Playing your cards right as a YouTuber would help you earn more than your regular 9 to 5 job. Now the question is, how much does YouTube pay exactly? How much does YouTube pay per 1000 views? How does the platform’s payment system work?
I went through hundreds of research online to give you a complete breakdown. I gathered data from reliable sources on how much YouTube pays and evaluated top YouTubers with their earnings.
As you dive into the article, we will look at different payment modes of YouTube, case studies, evaluate the richest YouTubers sitting on million-dollar thrones, etc. As a bonus, I have also covered tips on earning higher from well-known marketers and YouTubers that drove their immense success.
So, let’s get into the details and explore YouTube’s payment system thoroughly!
Overview – How Much Does YouTube Pay?
Google takes 45% of the commission from YouTube’s Adsense and gives the 55% to the creator. For example, if your channel monetizes $100 on average, you will only receive $55. The rest will go into Google’s pocket.
According to Hootsuite, the average rate of ad generation is between $0.1 and $0.3. However, some sources have also considered $0.018 per view.
Take Mr. Beast’s example: After twelve years of hard work, his YouTube earnings are:-
- Monthly Income: $616.1K to $9.9 Million
- Annual Income: $7.5 Million to $120 Million
However, it won’t be the same for an average YouTuber.
So, check out the YouTube revenue breakdown in the table below:
| Average Views | 1000 to 10K | 10K to 100K | 100K to 1 Million |
| Earnings | $18 to $180 | $180 to $1800 | $1,800 to $18,000 |
(Assuming the YouTube ad price of $0.018 per view, I have calculated these rates.
So, depending on the increase in ad rates or popular YouTubers with an in-demand niche, the rates will vary.)
Note: I took the data from MrBeast Net Worth 2024. You can explore the entire article to get more insights into the richest YouTuber’s extraordinary achievements.
How Much Do You Get Paid Per 1,000 Views On YouTube?
For every 1000 views through Adsense, a YouTuber will earn somewhere between $3 and $5 — a small creator. Likewise, if the advertiser pays you $0.018 on average per view, then for every 1000 views, your channel will monetize $18.
As you know, Google only pays their creator 55% of the ad revenue. So, based on $18 monetization, the YouTuber will earn $9.9 on average.
NOTE- Each website I referred to had different figures. So, the data I have added here is an approximate value, too. (For more insights on each website’s calculation, scroll down.)
How Much Does 1 Million Views On YouTube Pay?
Calculating 1 Million Views on YouTube Pay is similar to the 1000 views.
Take the same $0.018 per view example and multiply it by 1 Million. Thus, for 1 Million views, the YouTube ad revenue is $18K. So, that makes your specific earnings after Google commission around $9.9K.
Bonus: To calculate your potential earnings from Google Adsense, use this Google Adsense revenue calculator.
How Many Views Do You Need To Get Paid On YouTube?
According to Business Insider, most YouTubers must reach up to 4000 watch hours in one year. Or if you are relying on YouTube shorts, you must have had 10 Million views in the last 90 days. Besides, the platform requires you to have at least 1000 subscribers.
YouTube’s Payment System: How Does YouTube Pay?
YouTube pays its creators through:
- Ad-Sense.
- Multi-Channel Networks.
- Shopping Payments.
All these fall under the YouTube Partnered Program. It gives you benefits like monetization features, access to YouTube Resources, Sharing ad revenues, and more.
For more detailed information on the YouTube Partnered Program and its benefits, head to YouTube’s official help page, or watch the below video:
Meanwhile, let’s break down how each YouTube Payment System works:-
1. Ad-Sense
Once you start your channel, YouTube has criteria that decide your monetization.
Ad-Sense is one of the mediums that are free of cost. YouTube owners (Google) and creators can earn Revenue by displaying ads on their videos.
Advertisers pay YouTube creators to promote their ads in a type of sponsorship. The rate of each ad varies. It depends on how much traffic the channel gets, the kind of niche they talk about, and more.
Depending on the ad rate ($0.18 to $0.3), creators earn nearly $3 to $18 for every 1000 ad views.
This breakdown results from studying how Google takes about 45% of commission from ad revenue. Assuming your channel is monetizing $18 per 1000 views, then on average, you will earn 55% of the total ad revenue. In this case, it is $9.9 per 1000 views.
