Overview

• Season 2 of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts documented months of negotiations that led to a 400% wage increase announced in mid-June 2025.
• Rehearsal and appearance pay now starts at $75 an hour, while game-day compensation has risen from $500 to up to $2,000.
• A 2019 lawsuit had revealed former squad members earning as little as $7 per hour and $200 per game before incremental raises.
• Squad members continue to be classified as part-time staff and do not receive long-term benefits or employer-provided health coverage.
• Analysts say the raise at a franchise valued above $10 billion could trigger similar compensation reviews for NFL cheerleading squads across the league.