Are you a content creator wondering how your earnings measure up against other creators? Perhaps you are new to the content creation game and are wondering how much can really be earned in this space. In either case, we have the information you need including the numbers that top earners in the content creation realm are pulling in. However, finding what average content creators like yourself are making tends to take a lot of work.
Lucky for you, we have done the legwork of compiling the data you are looking for into one place to show you how your fellow creators are doing financially. In this post, we will look into the numbers of 4 primary platforms: YouTube, Insta, Twitch, and TikTok.
When you see the numbers, you will likely want to know how you can earn more. So we are ready to give you a strategy that can next you an earning monthly average of $12,000. Excited? Us too! Let’s do this!
How Much Are Content Creators Making
Before we dive into the figures, let’s establish that they need to be viewed in context. The 2002 creator economy report from Linktree finds that full-time creators who make over $50,000 annually are about 12% of the total creator number. Part-timers see that percentage dip to a mere 3%.
Convertkit put out a creator report that saw that 67% of earning creators have been generating content for more than 3 years, while 25% started their channels a decade ago. Even more, interestingly, a staggering 77% of the creator base earns most of their money through sponsorships rather than direct content monetization. While this is surely a way to make money, most creators are more concerned with generating content that is high-quality and exploring monetization opportunities on their terms. We bet you can relate, right?
So if you are among the number of creators that wants to monetize your content, and supplement that with other earning methods, there is a great new trend that can help. According to the Influencer Marketing Factory, 58% of content viewers would be willing to pay extra to get additional access to their favorite creators. On average, these consumers would be willing to shell out $15 a month for it. Among those are subscribers who are already paying for content according to the 2022 creator economy report by Global Web Index.
But are your fellow creators adopting this strategy? As a matter of fact, they are to the tune of 61% of creators who are generating additional revenue from off-platform subscribers. If you haven’t hopped on this train yet, perhaps this is the time to do so. This is the mentioned strategy that creators are leveraging to make at least $12,000 per month.
Now, let’s take a look at the four platforms we promised to cover. First up is YouTube.
What Are Content Creators On YouTube Making?
YouTube content creators are making money by leveraging a variety of methods. These include:
- Channel memberships
- Ad revenue via both Google Adsense and the YouTube Partner Program
- Super stickers
- Super chats
- Super thanks
- YouTube Premium
- Shorts Fund
- Brand partnerships and sponsorships
Even YouTube Shorts will begin getting ads shortly, giving creators yet another monetization method. In addition to the short-form video ads, creators can dip into the $100 million pool via Short Fund, where a creator qualifies if they make at least $100 (though these earnings are capped at $10,000).
Average earnings (also known as CPM or cost per mile) per 1,000 ad views are typically between $3 and $5 for every creator, though it does fluctuate, especially when ad cycles refresh such as at the end of financial quarters. A creator’s CPM depends on a number of factors including the types of ads aired on their videos, the niche of their channel, and the target audience’s demographics and age.
To put a bit of a finer point on the math, let’s say the CPM for your channel is in line with the provided averages. If the channel receives 10,000 daily views, then the annual earnings will range between $6,000 and $11,000. The platform’s other features that can be utilized by creators to make money include “off-platform” money, such as through merch sales.
According to research by Sell Merch, the average channel with 11,000 subscribers, generates about $70 in merchandise sales per month, which translates roughly to $840 per year.
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Creators also hold occasional live streams with their viewers. These sessions have a running chat alongside the stream, through which users can donate via Super Thanks, Super Chats, and Super Stickers. Figuring out the average for these is next to impossible, however, since much of it depends on the engagement level of the channel’s audience. You can track your earnings personally, however, using a handy tool such as Playboard.co.
What Are Instagram Creators Earning
The ways by which Instagram creators make money include affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, brand sponsorships, creator’s shops, ad revenue with Reels ads (though Insta keeps 45% of it), and live badges which cost between $0.99 and $4.99 (with a $250 limit). To leverage Reels ads, an Instagram account needs to have a minimum of 10,000 followers and adhere to the content guidelines, as well as the terms of the Partner Monetization program.
According to Business Insider, for every million views, Reels generate about $1,000, but creators can also participate in the Reels Play bonus program. Meta’s spokesperson also shared that there is a maximum cut-off for earnings, which is after 50 million views, capping out at $35,000. Dividing that up, it breaks down to about $0.70 per every 1,000 views.
It is important to note that there is no bankable figure for Instagram. Let’s consider the following example. Jackson Weimer, an Instagram creator, was offered a monthly payment of $8,500 if his Reels surpass 9.28 million. This was the case for the first five months, after which he was contacted and told he could still get $8,500 per month, but now, his Reels would need to garner 9 times as many views (84.02 million). Most content creators would run fast enough to get away from this type of platform seeking a more stable form of revenue.
However, many do not, because there are other ways to monetize their content. The main way that this happens is through sponsored posts. Business Insider found that there is a potent, though unofficial formula, by which brands are charged about $100 for every 10,000 followers. When 1,865 Insta influencers were consulted by HypeAuditor, their answers equated to an average of $2,790, with brand sponsorship being the most lucrative money-making method.
Those Instagram content creators who have over a million followers, generally charge $1,000 for every sponsored post. Influencers with 1,000 to 10,000 followers (micro-influencers) make $1,420 per month. Those who are between 100,000 and 1,000,000, generate about $15,356 monthly. In all cases, about 40.15% is via brand promotion. Many others are using their followers to self-promote products.
