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NFL cheerleading is glamorous on the surface—sparkling uniforms, bright stadium lights, and millions of viewers every week. But when people ask, “How much do NFL cheerleaders get paid?” the full answer takes more than a quick number. Pay varies by team, by market, by role on the squad, and even by event. This article breaks down the complete details in simple, friendly terms so you can understand exactly how compensation works, what factors affect it, and what cheerleaders really earn over a season.
Introduction: Why Cheerleader Pay Is Complicated
There is no single, league-wide salary for NFL cheerleaders. Each team sets its own structure and rates. Some teams pay per hour for practices and public appearances and give a flat stipend on game days. Others wrap all that into a set per-game rate and separate appearance fees. Over the past decade, lawsuits and policy changes pushed many teams to pay for all working hours and to adopt clearer rules.
If you have heard numbers that sound very low—or surprisingly high—both might be true depending on which team and which season those reports came from. Today, most NFL cheerleaders are part-time employees with hourly pay for rehearsals and set stipends for games and appearances. Total seasonal earnings often end up in the low five figures, with a wide range based on market size, reputation, and personal effort.
The Core Pay Pieces: How Earnings Are Built
Base Pay for Practices
Practices are the backbone of the job. Cheerleaders train several times per week during the season, and many squads also hold long rehearsals during the off-season and training camp. Most teams pay an hourly wage for these rehearsals. The hourly rate often sits at or slightly above local minimum wage, and in some markets it can be higher. Reports from recent years commonly place practice rates in a ballpark range from the mid-teens per hour to the low twenties per hour, though exact numbers vary by team and can change with local laws and internal reviews.
Practice hours add up quickly. A typical week during the season could include two to four evening practices, each running about three to four hours. Training camp weeks may be even more intense, with added conditioning, choreography sessions, and uniform fittings. While the hourly practice wage may not sound huge, the steady hours help form a meaningful portion of total earnings across several months.
Game-Day Stipends
Game days are long and highly structured. Cheerleaders often arrive many hours before kickoff for hair and makeup, uniform checks, run-throughs, and on-field blocking. They perform in pre-game segments, in-game breaks, and sometimes post-game appearances. Instead of hourly pay, most teams use a game-day stipend—one set amount that covers the entire day’s work.
These stipends vary widely, and public reports have shown significant differences by team and by era. In the past, some cheerleaders received quite low rates for a full day. After policy changes and public scrutiny, game-day stipends generally increased. Today, you will commonly hear ranges from a few hundred dollars per home game to a higher figure at flagship teams and in larger markets. That said, not all organizations are the same. Some squads may still be on the lower end, while others have moved to more competitive rates.
Public Appearances and Paid Events
Cheerleaders often attend team-sponsored appearances, community events, corporate functions, charity galas, youth clinics, and school visits. Many of these appearances are paid based on an hourly fee, which can vary by event type. Charity and community outreach might pay modestly or be non-paid but counted as work, while corporate or private events tend to pay more. Recent reports across multiple teams suggest appearance fees can range widely, from more basic hourly rates for smaller local events to substantially higher fees for premium or corporate engagements.
This is a critical income source. Cheerleaders who accept more appearances can noticeably raise their seasonal earnings. Some squads let cheerleaders apply for events or assign them based on availability, seniority, or specialty. Captains and veteran members may also receive priority for high-profile bookings.
Playoffs, Special Games, and Extras
When a team reaches the playoffs, cheerleaders typically receive additional game stipends similar in structure to the regular season. International games, preseason matches, and special showcases can also bring additional pay opportunities. The Pro Bowl, when a single representative is selected from each squad, usually includes a unique stipend and travel coverage. While not every cheerleader will access these extras, they can meaningfully boost annual totals for the individuals involved.
What Does a Season Total Look Like?
Typical Seasonal Range
Because every team handles pay differently, the total amount a cheerleader makes in a season varies. Still, there are patterns. Based on recent public information and common practice, many NFL cheerleaders earn in the low to mid five figures for an entire season once you combine practices, games, and appearances. A rough, common range discussed by former and current performers is somewhere between around $10,000 and $30,000 for the season, with some squads and individuals landing below or above that depending on hours and opportunities. In the most competitive or high-profile environments with strong appearance markets, some cheerleaders can climb higher, especially if they take many paid events, work year-round activities, and return as veterans or captains.