Therefore, you can use this process to gauge your earnings from the estimated Revenue.
2. Multi-Channel Networks
MCN is an organization or company that works with YouTubers to help them monetize their channels. They often offer their support through Management, copyright protection, networking, strategies to build the audience, legal support, and more.
It is valid to get a portion of their earnings after doing so much for the creators. I believe MCNs play a role similar to a record label or artist management.
YouTube does not perform payment through affiliate channeling marketing but directly through MCN. So, the chain goes like YouTube issues payment to the Multi-Channel Networks, and then MCN further issues payment to the affiliates.
3. Shopping Payments
The term “Shopping Payment” refers to the mode of payment that consumers pay after shopping.
Typical forms of service payment are cash, credit cards, Paypal, bank transfer, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), Gift Vouchers, Cash on Delivery, and Digital Currencies.
Generally, creators directly earn from their retailers or official merch platform holders. They also earn a commission when their viewers click on a link for third-party products provided in their content.
How To Be Eligible For YPP?
Once you have an active YouTube channel along with an Ad-Sense account, YPP needs you to have 1000 subscribers. Let’s say you monetize for full-length content; in that case, YouTube requires you to have had about 4000 valid watch hours within the last year.
However, if you are posting Shorts, you must garner about 10 Million views within the last three months.
Source: YouTube Help
Factors Influencing YouTube Earnings
As per YouTube’s policy, there is no guarantee on how much income you will earn per view or whether you will earn at all. The share of your ad revenue depends on the viewers who are consuming your content.
Additionally, other factors influence your earnings. Let’s take a look at them below.
1. Least ad-engagement (30 seconds): For example, viewers click on your ads. Yet, you will only get paid if they complete the smallest 30 seconds of ad viewing.
2. Cost Per Mille (CPM): CPM refers to your spending on ads per 1,000 views.
As you know, most regions differ in their payment rates. So, depending on the ad rates in your area, you will earn for every 1000 ad views you get.
For example, living in Norway will earn you more than being a US resident due to the competition.
3. Niche Content: Your content’s ad rates also differ based on the niche you are creating videos for. For example, the Finance industry pays you more than a Pottery niche.
4. Ad types and Competition: Different ad formats and lengths can affect your earnings. Suppose two advertisers are rivals and competing for your channels. That also raises your CPM. Thus, more revenue for you!
Average Earnings Of YouTubers
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of an American YouTuber is between $52,500 and $68,714 as of January 2024. Likewise, the highest peak or 90% earner gets revenue between $88K and $91.5K.
Meanwhile, the lowest earning of an average YouTuber would be $29,500.
Let’s break down the detailed salary structure of an average YouTube Channel:-
| Duration | Approximate Earnings |
|---|---|
| Yearly | $48,000 to $91,500 |
| Monthly | $4,000 to $7,625 |
| Weekly | $923 to $1,760 |
| Hourly | $23.08 to $43.99 |
Ad Revenue: Calculating Potential Earnings
There are two types of ad revenues through which the YouTubers earn: CPM and RPM. Also, 6 types of ads help you generate more or less revenue. So, let’s check out all the ad revenues in detail:-
1. CPM – Cost Per Thousand Views
Cost Per Mille is the cost per 1000 impressions on your ad. What advertisers do is bid on your ad space, and that determines the Cost Per Mille.
Again, many factors distinguish the rate of your ad. Some of them are niche, ad format, and geographical location.
So, the higher the CPM, the more the advertiser will pay a higher amount. That’s when their ad can feature on your channel. This benefits more prominent creators with a big audience.
2. RPM – Revenue Per Thousand Views
Revenue Per Mille is the amount a creator earns through 1000 views on their channel. RPM considers all factors like YouTube Premium, Channel Memberships, and Ad Revenue.
RPM plays a massive role in helping creators understand how to monetize their channel effectively. Overall, it gives insights into how to earn more. Like CPM, factors like ad engagement, click-through rates, and the channel’s niche influences RPM too.
Additionally, the ad revenue depends on ad-types and viewer locations. So, let’s check out these factors and how they affect the creator’s monetization process:-
3. AD Types
There are six types of ads. It includes Display ads, overlays, skippable/no skippable, video ads, sponsorships, and interactive.
- For instance, the display ads are standard text at the top of your video. Click on that text, and it will redirect you to the website.
