How Much Do YouTubers Make? 2024 Income Explained

If you’re always looking for ways to make money online, creating a YouTube channel might have crossed your mind.

It’s one of the most recommended passive income streams you can start immediately.

The best part is that the YouTube platform is a hub for entertainment, education, inspiration, and everything in between.

So you’ll probably find an audience for the type of video content you make.

But how much do YouTubers make?

Perhaps you’ve heard of YouTube stars raking in millions of dollars while other creators struggle to earn a few dollars.

What causes the huge disparity?

Various factors come into play, which causes the difference—and sometimes confusion.

But understanding YouTube earnings isn’t complicated.

We’ll give you the inside scoop on how to make money on YouTube below, so you can get a realistic idea of how much you can make on the platform.

How Much Money Do YouTubers Make?

A YouTuber’s income isn’t fixed. It varies depending on the monetization strategy and the channel’s monthly performance.

The top YouTube earners combine multiple revenue streams.

However, Google ad revenue accounts for a significant portion of most YouTubers’ paychecks.

By joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), content creators can earn money from ads placed on their videos.

Here’s an overview of some AdSense revenue stats that can help to answer the question, “how much do YouTubers make?”:

• The average YouTuber earns between $0.01 and $0.03 per ad view, translating to about $18 per 1,000 views.
• YouTubers receive 55% of their channels’ ad revenue, while Google takes 45%.
• The average pay for US YouTubers in 2022 was $1,154 per week and $4,616 per month.
• The top highly successful creators make millions of dollars through their YouTuber channels annually.

What Is the YouTube Partner Program?

The YPP gives content creators the tools to monetize their videos and make money on YouTube.

While ad revenue is the most popular way to monetize a YouTube channel, it’s not the only option available under the program.

YouTube’s Partner Program allows you as the content creator to make money in the following ways:

• Advertising revenue: Earn revenue by enabling ads to be placed before, during, and after the video. It’s the primary monetization strategy for most YouTubers.
• Channel memberships: You can leverage your fans and subscribers by offering members-only perks. The membership costs range from $4.99 to $49.99 per month.
• Shopping: You can promote and sell products from your store or other brands, like merch.

• Super Chat & Super Stickers: Your supporters can pay to have their messages or animated images highlighted in chat streams.
• Super Thanks: Viewers pay to highlight their message in your video’s comments section.
• YouTube Premium revenue: You will receive a portion of YouTube Premium subscribers’ subscription fee when they watch your videos.

YouTube Partner Program Eligibility Requirements

To join YPP, YouTubers need to meet specific eligibility criteria, such as:

• Have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers
• Get at least 4,000 hours of public content watch time in the last 12 months
• Have 10 million valid public Shorts views over the previous 90 days (for YouTube shorts monetization)
• Have a Google AdSense account
• Follow the YouTube channel monetization policies
• Have no active Community Guidelines strikes

Factors That Impact a YouTuber’s Earnings

What factors influence a content creator’s video ad revenue potential? Below is an overview of the main variables that determine a YouTuber’s ad income:

1. Monetized Views

YouTube pays for monetized views, meaning that not all views on a video will generate revenue.

An ad must be placed, and viewers must watch it for a certain length, usually at least 30 seconds, for the YouTuber to earn from that view. 

That might be outside your control, but you can encourage your loyal fans to support your YouTube channel by watching those ads.

If the viewer has enabled an ad-blocker, they’ll see no ads, meaning that view isn’t monetized.

Understanding the idea of monetized views will help you understand why sometimes a YouTuber’s salary doesn’t correspond to video views.

2. Niche

While you are free to create content in any niche, your choice can affect your revenue.

Niche categories, such as finance, insurance, and technology, typically pay more per view than other categories.

That’s because advertisers in specific industries are willing to pay more for ad placement to reach their target audience.

YouTube video earnings are quoted in cost per 1,000 impressions (CPM). So you’ll earn more from an advertiser willing to pay a bigger CPM.

3. Viewer’s Location

The geographic location of your audience can also impact earnings.

Advertisers in certain countries pay more per view than others because of where their target audience is based.

A YouTuber’s audience demographics can affect the location of their viewers.

4. Video Engagement Level

The level of engagement on a video, including likes, comments, and shares, can also impact earnings indirectly.

YouTube’s algorithm recommends highly engaged videos to new viewers, leading to more views and ad income.

That’s why most YouTubers always encourage their audience to like, share, and subscribe.

5.Video’s Length

A longer video gives more opportunities to insert Google ads than a shorter one.