It is important to note: a cheerleading season does not cover a full calendar year like a traditional job. Most performers also work full-time or part-time jobs outside cheerleading, or they attend school. Cheerleading fits into evenings, weekends, and specific windows during the year.
Sample Breakdown to Understand the Math
Imagine a generic scenario to show how the pieces might add up. Suppose a cheerleader averages three practices per week at several hours per practice across a few months, plus home games, plus occasional appearances. Even with modest hourly rates for practices, the hours can accumulate into a solid portion of total pay. Game-day stipends then layer on top, and if the cheerleader accepts a steady stream of paid appearances—especially corporate or premium events—the season total can rise noticeably. While this example is simplified and hypothetical, it mirrors how cheerleaders actually build their earnings: hour by hour and event by event.
Why Pay Varies So Much Between Teams
Market Size and Team Resources
Large-market franchises with strong brand recognition often have more appearances, sponsorships, and event partners. This can translate into higher stipends or more frequent paid opportunities. Smaller markets might offer fewer outside events and therefore fewer chances to earn beyond base rates. Team culture, tradition, and public profile also influence pay decisions and demand for appearances.
Legal and Policy Changes Over Time
From around 2014 through the late 2010s, several lawsuits by current and former cheerleaders pushed teams to pay for all hours worked and to meet local labor standards. These legal actions prompted many organizations to update their pay structures and formalize time tracking. As a result, current pay is generally more transparent and consistent than it used to be, though it still varies widely by organization.
Experience, Seniority, and Leadership Roles
Veteran cheerleaders and line captains often receive a bump in pay or priority access to paid appearances. They may earn slightly higher hourly rates, higher game-day stipends, or just more opportunities. Teams value leadership, performance reliability, and public-speaking skills, and they reward those attributes in ways that influence total earnings.
Appearance-Heavy vs. Appearance-Light Seasons
Some years are busy with community and corporate events; others are quieter. Special anniversaries, new stadium launches, international games, or playoff runs can spike demand for appearances. If a cheerleader is flexible with scheduling and positioned to accept more of these events, seasonal income can increase significantly.
What About Benefits and Perks?
Non-Cash Benefits
While traditional benefits like health insurance are uncommon for part-time roles, many squads offer valuable non-cash perks. These may include professional styling support, partnerships with salons, fitness facilities, nutrition guidance, shoe allowances, and uniform maintenance. Some teams provide game tickets or parking stipends. Other perks might include media training, networking access, and career development opportunities through community relations projects.
Travel and Special Opportunities
Cheerleaders may travel for certain events, including international games, military appreciation tours, or league showcases. Travel expenses are typically covered for official team trips, and these experiences can provide exposure, resume value, and unique memories. Still, these are not guaranteed for every team or every cheerleader.
The Real Workload Behind the Pay
In-Season Rhythm
During the season, cheerleaders juggle practice schedules, game-day commitments, public appearances, and personal conditioning. A single home game week can include multiple night practices plus a long game day that easily stretches eight to ten hours. On top of that, performers maintain a professional presence online and in the community, follow strict team guidelines, and uphold standards in personal presentation.
Off-Season Demands
Off-season is not time off. Auditions, boot camps, and training typically occur in late spring or early summer. Returning veterans may have less formal preparation, but new candidates invest heavily in dance classes, fitness programs, and professional coaching. Teams sometimes hold community appearances and sponsor events year-round, adding to the off-season workload.
Costs Cheerleaders Often Cover Themselves
Tryouts and Personal Preparation
While teams provide uniforms once a cheerleader makes the squad, the journey to get there costs money. Candidates often pay audition fees, dance class tuition, gym memberships, coaching, and travel. They also invest in makeup, tanning, hair styling, and professional headshots. These upfront expenses can be significant and are not typically reimbursed.
Ongoing Appearance Standards
After making the team, cheerleaders maintain performance-ready looks. While some services may be covered or discounted through team partners, individuals still bear costs for personal grooming, practice gear, and day-to-day upkeep. When calculating net earnings, many cheerleaders factor in these ongoing costs as part of the job.
Employee vs. Independent Contractor
How Classification Affects Pay and Protections
One major outcome of the last decade’s legal changes is a shift toward classifying cheerleaders as W-2 part-time employees rather than independent contractors. As employees, cheerleaders are more likely to receive hourly pay for practices and to have taxes withheld. They may also be covered by workers’ compensation and other basic protections. Not every team handles this identically, but the trend is toward more formal employment status.
