Did the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Finally Get a Raise in <i>America’s Sweethearts</i> Season 2?

Of the many revelations from the first season of the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, there was none more shocking than the reveal of how much (or rather, how little) the 36 women on the team earned in compensation. The DCC website notes that their squad is paid for “rehearsals, home football games, promo appearances and shows.” But the DCC members earned about $15-20 per hour or $500 per game in exchange for countless hours of physical and mental labor, often put in after working a 9 to 5. One alum in season 1 compared the salary to that of a Chick-fil-A employee.

The team’s low wages was one of the lasting talking points after the Netflix docuseries aired last June, with many fans criticizing the Cowboy organization—which is valued at over $11 billion—for not compensating the cheerleaders appropriately. In season 2, DCC’s first Group Leaders (who operate similar to captains) Jada, Megan, and Armani finally spoke up and led negotiations with the HR and legal teams, which eventually resulted in raises for future contracts.

But the road to victory was not an easy one. So how did they get it done? Ahead is a breakdown of their battle and what kind of raise they were able to negotiate.

Salary is top of mind for all of the women on the team, as most (if not all) of them work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Chandi, a sixth year veteran and one of the 1st Group Leaders, admitted to sometimes working as many as four additional jobs. Still, not wanting to rock the boat, Chandi was content to keep the status quo by being neutral during the contract negotiations. “We do deserve to get paid a fair amount,” she begins. “But at the same time, I’m here to dance because I love to dance. I can see both sides and I support both sides.”

Others were much more outspoken. Jada, who was a key leader in the negotiations, said they were still “fighting to be seen for what we’re worth.” Fellow captains Megan and Armani felt similarly, with Megan acknowledging that while the Cowboys might be on the higher end of the pay scale for professional dancers, they still needed an extra job or two to survive.

In the back half of season 2, the audience sees the team meet over Zoom to discuss the outcome of their initial meetings with corporate. Disappointed in the dismissal of their concerns, Amanda speaks up about potentially walking out of practice in an act of protest, which was allegedly recorded and shared with leadership. The series doesn’t reveal who the team may have suspected as the mole, but Jada, Armani, and Megan admit that it did somewhat stall their momentum.

The team also felt that their direct coaches and leadership didn’t support their fight. Head Choreographer Judy Trammell chided the girls’ effort, stating that all of the members having degrees and careers is what makes them impressive, and Senior Director Kelli Finglass agreed with Judy that “not being just dancers” makes them interesting; others continued to parrot the talking point about what a privilege it is to be there in the first place. Amanda, a third year veteran, ultimately opts not to return for another year due to how she felt Kelli and Judy handled the contract conversations.

The series doesn’t detail exactly how many meetings were required to get across the finish line, but the news seems to have been shared with the three leading the charge after the season and prior to their year-end banquet. In a montage of Megan, Jada, and Armani steaming their dresses, putting on their makeup, and strutting into the party, their talking heads announced the result of their fight and reflected on the impact this will have for years to come.

While series director Greg Whiteley never received a direct answer regarding the cheerleaders’ salary, a 400 percent raise would bring their rate to $2,000 per game if we use the quoted $500 per game as a starting point. Overall, this equates to $34,000 for the 17 games during the regular season, and doesn’t include any additional payments for other appearances, like the Kacey Musgraves concert featured in season 2. Whiteley believes there may also be a scale dependent on your veteran status on the team, meaning team leaders could make even more. “I think it varies depending on how senior you are in the group. You may even get paid more if you’re a group leader, though that was never clear to me,” he told Glamour after season 1 aired.

Megan, who is the only one from the contract committee returning for another year, called the raise “life-changing,” though she didn’t elaborate with any hard numbers. While Armani and Jada decided to retire and won’t directly enjoy the fruits of their labor, they were content with the raise being part of their legacy. “I love the fact that I made change for the girls coming up behind me,” Armani said in the season 2 finale.