Are you curious about How Much Money Do Average Youtubers Make and want to learn strategies to boost your own financial success on the platform? At money-central.com, we dive into the world of YouTube earnings, providing a detailed breakdown of how content creators transform views into income, offering solutions for financial growth. Discover how factors like subscriber count, video views, and monetization techniques influence YouTuber salaries, and explore how you can maximize your earning potential through ad revenue optimization and other avenues.
1. How Much Do YouTubers Make Based On Channel Size?
A YouTuber’s subscriber count can significantly impact their earning potential, as a larger audience translates to more ad views and sponsorship opportunities. However, income is not solely determined by the number of subscribers. Other key factors include niche, engagement rate, and monetization strategies. Let’s explore the potential earnings based on different channel sizes:
1.1. Beginner YouTuber: 1,000+ Subscribers
Most beginner YouTubers in this category earn between $30 and $300 per month, varying based on their niche and location. Reaching 1,000 subscribers is a crucial milestone because it unlocks eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program, allowing creators to begin implementing monetization strategies.
Achieving 1,000 subscribers is not an easy task. According to research from New York University’s Stern School of Business, as of July 2025, only 9% of YouTube channels have at least this many subscribers, highlighting the competitive nature of the platform. At this stage, most revenue comes from AdSense, and sponsorship opportunities are rare but possible.
1.2. Mid-Range YouTuber: 100,000+ Subscribers
YouTubers in this tier typically earn between $500 and $1,500 per month, with some earning $5,000 or more. Reaching 100,000 subscribers signifies a significant step towards becoming a professional YouTuber. Only 0.3% of YouTube accounts reach this level, making it a point where content creators often consider transitioning to part-time or full-time content creation.
At this stage, brand deals, paid collaborations, and sponsorships become more frequent. Earnings vary widely depending on niche, views, and investment in other income streams.
1.3. Famous YouTuber: 1 Million+ Subscribers
The highest-paid YouTubers all have at least one million subscribers. Monthly revenues from AdSense alone can range from $10,000 to $100,000 at this level. Individual videos can earn between $20,000 and $50,000 through sponsorships, brand deals, merchandise, and product sales. Annual revenues are typically in the millions of dollars.
Top creators with over a million subscribers often operate multiple channels and evolve into brands. Their earnings support entire teams, including editors, screenwriters, marketers, and other professionals who help maintain and grow their brand.
1.4. YouTube Stars: 50 Million+ Subscribers
At this level, earnings are astronomical, with annual incomes reaching tens of millions of dollars. Only about 30 YouTubers in the world have over 50 million subscribers. These individuals are the true stars of the platform, akin to celebrities.
YouTubers income compared to subscribers
2. What Do YouTubers Need To Start Earning Money?
The primary revenue stream for YouTubers is the YouTube Partner Program, also known as AdSense. This program allows content creators who meet specific criteria to receive payment for their videos.
2.1. Requirements For The YouTube Partner Program
To become a YouTube Partner and be eligible for monetization, you must meet the following criteria:
- Have at least 1,000 subscribers in the past year AND 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past year (excluding Shorts) OR 10 million valid public YouTube Shorts views in the last 90 days.
- Agree to YouTube’s terms and conditions.
- Have no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.
- Have a valid Google AdSense account.
- Pass review and approval.
A YouTuber’s earnings with AdSense depend primarily on how many times their videos are viewed. However, estimating the value of each view can be complex.
2.2. CPC, CPM, and RPM: Key Metrics
YouTube pays partners 55% of ad revenues. Here’s a breakdown:
- Cost Per Click (CPC): Some advertisers pay only when someone clicks on their ad.
- Cost Per Mille (CPM): Other advertisers pay for every 1,000 ad impressions, meaning a viewer must watch the ad for at least 30 seconds or its entire length if it’s shorter than 10 seconds.
CPC and CPM are used to estimate Revenue Per Mille (RPM), which is how much money a YouTuber makes per 1,000 views after YouTube takes its cut.
Example:
- A YouTube video gets 5,000 views.
