Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders reveal 400% pay increase in new season of Netflix series

Jun 20, 2025 - 13:01
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Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders reveal 400% pay increase in new season of Netflix series

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are finally getting a significant bump in pay after years of lobbying. 

Four-year veteran Megan McElaney revealed in the second season of the Netflix series "America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders," which began streaming on Wednesday, that the squad members are getting a 400% increase in pay. 

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"Our efforts were heard, and they wanted to give us a raise," McElaney said in episode 7. "And we ended up getting a 400% increase, which is, like, life-changing."

Former cheerleader Jada McLean told the New York Times that 2024 marked her fifth year with the team, and during that time, she made $15 an hour and $500 for each appearance. Those numbers, according to the report, vary based on experience. 

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While the new deal does not provide members with health insurance yet, McElaney told the Times that some veteran members could now be making upwards of $75. 

A previous lawsuit brought on by a former NFL cheerleader led to another pay increase in 2019 that brought the appearance up from $200 to $400, CBS Sports reported.

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"We are more than just cheerleaders," McLean added. "We’re talented, strong, educated women and we’re hard-working athletes who deserve to be seen as such."

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