This Is What the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get Paid in 2025

Season 2 of Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders dives straight into the issue of cheerleader pay, something Season 1 only lightly touched on. By the end of this new season, the fight for fair compensation becomes the central drama — and surprisingly, it ends in a win.

Veterans on the squad led the charge. Rookies, understandably, kept their heads down — not wanting to risk losing the spot they'd just fought to earn. But the vets? They went straight to the Cowboys' organization, asking for a pay structure that didn't require juggling multiple side jobs just to pay rent.

And it worked.

At the end of the season, the dancers get the news: a 400% pay increase across the board.

"We pushed and we got back good results," said veteran cheerleader Armani Latimer, holding back tears. "I love the fact that I made change for the girls that are coming up behind me, even if I'm not getting a chance to benefit."

Armani's last season on the team means she won't see a dime of the new rate — but her efforts set the stage for what comes next.

So how much are the cheerleaders making now?

According to E! News, some were previously earning just $15 an hour, with a flat $500 fee per performance. That's for one of the most iconic cheerleading teams in sports — backed by a multibillion-dollar NFL franchise.

Now, with the raise, pay has jumped to as much as $75 an hour, depending on seniority.

Veteran Jade McLean summed it up best during the docuseries:

"Yes, we should still do something outside of just cheering, but there's so many ways to make this something people can actually live off of. Because for us all to be struggling financially, I'm kind of over it."

She also revealed she'd come close to eviction more than once. A reality for many DCCs, even while performing for sold-out NFL crowds every week.