How Much Can You Make on YouTube? (Shorts, Streams and More)

There are different ways to make money on YouTube including edits, reels and video content creation. Ad revenue, sponsorships and affiliate marketing are just some ways to make some money, but there are more.

Let’s delve deep into different methods to learn how much you can make on YouTube.

Ad Revenue	Earnings from ads displayed on videos once a creator is part of YouTube Partner Program.	$1,500 to $5,000 for 1M views
Affiliate Marketing	Earning commissions by promoting products/services and including affiliate links.	$500 to $10,000 depending on sales and product category
Brand Sponsorships	Getting paid by brands to promote their products in YouTube videos.	$500 to $50,000 per sponsored video depending on channel size
Merchandise Sales	Selling branded merchandise such as T-shirts, mugs, or custom apparel through their channel.	$100 to $10,000 depending on audience size and engagement

How Much Do YouTubers Earn Per View?

YouTubers’ earnings per view are typically calculated based on CPM (Cost Per Mille) and RPM (Revenue Per Mille), both of which measure how much advertisers are willing to pay per 1,000 views. On average, YouTubers earn between $0.003 and $0.005 per view. This means that for every 1,000 views, a YouTuber could earn between $3 to $5. However, these numbers can fluctuate significantly based on factors like niche, video length, audience location, and engagement.

Creators in high-demand niches, such as finance, tech, or real estate, may earn $10 to $30 per 1,000 views, because advertisers in these categories are willing to pay more to target their specific audiences. Conversely, entertainment or lifestyle channels might see lower rates of $2 to $5 per 1,000 views due to lower ad costs in those industries.

The geographical location of a YouTuber’s audience also plays a key role in determining earnings per view. Creators with a large audience in the United States, Canada, or Europe tend to earn more due to higher ad rates in these regions compared to those with audiences in developing countries where CPM is much lower.

In summary, while the average YouTuber may make $0.003 to $0.005 per view, creators in more lucrative niches and regions can make significantly more per view, leading to larger payouts even with fewer views.

8 Ways to Make Money on YouTube with Earnings

1. AdSense Revenue (YouTube Partner Program)

The most common source of income for YouTubers comes from AdSense, YouTube’s advertising platform. Once creators are accepted into the YouTube Partner Program—which requires at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time over the past year—they can earn money from ads placed on their videos.

How much you can make on YouTube ads is determined by metrics like CPM (Cost Per Mille) and RPM (Revenue Per Mille). CPM refers to how much advertisers pay per 1,000 impressions of their ads, while RPM refers to the revenue YouTubers get per 1,000 views after YouTube takes its cut. Typically, YouTubers earn between $1.50 and $5 per 1,000 views, though this varies depending on factors like the creator’s niche, audience location, and the type of ads running on their videos.

For instance, a finance or tech channel might earn more per view than a general entertainment channel due to the higher demand for these niches. A YouTuber with 100,000 views on a video might make anywhere between $150 to $500 from AdSense alone. For 1 million views, this could scale up to $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the niche.

2. Brand Sponsorships

Brand sponsorships are one of the most lucrative ways for YouTubers to earn, often surpassing ad revenue. Brands will pay creators to promote their products in videos, either as dedicated content or through product placements. The sponsorship fee depends on factors like the YouTuber’s audience size, engagement rate, and niche.

On average, smaller channels (those with 50,000 to 100,000 subscribers) can earn anywhere between $500 to $2,500 for a single sponsored video. Channels with larger followings and higher engagement can command $10,000 to $50,000 or more per sponsorship deal if their videos reach millions of viewers.

Sponsorship fees are typically higher in niches where audiences are more likely to purchase high-ticket items, such as tech, beauty, or fitness. YouTubers with specialized content often see more lucrative deals because their audiences are highly targeted and relevant to the sponsor’s product.

3. Affiliate Marketing

Another popular revenue stream is affiliate marketing. This involves YouTubers promoting products or services and earning a commission when viewers make purchases through the links provided in the video descriptions. Affiliate programs offer commissions ranging from 5% to 50% depending on the product category, and earnings can add up significantly for channels with active, engaged audiences.

For example, tech reviewers often participate in affiliate programs by promoting gadgets or software subscriptions. A YouTuber with 100,000 subscribers promoting high-ticket products like laptops or cameras can make $5,000 to $10,000 per month through affiliate marketing, especially if their audience regularly purchases through their links.

4. YouTube Shorts Fund

With the growing popularity of short-form content, YouTube introduced the Shorts Fund, a pool of money available to creators who produce engaging short videos (under 60 seconds). While the payouts for Shorts are typically lower than for longer videos, they still offer creators an additional way to earn on the platform.

YouTubers creating Shorts may receive anywhere from $100 to $10,000 per month, depending on the number of views and engagement their Shorts generate. Since short-form content is highly shareable and can go viral quickly, it’s a great way for creators to expand their audience and earn more from YouTube’s fund.

5. Merchandise Sales

Many YouTubers also make money by selling merchandise, like T-shirts, hoodies, or other branded items, to their audience. YouTube’s merchandise shelf allows creators to display and sell their products directly from their channel, making it easy to capitalize on their fanbase.

Merchandise sales depend heavily on the size and loyalty of the audience. Smaller channels might only sell a few products per month, generating $100 to $500, while larger channels with millions of followers can earn thousands of dollars monthly from merch sales.

For example, creators with a strong brand identity or niche appeal, like gaming or fitness YouTubers, can generate significant income from selling branded items. A channel with 1 million subscribers can make $5,000 to $10,000 or more per month on YouTube from merchandise sales, depending on audience engagement.