So you might have one or two ad placements in a two-minute video, while a 20-minute video will have much more.

But don’t just make long videos for the sake of it. Ensure you make engaging videos for the viewers to watch until the end.

The Highest-Paid YouTubers

YouTube earnings are not limited to pocket change, as demonstrated by the highest-paid YouTubers of recent years.

These YouTubers have over 1M subscribers and make money by utilizing different monetization strategies.

These YouTube creators have built massive audiences and leveraged their influence to secure lucrative brand deals and sponsorships.

Here are the most successful YouTubers and their estimated annual income:

• MrBeast – $54 million
• Jake Paul – $45 million
• Markiplier – $38 million
• Rhett & Link – $30 million
• Unspeakable – $28.5 million
• Like Nastya – $28 million
• Ryan Kaji (Ryan’s World) – $27 million
• Dude Perfect – $20 million
• Logan Paul – $18 million
• Preston – $16 million

Feeling a little envious of the huge paychecks?

You don’t need to achieve this level of success to generate a full-time income from YouTube.

Many average YouTubers are earning a decent income from the platform.

The success of the top earners highlights the potential of YouTube as a platform for generating income online and building a career as a content creator.

Ways to Make Money on YouTube

Ad income is the primary source of income for most video content creators, but the savviest ones utilize all the monetization strategies available.

Here are the top ways to make money on YouTube:

1. Sponsorships and Brand Deals

One of the most popular ways YouTubers make money is through sponsorships and brand deals.

You partner with companies to promote their products or services in your videos.

Typically, sponsors will pay you based on your videos’ number of views, clicks, or purchases. 

You must disclose these deals when promoting a sponsored product or service to maintain transparency.

2. Merchandise Sales

You have probably seen YouTubers selling branded items like T-shirts and mugs. That’s what merchandise sales are all about.

Most YouTubers sell clothing, accessories, or products featuring their brand or logo.

They use services like Teespring or Redbubble to create and sell their merchandise. 

The key to success with merch sales on YouTube is building a strong brand and loyal audience that wants to support you.

Some also use their YouTube channel creators’ platform to promote other projects they are working on.

3. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves promoting a product or service and earning a commission for any resulting sales.

You can include affiliate links in your video descriptions. 

But first, you’ll need to find products or services to promote.

You can use affiliate marketing networks like Amazon Associates or ShareASale to find products to promote.

Ensure always to promote brands that you trust.

4. Fan Funding and Crowdfunding

Some YouTubers turn to fan funding or crowdfunding to support their channels. 

Most creators use Patreon to receive recurring payments from their fans in exchange for exclusive content or other perks. Others ask for PayPal and Cash App donations. 

It’s also possible to use crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or GoFundMe to raise money for specific projects or goals from fans.

Why You Should Look Beyond Ads for Revenue

As a YouTuber, relying solely on ad revenue may not be the best approach for generating consistent income.

The amount you earn from ads depends on factors outside your control, such as the current market conditions, advertiser demand, and the YouTube algorithm’s performance.

Looking beyond ads and exploring other monetization options like sponsorships, merchandise sales, affiliate marketing, and fan funding is crucial.

Diversifying allows you to tap into your audience’s interests and build stronger relationships with your fans.

Top Tips to Become a Successful YouTuber

Becoming a successful YouTuber takes more than just publishing videos and hoping for the best.

Here are some of our  top tips to help you succeed on the platform:

• Find your niche: Identify your area of expertise and create content that speaks to your audience. Don’t just pick a niche because it has a higher income potential. It’s easier to build an engaged following when creating content you’re passionate about.
• Create high-quality content: Invest in good equipment and editing software to produce stand-out videos. You can start with what you have but consider investing for future content quality.
• Be consistent: Establish a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and returning for more.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments and messages to build a community around your channel.
• Collaborate with other YouTubers: Collaborations can help you reach new audiences and grow your channel.
• Promote your channel: Use social media and other platforms to promote your videos and drive traffic to your channel.
• Analyze your metrics: Pay attention to your analytics to understand what works and what doesn’t, and adjust accordingly.

FAQs on Making Money on YouTube

Wrapping Up

The earning potential for YouTubers is vast and ever-changing.

While there’s no guarantee of success, making a living on the platform with the right niche, strategy, and persistence is possible.

Are you an aspiring content creator or just curious about making money in the world of YouTube?

We hope this article has given you a better understanding of how much YouTubers make and the opportunities available in this exciting field.