However, such ads’ CTR or Click-through Rates are lower, generating lower earnings.
- Mid-rolls, pre-rolls, and post-rolls divide video ads. The content plays each video ad at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end.
The pre-rolls and mid-rolls generate more income than post-rolls comparatively. Moreover, if your viewers have waited long to see your video, they will likely watch through the starting and middle ads.
- Overlay ads are generally semi-transparent and displayed on your video. Again, advertisers consider pre and mid-roll ads more effective than these ads with varying CPMs.
- Skippable and Non-Skippable Ads are as simple as they sound. Viewers can skip your ads after 5 to 20 seconds, or they have no choice but to watch through the entire ad without missing it. If they skip the ad, you will not earn through it.
However, in the case of unskippable ads, this may lead to user’s discontent in the long run, and they might abandon your channel altogether.
- Interactive ads aim to get viewers to engage with the ads by clicking on provided links or taking a survey. The Cost Per Mille varies on these types of ads based on the viewer’s interaction rates.
- Sponsored ads are the type of advertisement creators do in the video. These can be product-based. They share with their viewers how they have personally used certain products and how effective they were.
It is a way of getting users to purchase that particular product. They are also known as Brand Endorsement. The amount you earn on Sponsorship or affiliate ads solely depends on your traffic and the authority you hold. Then, the sale conversion has an impact, too.
- Viewer’s Location
Your ad revenue dramatically depends on your viewer’s geographical location.
Advertisers are willing to pay more for areas with a greater economy. This means they will advertise in areas where they know they’ll get higher conversion rates.
As per Hubspot Blog, Norway, Germany, Moldova, Algeria, and South Korea have the highest CPM rates. For detailed insights, you can refer to their website.
However, one of the factors that creates a difference in why certain countries have higher CPM is their Global reach.
For example, creators whose content has a worldwide audience would receive a higher CPM. This contrasts content created in a language spoken by only 2% of the population.
This is a tell-tell sign of global reach directly tied to universally spoken languages.
Therefore, creating content in English, Mandarin, and Hindi would likely get you more CPM. An advertiser can switch this if they target a particular region.
They will probably pay more to the creators based on their target location.
How Do YouTubers Earn Money?
There are several mediums through which YouTubers earn these days. So, let’s go through each of those resources one by one in the list below:-
1. Ad-Revenue
One of the most vital ways a creator earns is through ad revenue. They monetize their videos by running ads on the channels through YouTube’s Partner Program. The creator earns revenue when the viewer watches this ad for at least 30 seconds.
Remember that the earnings or ad rate would vary depending on where the creator lives. It also depends on the type of content they create, the ad they are running on the channel, and viewer engagement.
2. Channel Membership
Similarly, some YouTubers offer channel memberships as we pay monthly or annual subscriptions for streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Here, their subscribers can access the exclusion content or various other benefits by subscribing to a monthly fee.
3. Super Chat and Super Stickers
While a creator is broadcasting, viewers can send paid messages or stickers that help the creator earn money. Recently, Selena Gomez was doing a live show, and she observed specific stickers appearing on her screen.
Learning that her viewers were spending their hard-earned money like this surprised her. She quickly ended her live, stating that she did not need money and they should be careful with their cash.
4. Sponsorships And Brand Deals
YouTubers earn a commission when they collaborate with a brand or organization. They promote the brand’s product or service in their content. Sometimes, this commission is simply by mentioning the product, thus enabling it, or sometimes they need to make sales.
5. Affiliate Marketing
When viewers click on the affiliate link in a creator’s description box, the creator earns a part of the commission from that sale. There are different rates on whether the user visited the website or purchased the product.
6. Merch Sales
Merch or merchandise is big in the YouTuber world. They create different merchandise types, including clothing, tote bags, posters, accessories, and hand-written letters.
The creators of this merchandise earn a good chunk through it when the viewers purchase it.
7. Crowd Funding or Patreon
Viewers can directly pay the creator a monthly fee or pay-per-view with the help of Patreon. It’s a platform where creators build a direct relationship with their viewers and provide them with exclusive perks. On the other hand, crowdfunding is when viewers offer funds to their creators.
Kickstarter is a good example of a crowdfunding website.
