surprisingly good money
Although many NFL cheerleaders earn a pitiful amount, salaries are actually surprisingly high. On average, cheerleaders earn $75 to $150 per game, and some make even more when they appear at corporate events. A former San Francisco 49ers cheerleader reported that she earned $1,250 per season, which works out to $2.75 an hour. According to a Cosmopolitan article, cheerleaders made an average of $300 a year after subtracting work-related expenses.
While the pay for NFL cheerleaders is not particularly high, it is still good enough. Many of these women put in thirty to forty hours a week and were not paid overtime. In fact, the Cowboys' mascot Erica made less than $10,000 per year. Throughout 2014 and 2017, cheerleaders' salaries rose to about $12 an hour, and they must make regular special appearances, such as during pregame shows. While these numbers are relatively low, they are still higher than many other unheralded jobs.
strict schedule
NFL cheerleaders have a very strict schedule. They can't wear sweatpants, no matter what the weather is. Most of the NFL cheerleaders don't even get endorsement deals. The only compensation these athletes receive is the salary they earn. However, some teams will pay their cheerleaders in exchange for their appearance and endorsement deals. While these aren't ideal circumstances, cheerleaders still have a lot of fun.
Cheerleaders don't get paid as much as professional athletes, and they're expected to attend every event and appearance that the NFL schedules. If they miss these events, they're likely to face consequences. They're also forbidden from smoking, eating, or drinking anything other than water. This isn't always easy, but the NFL does enforce it. There are a number of reasons why this schedule may be unaffordable.
secretive employment practices
A five-year effort by two Oakland-based filmmakers led to the release of a documentary exposing the NFL's secretive employment practices of cheerleaders. WhileHow Much Do NFL Cheerleaders Make?is a billion-dollar business, cheerleaders earn less than $100 per hour. The NFL does not pay its cheerleaders minimum wage and treats them like independent contractors. A California Assemblywoman has proposed legislation to remedy this situation, and other states have passed similar legislation.
A class-action lawsuit brought by Oakland Raiders cheerleaders alleges wage theft and other violations of California labor law. Raiderette representatives say the NFL is trying to force them out of court and into secret arbitration. This is because they can't bring class-action lawsuits individually to recover unpaid wages and benefits. Moreover, they are required to dress like cheerleaders in the field.
underpaid
NFL cheerleaders have struggled to find a living wage for several years. This is especially true for experienced cheerleaders who are often underpaid. In recent years, a group of cheerleaders, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad and the Oakland Raiderettes, have taken a stand against low pay and are pursuing class-action lawsuits against the NFL. These cheerleaders claim that they were only paid $1,000 for a single NFL season. They are demanding that NFL teams pay them for each hour of their work.
Despite the ongoing backlash against NFL cheerleaders, progress is being made. NFL cheerleading franchises are making moves to redefine and reinvent the sport after years of low wages and lack of diversity. In the past, cheerleaders have been left out of the conversation, and the NFL is making sure that this doesn't happen again. Despite these efforts, however, the NFL cheerleading profession is still rife with problems.
