How Much Are the Super Bowl Cheerleaders Paid? Do They Get Rings? Revealing Salary & Pay
Picture this: fireworks blast, crowds roar, and million-dollar athletes clash under blinding lights. But wait—who’s hyping the fans with flawless flips and fiery spirit? Meet the Super Bowl cheerleaders, the glittering backbone of game day. Yet while stars like Patrick Mahomes grab headlines, these dancers often vanish into the sidelines, their stories untold.
How much are the Super Bowl cheerleaders paid?
NFL cheerleaders aren’t exactly rolling in the cash. According to a 2017 ESPN report, they earn $75−$150 per game, averaging $22,500 yearly. Public appearances stack on $50-$75 each. Even with raises, top earners now make $150-$200 per game. Captains? Maybe $500. But here’s the kicker: mascots outearn them by 166%.
via Imago
Why so low? Most squads are part-time, with members juggling jobs or school. Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, for instance, average $75,000 yearly—still pennies next to players. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will pocket $45.35 million (only in base salary) in 2026. Cheerleaders? They’d need 54 games to afford one $8,076 Super Bowl ticket. But wait—there’s more.
Practices, often unpaid, demand 2-5 nights weekly. Former cheerleader Mhkeeba Pate revealed rehearsals pay $10−$16 hourly. “It also is a big bragging point for a lot of cheerleading teams that promote that their cheerleaders are not just professional dancers—that they actually have careers as accountants, engineers, teachers… they don’t squarely acknowledge that a cheerleader could never live off of the wages,” she said. Translation: Don’t expect a living wage. Yet social media offers lifelines.
Influencers score sponsorships, turning TikTok fame into six-figure deals. The NFL’s $1.3 billion Super Bowl revenue? Cheerleaders see crumbs. Nicole LaVoi, a University of Minnesota lecturer, put it bluntly: “When you contrast what the women don’t get paid versus what the men do get paid, it’s shocking.” As halftime shows dazzle, these dancers hustle harder off-field. But do they at least get rings?
Do cheerleaders get Super Bowl rings?
Sometimes—but it’s not guaranteed. Teams decide. When Patrick Mahomes’s Chiefs won in 2020, 2023, and 2024, their cheer squad got rings. The Eagles? Not in 2018. They instead gave them pendants. Rings can cost $5,000−$50,000 each, a glittering “thank you” reserved for players, coaches, and sometimes cheerleaders. Why the inconsistency?
Tradition. Cheerleaders aren’t officially NFL employees. They’re contractors, so rings aren’t mandated. For many, the real reward is pride. Some are there for love, not money. But not all of them. Besides, not all of them have the privilege to only do it for the love. Hence, the snub stings. Imagine rallying fans all season, then watching 300+ staff get rings while you’re overlooked. There’s progress, though.
via Imago
Recent lawsuits pushed teams to improve wages and benefits. The 2022 NBC Sports Boston report noted playoff bonuses, and the Cowboys now pay $15−$20 hourly. Still, it’s a slow grind. As Pate noted, “It has historically never been the intention to pay them a livable salary.” Rings or not, the fight for fairness continues.
Super Bowl cheerleaders embody grit and glamour, yet their paychecks pale next to their impact. They balance side hustles, dodge financial strain, and chase rings that may never come. But their energy? Priceless. As fans cheer for touchdowns, maybe it’s time to cheer louder for the dancers who make game day electric—and deserve a fairer slice of the spotlight.
After all, without them, who’d keep the fire alive?
