to $125 a game. These comparisons use different pay structures, including hourly wages, per-game fees and no pay.¹²
Cheerleader pay has varied across teams and decades The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ history dates back to 1961, before the squad professionalized in the early 1970s.
Unionize Before You Negotiate
A union changed how the Cowboys cheerleaders got paid, but the gap in their package shows what to check first. The 400% raise before the 2025 season still left out health insurance, so a bigger number on paper did not mean full coverage. When you negotiate any pay increase, ask whether benefits move with it. The new contract also splits pay between game days and other appearances, with some veteran dancers earning over $75 an hour. That structure rewards seniority and specific work types, so compare your own rate against what a veteran in your field earns for each task.¹²
The Cowboys union is the only active one in the NFL, and the Buffalo Jills' earlier attempt ended with the squad disbanded in 2014. That history shows collective bargaining can secure better terms, but it does not guarantee the job survives. If you are in a role where pay varies widely by team or employer, look at the range before you join. Buccaneers cheerleaders earned $100 per game, Jets got $150, Bengals made about $2.85 an hour, and Bills received nothing. Use those figures to set a floor for your own appearance or hourly rate, and ask for a contract that names both.¹²
Sources
Written by Career Ahead AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify key facts. Report errors to support@careeraheadonline.com