8. Fan Donations
Ko-Fi and Paypal are some of the online platforms where users voluntarily donate money to their creators as a form of appreciation.
9. YouTube Premium Revenue
Viewers who have a YouTube Premium stream the platform without ads. In this case, creators earn a portion from YouTube Premium when their subscribers watch their content without ads.
10. Public Speaking / Events
YouTubers with a large fan base and great communication skills sometimes get invited to multiple events or variety shows. They earn money through speaking and engaging with live audiences.
11. Selling Products Digitally
Many creative YouTubers, like makeup lines, art, scents, candles, and more, have built a skill or product. By selling these products online, creators earn a definite price.
Case Studies on YouTube Pay
To provide the figures of “How much does YouTube pay?” and “How much does a YouTuber earn?”, I referred to a couple of trusted sources who conducted their studies.
Likewise, while researching the topics, I found several websites with different calculations.
Let’s take a look below.
1. Influencermarketing Hub
The research team of InfluencerMarketing Hub shows that, on average, YouTubers earn $0.018 per ad view. That makes the creator’s earnings per 1000 views $18.
In fact, according to their 2022 study, creators in the USA earned $1145/ week, which makes the monthly income $4,616.
Check out the Influencer Marketing survey that the website ran a while back:-
| Views | Earnings | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily | 29K | $28.50 to $47.50 |
| Monthly | 600K | $855 to $1,425 |
| Annual | 7.2 Million | $10,403 to $17,338 |
2. Hootsuite
According to Hootsuite, the average rate an advertiser pays you to promote their ad is between $0.1 and $0.3. That makes your earnings between $10 and $30 for 1000 views.
They assumed they based the payment per view on this roughly calculated metric. So, they further used the process to calculate the earnings for 10K views to 1 Million views.
| Ad Views | Earnings |
|---|---|
| 10,000 | $100 to $300 |
| 100,000 | $1000 to $3000 |
| 500,000 | $5000 to $15,000 |
| 1 Million | $10,000 to $30,000 |
Keep in mind that it’s not specified that earnings are through ad views or video views.
Assuming that the calculation is from video views, earnings for every 1000 views would be between $5 and $7. Likewise, the following is the rest of the data:-
| Ad Views | Earnings |
|---|---|
| 10,000 | $50 to $70 |
| 100,000 | $500 to $700 |
| 500,000 | $2,500 to $3,500 |
| 1 Million | $5000 to $7000 |
Top 10 Richest YouTubers In The World
Check out my list of the wealthiest top 10 YouTubers. Keep in mind that the list is solely created by considering individual YouTubers.
Since T-Series is a music company, I have not included the channel here despite the owner, Gulshan Kumar’s net worth being $432 Million.
| Rank | YouTuber | Net Worth – Million | Subscribers – Million | Channel Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Donaldson | $500 | 233 | Mr. Beast |
| 2 | Anastasia Radzinskaya | $260 (Approximately) | 112 | Like Nastya |
| 3 | Jeffree Star | $200 | 15.8 | Jeffree Star |
| 4 | Logan Paul | $155 | 23.5 | Logan Paul |
| 5 | Jake Paul | $155 | 20.5 | Jake Paul |
| 6 | Ryan Kaji | $100 | 36.2 | Ryan’s World |
| 7 | Felix Kjellberg | $45 | 111 | PewDiePie |
| 8 | Seán William McLoughlin | $40 | 30.6 | Jack Septiceye |
| 9 | Daniel Middleton | $35 | 28.5 | DanTDM |
| 10 | JJ Olatunji | $35 | 16.3 | KSI |
Tips to Maximize Your YouTube Revenue
Check out my seven most useful tips for increasing your YouTube clicks that will, in return, help increase your income.
Before you dive in, here is a small guide on setting up your YouTube channel that you can refer to.
1. Regular Posting + Consistency
Post videos instead of sulking about how you need to have perfect tools or ideas. You can improve by 10% daily and implement the learnings in the following video. More importantly, be consistent with your posting schedule. Set a dedicated time to post daily and stick to it. We also emphasized the importance of consistency on YouTube, which you can check out.
Also, daily posting isn’t important, but consistency is crucial.
Tip: Use our guide on staying consistent on YouTube for additional insights.
