YouTube has become a full-time career for thousands of creators. But exactly how much can you make on the platform?
In this complete guide, we‘ll break down everything there is to know about YouTuber earnings potential, including:
- All revenue sources
- Eligibility requirements
- Revenue splits with YouTube
- Income reports from real creators
- Estimated income by subscriber milestone
- Top channel earnings
- Factors that impact revenue
Let‘s get started!
All The Ways YouTubers Monetize
YouTubers make money from:
YouTube Monetization
- Google AdSense
- Channel Memberships
- Super Chat & Super Stickers
- YouTube Premium
Brand Partnerships
- Sponsorships
- Affiliate Marketing
Merchandise
- T-Shirts, Hats, and More
Crowdfunding
- Patreon
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Kickstarter
However, most earn 70-80% of revenue just from YouTube.
Joining the YouTube Partner Program
Creators must join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to access monetization. Requirements are:
- Follow all guidelines
- Live in an approved country
- Have 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 public watch hours
With over 2 million creators in the program, the competition is fierce. Let‘s analyze the revenue splits with YouTube.
YouTube‘s Revenue Share Breakdown
YouTube shares ad revenue with partners, but how much?
YouTube Ad Revenue Split
- 55% goes to the creator
- 45% goes to YouTube
YouTube Shorts Revenue Split
- 70% goes to the creator
- 30% goes to YouTube
This means Shorts monetizes better!
Channel Membership Revenue Split
- 70% goes to the creator
- 30% goes to YouTube
Now let‘s analyze real YouTuber income reports.
Income Reports From YouTube Creators
While estimates help, creator income reports show the real potential across subscribers and views.
90,000 Subscribers
Finance YouTuber Graham Stephan earns roughly $40,000 per month. With 90 million lifetime views, this comes out to a solid $7.41 RPM.
200,000 Subscribers
YouTuber Shelby Church earned $58,921 from 6.2 million views on her vlogging channel in 2022. That‘s an RPM of $9.51.
340,000 Subscribers
Jay Cruiz reported earning $25,983 from 3.6 million views in September 2022 across two channels. That‘s an RPM of $7.21.
Takeaway: Creators are earning healthy 5-figure months even before hitting 500k or 1 million subscribers. Let‘s look at bigger channels.
1 Million Subscribers
Personal finance creator Graham Stephan earns $120,000+ per month from his primary channel with 550 million views.
2 Million Subscribers
YouTuber Austen Alexander reported making $297,000 in 2021. With 28 million views that year, his RPM was $10.61.
10+ Million Subscribers
MrBeast has said his main channel earns $1-3 million per month. With 5-10 billion monthly views, he earns a staggering $15 RPM or more.
What about off-platform brand deals?
How Much YouTubers Make From Brand Deals
Top creators easily clear 5-6 figures per sponsored video.
Average rates depend on viewership:
- 1 million+ views: Up to $16,234
- 750,000 views: $7,500+
- 500,000 views: $3,500+
- 100,000 views: $1,000+
MrBeast likely earns over $100k+ per sponsorship. They represent big money even for mid-tier channels.
Who Are The Top Earning YouTubers?
MrBeast dominates based on public income reports.
MrBeast – 105 Million Subscribers
Makes $1-3 million per month from his main channel according to his own reports. He has several additional channels too.
Like Nastya – 110 Million Subscribers
The children‘s channel has earned over $500 million from ads and brand deals since 2017 per Forbes. That‘s over $28 million per month!
Social Blade estimates just aren‘t accurate for top creators. These channels easily clear 8 figures annually.
Now let‘s talk about maximizing earnings on YouTube.
Key Factors That Drive YouTube Revenue
While subs matter, these factors all impact earnings:
Video Views
More views equals more revenue. Consistent viewership matters.
Audience Retention
Keep viewers watching more of each video to boost RPM.
Video Length
Longer videos earn higher RPM rates.
Audience Location
The United States provides the best CPM and RPM rates.
Upload Frequency
Posting more consistently keeps audience momentum going.
The above factors all help creators diversify income beyond ads too with things like channel memberships and brand deals.
Tips For Increasing YouTube Revenue
Here are 7 research-backed tips for earning more:
Optimize Titles & Thumbnails
Catchy titles and clear thumbnails boost clicks.
Make Searchable Content
Target keywords that are popular but low competition.
Engage Viewers
Ask questions and let the audience interact via comments.
Promote Other Videos
Suggest related videos with end screens and cards.
Live Stream
Go live 1-2 times per month to boost viewership.
Offer Memberships
Loyal fans will pay $4.99-$24.99 per month to support you.
Collab With Other Creators
Cross-promote content with relevant YouTubers in your niche.
The above best practices leverage multiple tools to drive monetization.
Now let‘s view multi-year earnings data.
5 Year Revenue Growth Trends on YouTube
YouTube‘s revenue split combined with booming platform earnings has paid creators very well.
Total YouTube Revenue
- 2017: $11.2 billion
- 2018: $16.2 billion
- 2019: $19.8 billion
- 2020: $24.9 billion
- 2021: $28.8 billion
Projected Global Ad Spend on YouTube
- 2017: $9.5 billion
- 2018: $14.1 billion
- 2019: $16.3 billion
- 2020: $19.0 billion
- 2021: $23.6 billion
- 2022: $27.5 billion (projected)
With ads continuing to pay more and more, YouTube creator revenue potential is enormous compared to any platform competitors when leveraging all monetization features.
Additional YouTube Monetization Features
Beyond just AdSense, YouTube Revenue comes from:
Super Thanks Tipping
Earned creators $100+ million since launching in Summer 2021, proving the power of fan funding.
Shorts Ad Revenue
Paid out $300+ million to Shorts creators over last 9 months. Short form content represents big money.
YouTube Premium
Subscription fees get shared with creators whose content is watched by Premium subscribers.
Affiliate Marketing
YouTubers make commissions promoting helpful products to viewers.
Multi Channel Networks (MCNs)
Joining an MCN provides higher CPM rates and valuable cross-promotion.
With total creator payouts exceeding $30+ billion, YouTube monetization continues to offer incredible earning potential.
Final Thoughts
As this comprehensive guide demonstrates, YouTubers have more revenue stream opportunities than ever before.
While it takes time and effort to build a sustainable channel, mid-tier creators are earning solid 5 figure monthly incomes from YouTube alone.
And thanks to high RPM ratios, worldwide viewership potential, and diverse monetization features, truly elite creators easily generate 8 figure incomes year after year.
YouTube‘s platform dominance combined with the power of personas and fandoms gives it unmatched money making potential compared to any other competing platforms.
So for those considering starting a YouTube channel, understand that while overnight fame is nearly impossible – a meaningful, life-changing income is very doable with consistent effort over time.