- Half of these views result in ad impressions with a CPM of $10.
- 100 viewers click on the ad with a CPC of $0.5.
Earnings Calculation:
- CPM: $25 (2,500 impressions x $10 / 1,000)
- CPC: $50 (100 clicks x $0.5)
Total: $25 + $50 = $75
After YouTube’s 45% cut:
$75 x 0.55 = $41.25
RPM:
$41.25 / 5 = $8.25 per 1,000 views
In this example, with 5,000 views per day, you’d earn about $1,238 per month. Whether this is sufficient depends on the time spent creating the content and your goals.
3. How Does YouTube Monetization Work? 4 Factors Affecting Income
While views are essential for earning money, other factors also significantly impact a YouTuber’s income.
3.1. Video Length
Longer videos allow for more ads, increasing potential ad revenue. Pre-roll ads (at the beginning) and mid-roll ads (in the middle) typically have higher payouts than post-roll ads (at the end).
However, video length is a double-edged sword regarding engagement. Longer videos can command more attention, while shorter videos can attract new followers and increase subscriber numbers more quickly. Creators must balance these factors based on their content and audience.
3.2. Type Of Content
Some content types are better for long-term monetization. Tutorials, like “How to change your car battery,” can attract views for years, maintaining steady ad revenue. Evergreen content is also associated with higher watch times, positively impacting ad impressions and earnings.
Podcasts and live streams can generate short-term revenues and gain traction on social media. While they can increase subscriptions, views may dwindle after the event ends.
3.3. Niche And Demographics
Some niches, like tech and personal finance, command higher prices from advertisers, resulting in better CPC and CPM rates. Cooking, travel, and humor channels typically have lower RPMs.
Demographics also matter. Gaming content often attracts younger viewers less likely to spend on products or watch ads without skipping them.
3.4. Country
Advertisers pay more to reach audiences in high-spending regions like North America and Europe. Market size is also important—the more YouTube users from a country, the more views your videos will get.
The U.S. market, with 247 million high-paying users, is appealing. However, markets like India, with 467 million active users, are also valuable.
Different content types
4. What Are Other Sources Of Income For YouTubers?
Full-time YouTubers often diversify their income streams beyond YouTube ads.
4.1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a popular way to make money on YouTube. Creators can tag products relevant to their audience and advertise them in their videos. By embedding links in their video descriptions, they earn a commission, ranging from 5% to 50%, for every purchase. This feature is available for YouTube channels with at least 15,000 subscribers.
While official stats on affiliate marketing earnings are scarce, some creators report significant income even with smaller channels (less than 50,000 subscribers).
4.2. Personal Merchandise
YouTubers with a strong bond with their audience often sell branded merchandise, ranging from mugs and t-shirts to dedicated products.
For example, Kimono Mom, a Japanese YouTuber with over 3 million subscribers, sells her own umami sauce and kitchen appliances.
4.3. Channel Memberships And Crowdfunding
Channel membership is an additional feature on YouTube that allows viewers to support their favorite creators with recurring revenue. Subscribers pay a small monthly fee for extra perks, such as animated Super Stickers, priority Super Chat messages during live streams, or early access to videos.
Since YouTube takes a 30% cut of channel membership fees, creators can also use Patreon to receive money through tips, donations, and subscriptions. Paying members often receive exclusive content as a thank you for their loyalty.
For example, gaming YouTuber Josh Strife Hayes thanks his supporters by displaying a list of their names at the end of his videos.
4.4. Digital Products And Business Services
Some creators use their YouTube channels as part of broader outreach strategies, showcasing their expertise in a niche to market their consulting or coaching services.
Neil Patel, owner of a famous digital marketing agency, is a prime example. He uses his channel of 1.29 million subscribers to post short videos on search engine optimization and digital business advice, supporting his business goals.
4.5. Brand Sponsorships
Popular YouTubers often increase their earnings through brand sponsorships. Influential creators strike brand deals to promote products and services through product placements or full partnerships.
