Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary: How does it compare to Australian pay?
Understand the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary after a 400% pay rise, how it compares to Australian awards, and what it means for gross pay, super, and tax.
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary is a US figure not directly covered by Australian awards; reported rates after a 400% increase are around $75 per hour, which would index well above the Australian national minimum wage but still lacks health insurance and superannuation.
What is the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary?
The keyword "Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary" refers to the pay earned by members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC), a professional cheerleading squad for the NFL team. Unlike most Australian jobs covered by modern awards, this is a US-based role with no direct application of Australian industrial law. Recent media coverage, including a Netflix docuseries, has highlighted the historically low pay and a subsequent 400% pay rise.
According to former cheerleader Kristin Westbrook, who served from 2019 to 2022, the pay structure included $15 USD per hour for practice, a flat $400 USD per NFL game, and appearance fees of $100–$500 USD depending on years on the team. In 2025, after advocacy from current members, the team secured a 400% increase, raising the hourly rate to $75 USD AP News. Despite this, cheerleaders still do not receive health insurance, a benefit taken for granted in many Australian workplaces.
How does it compare to Australian pay?
Australian workers are protected by the national minimum wage and modern awards, which set minimum rates, penalty rates, and allowances. The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database provides these rates Fair Work Commission. From 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour, annualised to $52,255 (index 48.2). Even the pre-raise DCC rate of $15 USD (approx. $23 AUD) falls below this. The post-raise rate of $75 USD (approx. $115 AUD) is significantly higher, but the comparison is misleading because Australian employees also receive:
- Superannuation: 12% of ordinary earnings from 1 July 2026, paid on top of wages.
- Paid leave: Annual leave, personal/carer's leave, and long service leave.
- Workers' compensation: Coverage for work-related injury or illness.
- Health insurance: Not mandatory, but many employers offer it as a benefit.
The DCC cheerleaders have none of these. Their pay is effectively a flat hourly or fee-for-service arrangement, with no super or leave loading. In Australia, a casual employee in retail (index 75.9) might earn $33.05 per hour including casual loading, plus super. A full-time professional in the scientific and technical sector (index 114.7) could earn $114,700 annualised, with super and benefits.
The salary index perspective
The Salary Index measures where a gross annual salary sits against the national line of $108,352 (index 100), based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings (May 2026). For the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, we lack a precise annual figure because hours are irregular and fees vary. However, if we take the post-raise hourly rate of $75 USD and assume a 38-hour week for 52 weeks (a generous assumption), the annualised gross would be about $148,200 USD. Converting to AUD at current rates (approx. 1.55) gives $229,710 AUD, which would index at around 212. That is far above the mining industry index of 154.7. But this is a hypothetical: cheerleaders do not work full-time year-round, and the role is seasonal.
More realistically, a cheerleader might work 20–30 hours per week during the NFL season (roughly 5 months) plus appearances. The total annual pay could be much lower. The key point is that even after the raise, the DCC salary lacks the structural protections of Australian employment.
Gross pay, super, and tax considerations
For an Australian worker earning a similar hourly rate, gross pay would be subject to super and tax. For example, a worker earning $75 AUD per hour full-time (38 hours) would have a gross annual salary of $148,200. Super at 12% adds $17,784, making total remuneration $165,984. Tax on $148,200 (2026–27 rates, excluding Medicare) would be approximately $38,000, leaving a net income of around $110,200. Medicare levy of 2% adds $2,964, so net after Medicare is $107,236. The DCC cheerleader, earning in USD and not paying Australian tax, would have a different net outcome, but also no super or leave.
This comparison highlights why the Salary Index is useful: it standardises gross ordinary-time earnings, allowing apples-to-apples comparisons. But it cannot account for benefits like super, which is a key part of Australian remuneration. For more on how awards set minimums, see our pay guides.
Conclusion
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary is a US-specific figure that does not fit neatly into the Australian industrial system. The 400% raise is significant, but the role still lacks benefits that Australian workers expect. When using the Salary Index, remember that index values are based on gross ordinary-time earnings only, and super, leave, and other conditions vary by industry and award. For a full breakdown of how different industries compare, visit our industries page.
Questions people ask
What is the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary?
Based on reports from and AP News, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were paid $15 per hour for practice, $400 per NFL game and $100–$500 per appearance. In 2025 they received a 400% pay rise, bringing hourly pay to $75. However, they still lack health insurance, and the role is not covered by Australian industrial relations.
How does the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary compare to Australian awards?
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders salary is a US-based role and not subject to Australian modern awards. For comparison, the Australian national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour (index 48.2). Even the pre-raise rate of $15 USD (approx. $23 AUD) is below that. The post-raise rate of $75 USD (approx. $115 AUD) is well above, but Australian employees also receive superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026), paid leave, and workers' compensation, which the cheerleaders do not get.
How does the salary index work for a role like this?
The Salary Index compares yearly gross ordinary-time earnings to the national line of $108,352 (index 100). For the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, an exact annual figure is not reported. If we hypothetically assume a 38-hour week at $75 USD/hour, the annualised gross would be around $148,200 USD, which would index at approximately 137 on the Australian scale. However, this ignores the lack of super and benefits, and the role is not Australian.