Do NFL Cheerleaders Get Paid?

Everything you need to know about how much money NFL cheerleaders make.

Introduction

While many people believe that NFL cheerleaders are paid quite well, the truth is that they do not earn nearly as much as some might think. In fact, most cheerleaders are only paid a few hundred dollars per game, and they are often required to pay for their own transportation and lodging costs when they travel with the team. Additionally, many cheerleaders are not full-time employees of the NFL team they cheer for, which means they do not receive any benefits or protections that other employees might receive.

How Much Do Cheerleaders Make?

In the NFL, cheerleaders are not paid nearly as much as the players. In fact, they make close to minimum wage. So, how much do cheerleaders make?

Per Game

NFL cheerleaders make an average of $50 per game, according to a report from the New York Times. This figure includes both base pay and any additional income from things like personal appearances or promotional work.

Per Event

According to Business Insider, NFL cheerleaders make a surprisingly low wage. Before taxes, they reportedly bring home $100 per home game, or $1,200 per season. This calculates to less than $5 an hour, considering the hours spent practicing and performing at events outside of games.

Per Year

NFL cheerleaders earn a median salary of $1,000 per year, according to a report from Bloomberg Business. The report found that the 25th percentile of cheerleaders earn $800 per year, while the 75th percentile earn $1,200 per year. This means that 50 percent of cheerleaders earn less than $1,000 per year while the other half earn more.

How Do Cheerleaders Get Paid?

NFL cheerleaders are some of the most iconic and recognizable cheerleaders in the world. Though they perform for free, these professional dancers are actually paid fairly well for their time and commitment. So, how do cheerleaders get paid?

Stipends

As professional athletes, NFL cheerleaders are paid for their time and effort just like anyone else in the league. But unlike other professional athletes, cheerleaders are not paid a salary per game or per year. Instead, they receive what’s called a “stipend”.

A stipend is a set amount of money that is paid periodically (usually every two weeks) to cover expenses like hair and makeup, transportation to and from games, and other miscellaneous costs. For most NFL teams, the stipend ranges from $100 to $250 per week. So for the entire season (which lasts about four months), an NFL cheerleader could make anywhere from $2,400 to $6,000.

While this may seem like a relatively small amount of money, it is important to remember that NFL cheerleaders are not full-time employees of the team. They typically have other jobs or are attending school full-time, so the stipend is simply meant to cover their costs related to cheering.

Bonuses

In addition to their salaries, NFL cheerleaders may receive bonuses at the end of the season. These bonuses are typically based on the number of games that the team won during the season. For example, the Seattle Seahawks cheerleaders earned a $10 bonus for each of the team’s regular season wins in 2013. They also received a $15 bonus for each playoff game that the team won, and a $20 bonus for each game that the team won in the Super Bowl.

Merchandise Sales

In addition to the wages they earn from performing at games and other events, professional cheerleaders also receive a percentage of the sales from the merchandise they help sell. Cheerleaders are often asked to sign autographs or pose for pictures at these events, which helps increase interest in the products and drives up sales. The cheerleaders’ share of the proceeds from these sales is typically a small percentage, but it can add up to a significant amount of money over the course of a year.

Some teams also sell calendars and other items featuring photos of their cheerleaders, and the cheerleaders receive a portion of the proceeds from these sales as well. This can be a significant source of income for some cheerleaders, especially those who are featured prominently on these products.

In addition to their wages and merchandise sales, professional cheerleaders may also receive benefits such as health insurance and free or discounted tickets to home games. These benefits vary from team to team, but they can be worth a considerable amount of money over the course of a year.

Are Cheerleaders Employees or Independent Contractors?

This is a difficult question to answer because the working conditions for cheerleaders vary greatly from team to team. Some cheerleaders are employees of the team and receive a regular paycheck, while others are independent contractors and are paid only for the games they work. In some cases, cheerleaders may receive a small stipend to cover expenses, but they are not paid an hourly wage.

The main difference between employees and independent contractors is that employees are covered by labor laws, while independent contractors are not. This means that employees have the right to minimum wage, overtime pay, and workers’ compensation, while independent contractors do not.

So, if you’re wondering whether NFL cheerleaders get paid, it depends on the team they cheering for. Some teams treat their cheerleaders like employees and pay them an hourly wage, while others treat them like independent contractors and only pay them for the games they work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NFL cheerleaders are not paid nearly enough for the time and effort they put into their jobs. They work long hours, make very little money, and are not given any benefits. The only way to change this is to unionize and fight for better working conditions and pay.