Highly influential creators may also be paid to run brand campaigns on other social media platforms or speak at conventions. Payments vary significantly based on popularity, niche, and type of collaboration.
Kimono Mom making money from her YouTube merchandise
5. Who Are The Highest-Paid YouTubers In 2024?
To understand the maximum earning potential on YouTube, it’s helpful to look at what the top stars are making. Here are the top 3 highest-paid YouTube stars in 2024, with annual income figures based on publicly available data.
5.1. MrBeast
- Channel: MrBeast
- Subscribers: 314 million
- Topic: Challenges, Philanthropy
- Annual Income: ~$700 million
James Stephen Donaldson, known as MrBeast, is a leading figure on YouTube. As the first creator to reach 300 million subscribers, his $700 million annual income is remarkable. His channel focuses on extravagant giveaways and elaborate challenges. He also has 103 million subscribers on TikTok, where he is the third-most-followed creator.
5.2. Jeffree Star
- Channel: jeffreestar
- Subscribers: 15.8 million
- Topic: Makeup, Beauty, Vlog
- Annual Income: ~$200 million
Despite having fewer subscribers than other top YouTubers, Jeffree Star is one of the highest-earning personalities on the platform. A singer, songwriter, model, fashion designer, and makeup artist, he owes most of his wealth to Jeffree Star Cosmetics, which he founded in 2014. His cosmetic empire generates $100 million in annual revenue. Star resides in a $14.6 million mansion in Hidden Hills, California.
5.3. Like Nastya
- Channel: LikeNastyaofficial
- Subscribers: 120 million
- Topic: Kid content, Toy Reviews, Edutainment
- Annual Income: ~$106 million
At just 10 years old, Anastasia Sergeyevna Radzinskaya, known as Like Nastya, is among the wealthiest children in the world. Her channel has 120 million followers and is the most profitable kids’ channel globally. Her annual earnings range from $30 million to $260 million. Nastya’s content is simple, fun, and educational, featuring songs, play clips, and toy unboxings aimed at children and families.
Mr Beast Subscribers
6. FAQs About How Much Money YouTubers Make
6.1. Who’s the highest-paid YouTuber?
As of 2024, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) is the highest-paid YouTuber, with a projected annual income of $700 million. His popularity continues to soar, with each video regularly garnering about 100 million views, earning millions in ad revenue alone.
6.2. Can YouTubers make money through memberships or Patreon?
Yes, YouTube offers a Channel Membership feature that allows fans to support their favorite creators directly through monthly subscriptions in exchange for exclusive content or perks. Additionally, YouTubers can earn through memberships or donations on platforms like Patreon.
6.3. What is YouTube Premium and how does it affect earnings?
YouTube Premium is a subscription service that allows viewers to watch ad-free videos. Creators still earn revenue from Premium users based on how much watch time their content receives.
6.4. Do YouTubers earn differently from Shorts compared to regular videos?
Yes, YouTube Shorts monetization is slightly different. Shorts have a dedicated fund that collects money from ads viewed between them. This fund is distributed to eligible creators based on views, unlike the direct ad revenue model of regular videos.
6.5. How much does a YouTuber with 1 million subscribers make?
Hypothetically, if all subscribers watched a new video weekly, earnings could reach $950,000 per year. A more realistic estimate ranges from $40,000 to $500,000 annually. Earnings vary widely as they depend on factors beyond subscriber count, including video frequency, engagement, audience demographics, and niche.
6.6. How many YouTube subscribers do you need to make $2,000 a month?
Roughly 400,000 to 800,000 monthly views could generate $2,000 in ad revenue. However, there’s no fixed subscriber count to earn $2,000 monthly, as earnings also come from sources like affiliate marketing and sponsorships. With brand deals, even channels with 15,000 to 20,000 subscribers have the potential to reach this income level.
6.7. Is being a YouTuber a high-paying job?
Like movie or sports stars, top YouTube creators can earn millions. However, the vast majority of YouTubers earn small amounts, if anything. Only 0.3% of accounts have 100,000 subscribers or more, so being a YouTuber is a lucrative business for just a handful of people.
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