2. Make Your Channel SEO-Friendly
Adding relevant keywords in your Title and Description box helps YouTube understand you provide quality content. This automatically makes the platform push your video to the top search results, which will get you more views and, thus, more income.
Likewise, give back links. For example, add your Business links or previous (relevant) video links in the description box or pop-up. This will get the user to redirect to your other video/ website, adding to your Revenue.
Use this opportunity to add affiliate links or sponsorships to get that extra commission.
3. Stick To One Niche
Another popular advice is, “Instead of Jack of all trades, be Master of one.” YouTube’s algorithm suggests your content to viewers who enjoy watching a particular niche.
So, if you post about makeup one day, another video talks about horror stories. The next video is affiliate marketing — this would confuse YouTube and drop your rank. This means that someone who has subscribed to your channel for makeup might unsubscribe after seeing Affiliate Marketing.
Building trust in your audience by regularly providing the content they seek will help you maximize your YouTube Revenue. Loyal supporters will buy your Merch, watch your ads, or even support you on Patreon.
Therefore, it’s important to stick to one niche.
4. Create Playlists And YouTube Shorts
Since playlists have the auto-play option, there is a high chance for viewers to keep watching your video series. This is an indirect way to keep your viewers engaged with your channel.
On the other hand, YouTube shorts are the easiest way to gain more views, considering they bring up to 30 Billion views daily. You can either make a short clip of 15 seconds or clip four of those shorts within one for a 60-second short.
Either way, new creators can benefit from the YouTube shorts.
5. Be Transparent With Your Viewers
This one is a no-brainer. No viewer likes to be clickbait. If they spot you being inauthentic for mere views, it won’t take longer for your channel to get reported and, God forbid, demonetized.
Be honest with your viewers about the data you share and the emotions you are showing. It helps viewers connect with you and build a direct relationship somehow.
This will further help you develop a loyal fan base or supporters. You will receive support on your Patreon, purchases of Merch, or even defense if you get caught in any scandal.
6. Make Your Thumbnails And Titles Eye-Catching
Thumbnail plays a huge part in people deciding even to click on your video. Ensure you create an eye-catching cover and add relevant key texts to help the viewers.
This will pique the viewers’ curiosity, thinking your video might solve their intent.
In addition, using an eye-catching title and SEO optimization will again benefit you by getting more clicks on your videos. The best way to do so is to evoke an emotion within the viewers: Fear, excitement, or anything.
Ensure it helps them understand that if they open your video, they will get all the essential information. Your title plays a huge role in getting maximum clicks.
Bonus read: Liked a thumbnail? Learn how to download Thumbnails from YouTube with our easy guide.
7. Review Your Analytics
Keeping regular track of how your channel is performing would help you understand –
How do viewers discover you, what videos get them to subscribe, and what are their watch times? Once you have an insight into these things, this will help you make the right move and get more traffic.
You can also view your channel as a visitor by referring to our guide and understand how your audience is viewing your channel.
Aspects and ratios are important for YouTube shorts. So, what should be the ideal size? Explore the details with our guide here.
Conclusion: On Average for 1 Million Views, Youtube Pay $18K Revenue
The amount a YouTuber can earn differs. Most researchers have referred to a common rate of $0.1 to $0.3 per ad view. This makes the 1000 view revenue to be around $10 to $30.
Note that the ad rate changes depending on your location and niche.
Considering those factors, some YouTubers may earn more than others. Likewise, the viewers need to watch at least 30 seconds of your ad for you to get paid!
Additionally, be consistent with your posts, keep your titles and meta description SEO-friendly, and regularly analyze your growth! This way, you can build trust in your supporters, getting them to watch your ads and join your Patreon and Merch.
Building loyal supporters is a great way to achieve long-term and steady income flow.
Related Reads: Before you go, how about you check out the most-liked comments on YouTube?
FAQs
YouTube revenue is independent of how many subscribers follow your channel. Instead, how many viewers watch at least 30 seconds of your ads? So, depending on each ad view, you get paid somewhere between $01 to $0.3.
The average RPM, Revenue per thousand views, specifically for YouTube Shorts, is between $0.005 to $0.007. So, upon getting a Million views, you will earn between $50 and $70, respectively.
Using YouTube Money Calculator is no rocket science – add the basic information about your channel, and the platform will take care of the rest. This lets you track daily, weekly, monthly, and annual views on your video.
