Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are enjoying dramatically higher salaries in 2026 after securing a historic pay increase following years of complaints overcompensation.
Members of the squad can now reportedly earn as much as $2,500 for each game, representing an increase of approximately 400 percent compared with their previous rate.
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The changes were revealed during Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, where members of the team discussed what the breakthrough meant after pushing for better compensation.
“I think it was about time,” veteran cheerleader Jada McLean said. “And I think we were all just kind of like, ‘Wow, finally.’”
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders secure huge pay increase
Before the agreement, experienced cheerleaders reportedly earned around $500 per game, while rookies could receive considerably less.
The new structure means established members can potentially earn $2,500 for each appearance at a Cowboys game, significantly changing the financial reality of being part of the team.
Former squad member Kat Puryear described just how difficult the old system could be.
“I would say I’m making like a Chick-fil-A worker that works full time,” Puryear previously said when discussing cheerleader salaries.
The compensation had attracted growing criticism because of the demanding schedule expected from members, including rehearsals, appearances, fitness requirements and performances alongside game day responsibilities.
Historic deal changes life for Cowboys squad
The breakthrough followed negotiations involving cheerleaders and Cowboys executive vice president Charlotte Jones.
McLean said the increase represented more than just additional money.
“It’s definitely a life-changing moment,” she said.
Fellow cheerleader Megan McElaney also celebrated the agreement, explaining how dramatically conditions had improved.
“Our efforts were heard, and they wanted to give us a raise,” McElaney said. “And we ended up getting a 400 percent increase, which is, like, life-changing.”
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders have long been among the most recognizable performers in American professional sports, but their compensation hadn’t always reflected that visibility.
The new agreement represents one of the most significant changes to their pay structure in years.
After previously balancing the demands of the role with comparatively modest earnings, members of the 2026 squad now enter the season with a substantially improved financial deal and, in their own words, recognition that their push for change was finally heard.