Even with W-2 status, most squads do not provide full-time benefits like health insurance or retirement plans because the roles are part-time and seasonal. Taxes still apply, and cheerleaders must budget for them carefully, especially if they also receive 1099 income for certain third-party appearances.
How NFL Cheerleader Pay Compares to Other Roles
Mascots and In-Arena Performers
It often surprises people that full-time professional mascots can earn more than part-time cheerleaders. Mascot roles are frequently full-time, year-round positions tied closely to marketing and community relations departments, with salaries that can extend far beyond typical cheerleader totals. This difference stems from job structure and scheduling rather than a value judgment. Mascots perform at more events, handle more daytime engagements, and often travel extensively as official team ambassadors.
Other Leagues and College Programs
NBA and NHL dance teams have their own pay structures, usually similar in that performers are part-time with hourly rates and game-day stipends. College spirit programs vary widely, and many involve scholarships or partial support rather than a paycheck. If you are evaluating opportunities, it is smart to compare your specific local team’s policies rather than assuming all squads pay the same.
Can Cheerleaders Make a Living from It Alone?
Supplementing with Careers and School
Most NFL cheerleaders hold other jobs, run businesses, freelance in dance or fitness, or attend college or graduate programs. The schedule allows for outside work, although balancing everything can be demanding. The role is best thought of as part-time professional performance, with strong branding and community engagement elements, rather than a standalone full-time income source.
Using Appearances and Personal Branding
Cheerleaders can increase earnings by taking as many paid appearances as possible and by leveraging the platform to build personal brands. Coaching youth dance, teaching fitness classes, partnering with local businesses, and creating digital content can all supplement income. Teams usually have social media guidelines, so cheerleaders should always follow those rules when building personal platforms.
A Short Timeline: How We Got Here
Early Practices and Low Pay
In earlier decades, many teams treated cheerleading as a volunteer-style role with minimal or symbolic compensation. Pay often did not reflect hours spent in rehearsals, game-day commitments, or promotional events. This mismatch led to frustration and, eventually, action.
Lawsuits and Reforms
Between roughly 2014 and 2018, multiple legal cases brought by current and former cheerleaders challenged unpaid hours, below-minimum wages, and unfair classifications. Settlements and court decisions prompted teams to update policies, track hours more carefully, and raise rates to meet labor standards. Several squads temporarily paused operations and then returned with new structures.
Recent Developments
From 2019 onward, most teams moved toward clearer pay frameworks: hourly rates for practices, defined game-day stipends, and explicit appearance fees. Public awareness has also pressured organizations to maintain fairer policies. While not every squad is the same, conditions today are generally more consistent and transparent than a decade ago.
The Fine Print: Contracts, Conduct, and Expectations
Seasonal Contracts
Cheerleaders typically sign one-season contracts with clear expectations around pay, attendance, conduct, and public representation. Contracts often specify rehearsal schedules, game-day requirements, appearance policies, and social media guidelines. Some teams use non-disclosure clauses and strict codes of conduct to protect the organization’s brand.
Social Media and Public Image
Cheerleaders are highly visible. Teams set firm rules about content, interactions with fans, and endorsements. Some squads limit personal promotions or require approval for brand partnerships. These policies aim to maintain professionalism but can limit extra income streams. Candidates should read contract terms carefully and ask questions before signing.
Taxes and Take-Home Pay
Planning for Deductions
Even when a cheerleader is a W-2 employee, take-home pay will be reduced by taxes and required withholdings. If they also receive 1099 income from third-party appearances, they must set aside money for quarterly estimated taxes. Any unreimbursed costs—like training, makeup, and travel to non-covered events—affect net earnings.
Keeping Records
Because the job mixes hourly earnings, stipends, and occasional outside fees, it is smart to keep detailed records. Tracking hours, mileage, gear, and professional expenses helps cheerleaders manage budgets and prepare for tax season. Good record-keeping also supports informed choices about which appearances are most worthwhile.
Common Questions About NFL Cheerleader Pay
Do all cheerleaders on the same team earn the same?
Not always. While base structures are often uniform, factors such as seniority, captaincy, and the number or type of appearances can create differences. Some squads use tiers or small premiums for leadership roles. Others may assign more paid events to veterans or to cheerleaders with specific skills like public speaking or hosting.
Are tryouts paid?
Typically no. Candidates usually pay audition fees and cover their own prep costs. That includes classes, coaching, and professional grooming. Making the team is competitive, and the investment reflects the high standards and intense selection process.