How Much Do TikTok Creators Earn?
TikTok creators generate revenue through Live Gifts (between 25 and 1,000) TikTok coins, tips, sponsored posts, and a TikTok Creator fund (though this is available only in a handful of countries.
Digital Marketing Institute found that the TikTok creator fund pays between 2 and 4 cents for every 1,000 video views. This information was leaked by TikTok users though the company has tried to keep those payments pretty close to its chest. These numbers mean that for a million views, TikTok users will earn between $20 and $40. This is TikTok’s way of driving home the point that the creator fund is not a way to make meaningful money.
With that said, a TikTok spokesperson told Engadget that it is just one alternative to highlighting the marketplace for creators. That’s because another method, that TikTokers are using to make good money is through brand partnerships. Creators connect with brands through the TikTok creator marketplace. While this may seem like an easy, tempting entry, it is worth noting that to join, several qualifiers need to be satisfied. These include:
- Having over 100,000 followers
- Being over 18 years of age
- Posting at least 3 videos every 28 days
- Having those videos generate over 100,000 likes in those 28 days
A report from Statista reveals that those TikTokers with fewer than 5,000 followers are averaging about $181 per sponsored post, while those who have over 5 million, average about $4,370. IZEA also issued a report that shows that those with over a million make $3,514 per post.
How Much Do Twitch Streamers Earn?
There are a number of ways by which Twitch streamers are earning money that include ads, donations, subscriptions, and sponsorship. In terms of subscriptions, there is a 3-tier system that determines the revenue share which can be 70/30, 60/40, or 50/50.
A significant factor in Twith streamers’ earning potential is whether they are a partner or an affiliate. Partner promotions can only be achieved when a certain engagement level is satisfied, with only two guidelines in the Twitch rules in this regard:
- The ratio of organic to raided viewers be “healthy”
- Be able to illustrate that your presences on another platform or service (or several others) have a large following (in other words, the way to have more earning potential on Twitch, you have to be doubling your efforts elsewhere).
Twitch hosts 7.57 active streamers, with 73% of the Twitch user base being under 34 years old. Twitch also works with donations, or as they are referred to on the platform, Bits, each of which is equal to a value of 1 cent. Streamers also leverage pre-stream and mid-stream ads, though those are seen as unpopular by viewers since they are irritating. Most streamers use these when they need a break to grab food or use the bathroom.
Like TikTok, Twitch tried to keep a lid on creators’ earnings, but the data was made public revealing that the top 100 streamers earned about $32,850 per month, the top 1,000 pulled in about $7,063, and the top 10,000 generate $904. None of these numbers include the elite streamers, of course.
A survey of Twitch streamers by StreamScheme found that 72.8% of average streamers have yet to earn any revenue. Those that are earning anything, generally pull in under $100 monthly.
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How To Make $12,000 Per Month?
Now we want to tell you about a place different than the four big platforms we described so far. It’s called Uscreen and it’s based on the earlier-mentioned ideas for creators looking for platforms of their own to cater to their audiences. In other words, the viewers pay the creator directly for access to their content.
Creators who generate content on Uscreen average $12,000 in monthly revenue. That’s because they are entirely in charge of the content that they are monetizing, and unlike the “big 4” who take a cut of all earned revenue, Uscreen allows creators to keep all of their earnings.
Creators make money in the following ways with Uscreen:
- Tiered subscriptions: Members pay a flat fee on either a monthly or annual basis, depending on the tier they choose. This doesn’t just set up consistent earnings for creators, it also makes up the lion’s share of Uscreeners’ earnings.
- Single sale: Viewers pay for access to a particular video and that video stay unlocked for them from that point forward.
- Rentals: Viewers pay a premium to secure access to a video they like, renting it for a limited time.
- Bundles: The creator creates and curates videos and digital add-ons specifically for viewers who pay for access to them.
By making shoppable videos for digital products and merch sales, creators on Uscreen are making more money than pretty much most of the creators on other platforms. In addition, Uscreen creators can choose branded apps, meaning that viewers can have an app whose sole purpose is to connect to your content. And before you think this is not a known medium, more than 25,000 creators are utilizing this to build apps and websites.
How Much Are Content Creators Making: Conclusion
So now you know not only how much other creators are earning on the big 4 platforms, but also how creators are managing to earring $12,000 per month on Uscreen. We don’t blame you at all if it sounds like this is something you want to try. Go out and get it!
Believe it or not, it’s possible to make money on YouTube without ever making a single video. Our next article covers creative ways to earn revenue on the platform, from affiliate marketing to channel management. Don’t miss out on these valuable tips and start monetizing your YouTube presence today.
Frequently asked questions:
how to become a content creator on tiktok?
To become a TikTok content creator, start by downloading the app and setting up your account. Research popular trends and challenges and experiment with your own unique style to find your niche. Consistently post content and engage with your audience through comments and collaborations. Utilize relevant hashtags to increase the visibility and reach on the platform.
how to become a travel content creator?
Explore your local area and showcase its beauty and culture on social media. Collaborate with other creators and invest in quality equipment. Be consistent, authentic, and engage with your audience to become a successful travel content creator. Avoid plagiarism and uphold ethical standards in all your work.
I’m Thomas, founder of Vid Gators, a platform dedicated to helping people earn money through Video Content . With experience in channel monetization, brand collaborations, and video-driven traffic, I share strategies and insights to guide others toward success on the platform.
