Daily, a plethora of videos ranging from culinary, make-up tutorials, how-to videos, and other topics are uploaded on YouTube by several influencers and social media creators. YouTube has been swamped with video blogging or vlogging videos for a decade since its popularity. Making money on YouTube is difficult.
Not every YouTuber earns money from the very first video they upload. Building a YouTube channel from the ground up takes patience and perseverance. When starting a new channel, a YouTuber should focus on creating a reputation rather than worrying about making money.
Some find it challenging to understand that creating content, video marketing, or speaking in front of a camera can be a career. However, YouTube is a passion that many individuals have turned into a career and generate money from home. Starting your own YouTube channel might lead to a variety of money-making options. You might find that you can continue to increase your profits if you work hard and persistently. Let us understand how do YouTubers make money.
YouTube Income: How Much Do Creators Make Based On Subscribers?
Subscriber count can significantly impact a YouTuber’s earning potential. As the level of engagement enhances with each like and comment, there is a higher chance that YT will recommend the videos to other viewers, increasing the channel’s reach. However, it also depends on niche, monetization strategies, and engagement. Let us help you break down the creator’s income based on channel size.
YouTubers with 1000+ Subscribers (Beginner Level)
Every YouTuber dreams of achieving the goal of the first 1000 subscribers. This milestone helps them unlock the eligibility of YPP. So, a YouTuber could earn $30-$300 per month at this stage. Most of the revenue will come from YouTube ad views. Getting sponsorships and affiliate marketing is difficult, as the YouTube channel lacks visibility.
YouTubers with 100K Subscribers (Mid-Level)
Once a YouTuber crosses the mark of 100,000 subscribers, paid deals, collaborations, sponsorships, etc, are much more common at this level. So, depending on the views, niche, and engagement, YouTubers will get brand deals and advertisers. This broadens the earning scope of YouTubers along with ad revenue.
YouTubers with 1 Million Subscribers (Popular)
Content creators at this level earn the highest income. Their videos can earn between $20,000 and $50,000 from sponsorships and affiliate marketing. Ad revenue earnings range between $10,000 and $100,000 monthly, depending on the video type, length, etc.
YouTubers with 50 Million+ Subscribers (YT Stars)
Very few YouTubers have crossed the 50 million+ mark on YouTube. You can also say these celebrities have a massive fan following because of their professions. At this level, such YouTubers make astounding amounts of money on YT. So, whether they are branded deals, sponsorships, or ad revenue, they earn millions of dollars every month.
Requirements To Start Earning On YouTube
To generate revenue on YouTube, you must meet specific criteria to qualify for YPP and begin receiving money through Ad Sense.
- Should at least have 1000 subscribers and 4000 public watch hours in the past year OR 10 million valid public YouTube Shorts in the last 90 days.
- The channel should not have any active community strikes.
- The channel should comply with YouTube’s Terms of Service.
- The channel should have a valid Google AdSense account.
CPC vs CPM: How They Impact RPM?
CPM(Cost Per Mile): With CPM, you may earn money depending on the number of people who click on the ad placed on your page or video. So, CPM pays per 1000 views.
CPC(Cost Per Click): With CPC, you can earn money based on the number of people who click on the ad placed on your page or video. CPC pays per ad click.
RPM: RPM (Revenue Per Mille) factors in both, representing overall earnings per 1,000 views after YouTube’s cut. Higher CPC and CPM lead to better RPM.
YouTube Monetization Explained: 4 Key Income Factors
Let us discuss this further and understand how do YouTubers make money. The potential earnings depend on several factors:
Video Length
Longer videos can have multiple ads of different lengths, such as 5 seconds or 30 seconds. Lengthy videos increase revenue. Longer watch time also boosts engagement, improving overall ad earnings. However, overly long videos with low retention can reduce profitability.
Content-Type
Certain content types earn higher ad rates. Finance, tech, and educational videos often have high CPM, while entertainment and gaming content may earn less. Family-friendly, advertiser-friendly content attracts better monetization opportunities.
Content Niche & Audience
To monetize effectively, focus on a profitable niche that aligns with your strengths. Some niches earn more than others, making content choice crucial for maximizing income. A channel’s niche determines its earning potential. Finance, legal, and business-related content have higher CPM, while general entertainment earns less. Audience demographics also matter—viewers from high-income countries generate more revenue per ad view.
Location
Ad rates vary by country, with the U.S., Canada, and Australia having some of the highest CPMs. Creators targeting audiences in these regions typically earn more than those with viewers in lower-paying markets.
Conclusion
Still trying to figure out how do YouTubers make money? We agree that it is a difficult task that is worth attempting if you strive to develop a genuine relationship with your followers and focus on high-quality content. That’s it! Think beyond the box regarding how you want to monetize your YouTube passion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Does YouTube pay you Monthly?
Once a YouTuber complies with all YouTube guidelines, AdSense will start paying. For example, a YouTuber earned in July through ad views will be paid in August. Usually, between the 7th and 10th of each month, a YouTuber’s AdSense account balance is updated with the previous month’s YouTube profits.
Q2. How often does YouTube pay?
Another commonly asked question is, ‘ How often does YouTube pay?’ This is mainly dependent on YouTubers and their Adsense payment setup. YouTube usually pays the content producer monthly. After complying with YouTube’s monetization regulations and meeting the payment threshold for US creators, a YouTuber can begin earning income every month.
Q3. Can YouTubers make money through memberships or Patreon?
Yes, YouTubers can generate revenue through channel memberships and Patreon by offering exclusive content, perks, or behind-the-scenes access to paying subscribers. This creates an additional revenue stream beyond ads.
Q4. Do YouTubers earn differently from shorts compared to regular videos?
Yes, YouTube Shorts earn less than regular videos since they don’t support mid-roll ads. Instead, revenue comes from the YouTube Shorts Fund and ad revenue sharing, which typically pays lower than long-form content.
Q5. Is being a YouTuber a high-paying job?
This depends entirely on the YouTuber’s content type, niche, and location. Success also depends on other factors, like engagement, subscriber growth, and views. A YouTube career can also be a side hustle or a passion for extra income generation.
Q6. What is YouTube Premium and how does it affect earnings?
YT Premium is a subscription-based service that provides perks for its users. With a Premium account, viewers can play music, watch videos without ads, easily access background playing, etc. Creators earn a share of Premium revenue based on watch time, providing an alternative income stream even without ads.