Do cheerleaders get paid for every event they attend?
It depends on the event. Community and charitable appearances may pay less or not at all, but they often count as official work for the team and can be required. Corporate events and private bookings are more likely to be paid at higher rates.
What about away games and travel?
Most NFL cheer squads perform at home games. Some special events, neutral-site games, or international matchups may include travel. In those cases, teams generally cover travel costs, and cheerleaders receive an additional stipend or pay. But regular away-game travel is rare compared to other roles in sports.
Is there a path to full-time work within the organization?
A few cheerleaders transition into full-time roles in marketing, community relations, broadcasting, or game-day production after they retire from performing. While the cheerleading position itself is part-time and seasonal, the experience builds skills and connections that can open doors inside and outside the sports industry.
How to Evaluate an Offer If You Make a Squad
Read the Contract Carefully
Look for details on hourly practice pay, game-day stipend amounts, appearance fee structures, timekeeping methods, and overtime policies. Ask how the team handles travel, late nights, rescheduling, and cancellations. Clarify whether you are an employee or an independent contractor for any part of the work.
Ask About Appearance Opportunities
Appearance volume can make or break your season total. Find out how appearances are assigned, what the pay rates are, and how often cheerleaders typically book premium events. The answers help you forecast your potential earnings more accurately.
Budget for Personal Costs
Factor in audition prep, grooming, transportation, and gear. Even with partner discounts, those costs add up. Plan a monthly budget so your take-home pay remains positive and you are not surprised during busy months.
Why Pay May Never Match On-Field Revenue
The Part-Time Structure
NFL teams generate enormous revenue, but most cheerleading roles are part-time and seasonal. Organizations allocate budgets based on many departments, from players and coaching to stadium operations and media production. Cheerleading sits within game-day entertainment and community relations rather than core competition, which influences compensation levels.
Supply and Demand
NFL cheerleading is highly coveted. Many talented women audition for relatively few spots, and the prestige, networking, and performance opportunities attract strong demand. This dynamic naturally limits how high base pay will go in the absence of league-wide bargaining or standardized contracts.
The Future of NFL Cheerleader Pay
Pay Transparency and Market Pressure
Public scrutiny and media coverage have already driven changes. With more transparency, fans and sponsors can see how cheerleaders are compensated for their time. Teams that lead on fair pay and clear policies tend to earn positive reputations, which pressures others to improve.
Digital Platforms and Personal Deals
As cheerleaders build personal brands, some may find responsible, contract-compliant ways to collaborate with local businesses and sponsors. If team policies evolve to support safe, approved partnerships, cheerleaders could unlock new income streams that complement their official work.
Continued Legal and Policy Evolution
Labor standards and state laws continue to evolve. Teams will likely keep adjusting pay structures, timekeeping, and classifications to ensure compliance. While cheerleading may remain part-time, the overall direction points toward clearer, fairer, and more consistent compensation frameworks.
Conclusion: The Complete Picture in Plain Terms
NFL cheerleaders are paid through a combination of hourly practice rates, game-day stipends, and fees for public appearances. Exact numbers vary widely by team and market, but a common seasonal range is in the low to mid five figures, with room to earn more through frequent appearances, leadership roles, and special events. Most cheerleaders also work or study outside of their squad commitments, since the role is part-time and seasonal.
Over the last decade, legal action and public attention helped improve pay structures and brought more transparency. Today’s cheerleaders are typically classified as part-time employees, with better tracking of hours and clearer expectations. Still, costs like audition prep and grooming remain part of the job, and cheerleaders must budget carefully to understand their true net pay.
If you are considering trying out, focus on the full picture: the training, the time commitment, the personal costs, and the opportunities to earn through appearances. For many performers, the value goes beyond money—professional networking, community impact, and the experience of performing on one of sports’ grandest stages have meaning that numbers cannot fully capture. With realistic expectations and smart planning, NFL cheerleading can be both a memorable experience and a rewarding part-time pursuit.
Quick Takeaways
Simple Summary for Beginners
There is no single salary for NFL cheerleaders. Most earn hourly pay for practices, a flat stipend for each home game, and additional money from paid appearances. Totals often land somewhere around the low to mid five figures for the season, with significant variation by team, city, role, and personal effort. Legal changes improved pay and transparency over the last decade, but the role remains part-time and competitive. If you are evaluating an offer, read the contract carefully, ask about appearance opportunities, and plan for personal expenses so you know exactly what your take-home pay will be.