6. Channel Memberships

YouTube offers creators the option to provide channel memberships, where subscribers pay a monthly fee (starting at $4.99) for access to exclusive content, such as members-only videos, badges, or live chats. This revenue stream provides consistent, recurring income for creators.

YouTube takes a 30% cut of membership fees, leaving creators with 70%. A YouTuber with 1,000 members paying $5 per month could earn around $3,500 per month after YouTube’s cut. Memberships are especially popular with creators who have highly engaged, loyal fan bases.

7. Super Chats and Super Thanks

During live streams, YouTubers can also earn money from Super Chats, where viewers can pay to have their comments highlighted during the stream. Similarly, Super Thanks allows viewers to tip creators on regular videos. These features are effective ways for creators to monetize live content and increase their earnings during events or streams.

For instance, a YouTuber with an engaged audience could make $500 to $2,000 per live stream from Super Chats, depending on the size of their viewership. This income stream is particularly beneficial for creators who do frequent live streams or have highly interactive followers.

8. Starting Your Own Business

Many YouTubers use their platform to promote their own businesses or launch new ones. For example, fitness YouTubers might sell workout programs, while beauty YouTubers could launch makeup lines. The ability to leverage an engaged audience to support a personal business allows creators to generate significant income outside of YouTube’s traditional revenue streams.

One notable example is Cassey Ho, a fitness YouTuber who launched her own fitness brand Blogilates through her YouTube channel, growing it into a multimillion-dollar business. By leveraging her audience and personal brand, she was able to expand beyond ad revenue and sponsorships into full-scale business ventures.

How Much Can a Beginner Make on YouTube?

For beginners, earning potential on YouTube is modest but achievable, even without massive subscriber counts. By leveraging methods such as affiliate marketing, new creators can start earning commissions from product recommendations before reaching the thresholds for YouTube’s Partner Program.

Brand sponsorships are also possible for smaller channels, especially if they are in niche markets, where companies may offer anywhere from $50 to $500 per collaboration. Additionally, selling merchandise can be a steady revenue stream for those with an engaged audience. While initial earnings may be low, consistency and diversified strategies can lead to incremental growth.

How to Increase Your Earnings on YouTube?

There are different methods you can implement to your content strategy to ensure you have a broader reach.

1. Localization & Accessibility

Localizing YouTube videos are easier than ever thanks to AI technology. Now, any user can subtitle or dub their YouTube videos in foreign languages within seconds.

By using and AI platform such as Maestra, you can generate realistic AI voices or clone your own voice and recreate your content in any target language, multiplying your viewership potential effortlessly.

Also, subtitling YouTube videos is a great way to reach hearing-impaired audiences, those who watch on mute. In addition, you break the language barrier and reach any audience around the world with only a few clicks.

2. Diversifying Revenue Streams for Greater Earnings

To earn more on YouTube, creators can diversify their revenue streams beyond just ad income. By incorporating affiliate marketing, YouTubers can promote relevant products and earn commissions from sales. For instance, a fitness channel can link to workout gear or supplements, and every purchase made through those links generates a percentage for the creator. In addition, offering exclusive content through YouTube memberships or platforms like Patreon can further boost income, as viewers are willing to pay for premium access to tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, or early releases.

3. Securing High-Paying Brand Sponsorships

Creators can also significantly increase their earnings through brand sponsorships. Many brands seek influencers to promote their products to a highly engaged audience. Even smaller channels with loyal followers can secure deals in the range of $500 to $5,000 depending on their niche. For example, a travel vlogger could partner with a travel gear company or a hotel chain, offering them targeted exposure. The more niche and dedicated the audience, the more attractive the channel is to brands, enabling YouTubers to command higher fees for collaborations.

FAQ on YouTube Earnings

How much does a YouTuber with 1 million subscribers make?

A YouTuber with 1 million subscribers can make anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 per month from ad revenue alone, depending on their niche, audience engagement, and location. This can increase significantly with brand deals and other revenue streams, sometimes reaching $30,000 or more per month.

How many YouTube subscribers do I need to make $2,000 a month?

To make around $2,000 a month, you generally need 100,000 to 150,000 subscribers. However, it also depends on factors like views per video, CPM rates, and additional income streams like sponsorships or merchandise.

How many views do you need on YouTube to make money?

To start making money on YouTube, you need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to join the YouTube Partner Program. For ad revenue, you typically need 1,000 to 5,000 views per video to start seeing earnings.

How much do you get paid per 1,000 views on YouTube?

On average, YouTubers earn about $1.50 to $5 per 1,000 views. Higher-paying niches can earn up to $10 or more per 1,000 views, while lower-paying niches may fall below $1 per 1,000 views.

How hard is it to get 100k subscribers?

Reaching 100,000 subscribers is challenging and can take years for most creators, depending on content quality, consistency, and niche. Channels with engaging and targeted content, coupled with strong social media promotion, can achieve this milestone faster.

Who is the highest paid YouTuber?

The highest-paid YouTuber is typically MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), who earned over $54 million in 2021 through ad revenue, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Does YouTube pay monthly?

Yes, YouTube pays creators monthly through AdSense, provided they have reached the $100 payment threshold.

What is the average salary for a YouTuber?

The average salary for a YouTuber varies widely, but creators with 100,000 to 500,000 subscribers typically earn between $30,000 to $100,000 per year, including ad revenue, sponsorships, and other income streams.

How many views on YouTube to make $3,000 a month?

To make $3,000 a month from ads alone, you generally need about 600,000 to 1.5 million views per month, depending on your CPM rates, niche, and audience location.