NBA cheerleaders salary: How much money do dancing teams make?
From their perfectly coordinated dances to the atmosphere that they help to build, NBA cheerleaders are a staple of the league, but are they well paid?
It would be fair to say that professional and college basketball games would simply not be the same if cheerleaders weren’t part of the show. Not only do they put on electrifying performances, but they - along with the mascot we have to say - provide an energy that is infectious. Yet, as much as you might think they are well compensated for their role, that’s not actually the case.
The average salary for NBA cheerleaders
Most, if not all, cheerleaders in the NBA are professionally trained and to that end, are highly skilled dancers, who perform a whole host of technical dance routines that serve to make NBA games that much better for the fans who attend them.
Much like the players themselves, cheerleaders practice daily, maintain an active lifestyle, and regularly rehearse their routines. Hence, they perform in regular NBA games, the NBA All-Star game (depending on where the team is located), and other events that are part of their team’s calendar. As you can probably guess, the road to becoming an NBA cheerleader is not one that is easily traversed. For starters, there is the expectation of the franchises and the league itself. Indeed, many past and present cheerleaders have often remarked that maintaining another job is essentially impossible if one wishes to be a full-time participant with a team in the NBA.
Consider for a moment that cheerleaders must be present for all special events including international appearances, charity functions, and any other scenarios that the team is part of. The compensation for these events varies from one team to another i.e., teams with bigger budgets can afford to pay them more, while those without, can’t. With regards to who are the highest paid at the moment, that would be cheerleaders of the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, who make between $200 and $650 per game. They also get bonuses of up to $2000, with an annual salary of $35,000.
Let’s take a look at an overview of what the salary for every match is, how much the bonus pay is, and the annual salary:
New York Knicks Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $650
- Bonuses – $2,000
- Annual salary – $35,000
Los Angeles Lakers Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $600
- Bonuses – $1,500
- Annual salary – $30,000
Boston Celtics Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $600
- Bonuses – $1,500
- Annual salary – $30,000
Atlanta Hawks Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $650
- Bonuses – $2,000
- Annual salary – $35,000
Cleveland Cavaliers Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $400
- Bonuses – $1,000
- Annual salary – $28,000
Toronto Raptors Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $500
- Bonuses – $1,000
- Annual salary – $28,000
Washington Wizards Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $400
- Bonuses – $1,500
- Annual salary – $28,000
Milwaukee Bucks Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $350
- Bonuses – $1,000
- Annual salary – $22,000
Miami Heat Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $500
- Bonuses – $1,500
- Annual salary – $28,000
Indiana Pacers Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $400
- Bonuses – $1,000
- Annual salary – $28,000
Los Angeles Clippers Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $350
- Bonuses – $950
- Annual salary – $22,000
Minnesota Timberwolves Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $200
- Bonuses – $700
- Annual salary – $15,000
Chicago Bulls Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $200
- Bonuses – $700
- Annual salary – $15,000
Golden State Warriors Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $550
- Bonuses – $1,000
- Annual salary – $30,000
Memphis Grizzlies Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $350
- Bonuses – $800
- Annual salary – $22,000
Oklahoma City Thunder Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $250
- Bonuses – $800
- Annual salary – $18,000
Orlando Magic Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $200
- Bonuses – $700
- Annual salary – $15,000
Philadelphia 76ers Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $200
- Bonuses – $700
- Annual salary – $15,000
Phoenix Suns Cheerleaders
- Salary for Every Match – $200
- Bonuses – $700
- Annual salary – $15,000