How Much Do YouTubers Make in 2024?
Have you ever dreamed of starting a YouTube channel and rising to fame on the platform?
After all, making videos on a topic you love and getting paid sounds like a pretty sweet gig, right?
While it’s true that some YouTubers do make a great living from their channel earnings, it’s not as easy as it looks.
Most YouTubers don’t make enough money to support themselves or their family.
So, how much do YouTubers make?
It all depends on several factors, including the number of views and how many subscribers they have, the type of content they produce, and whether or not they run ads on their videos.
In this article, I’ll share some insights into how much YouTubers make and how you can increase your earnings as a YouTube star.
Based on my own personal YouTube channel experience, this can provide the right insights to help you achieve your goals.
I’ll also give you the list of the top earning YouTubers so you can get an idea of what it takes to make it big on YouTube.
Let’s get right into it.
Being A Youtuber: Hobby Or Career?
When getting started on YouTube, you need to consider whether you want your video creation and uploading process to be a hobby or a career.
To be honest, there’s nothing wrong with either.
Many successful YouTubers started their channel wanting to share their passion with the world and didn’t expect to make any money from it.
However, to be a successful YouTuber, you need to treat it like a business.
That means creating quality content regularly, promoting your channel, and engaging with your audience.
It also eventually means investing money in your channel, whether it’s on better equipment, editing software, or hiring help.
All About The Youtube Partner Program (YPP)
YouTubers make money when ads are run on their videos.
For this to happen, they need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
The YPP is a program that allows YouTubers to have ads run on their videos and earn revenue from them.
To be eligible for the YPP, you must have at least 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months and 1,000 subscribers.
You must also have a Google AdSense account that’s directly connected to your YouTube channel.
In addition, you must live in a region where YPP is available, have no strikes against your account for copyright or community guidelines violations, and stick to YouTube’s advertising policies.
If you meet all of these requirements, you can apply to be a part of the YPP.
When Does YouTube Pay Its Creators?
Many think that people watching their videos will allow them to start earning right away.
However, that’s not how it works.
YouTube will pay you when people watch the ads on your videos.
This means you need to have a decent number of views before seeing any significant earnings from your ads.
Having content that causes people to click and watch your video is the first step to making money from YouTube ads.
How Much Does YouTube Pay?
The amount you get paid depends on several factors, including the video category and the type of ad (more on this later) the advertiser runs.
The category in which your video falls makes a big difference.
For example, gaming, music, and sports videos tend to get higher ad rates than other videos.
No matter which industry you’re in, a significant factor that can negatively impact the amount of money one makes on YouTube is whether people have ad blockers while watching the videos.
It’s estimated that more than 40% of people use ad blockers, which means that those people are not generating any revenue for the YouTuber.
Moreover, with the introduction of YouTube Premium, some viewers are watching videos without ads, reducing the revenue potential for YouTubers relying on video ads.
With all that in mind, the average YouTube channel makes between $2 and $12 for 1,000 views on their videos.
This may not seem like a lot, but if you have a video with millions of views, it can quickly add up to a decent income.
Of course, the more popular your videos are, the more likely you will profit from them.
Another way to look at this is from a quantity perspective.
If you can make videos consistently and publish them on a regular schedule, you’ll not only be able to grow your channel, but you’ll be much more likely to start earning an income from it eventually.
If you produce quality content, you’ll also be able to increase your subscriber count and get more views on your videos.
As you can see, it’s all tied together.
YouTube Growth And Its Effect On Monetization
Another factor to consider is that growth on any marketing channel is never usually linear.
This means that there will be ebbs and flows in terms of the number of views and earnings.
Several things can affect this, such as algorithm changes, seasonality, competition, etc.
This is why it’s essential to have a long-term perspective when growing your YouTube channel.
Types Of YouTube Ads
YouTube offers various types of ads that advertisers can make use of.
Skippable In-Stream Ads
These are used at the beginning, during, or after videos, and viewers have the option to skip them after 5 seconds.
These are the most common type of YouTube ad, and they’re also the least intrusive since viewers can choose to skip them if they want.
Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads
As the name suggests, viewers cannot skip these ads, and they run for a maximum of 15 seconds.
Since they’re non-skippable, they tend to be more expensive for advertisers.
At the same time, since viewers can’t skip them, there’s a higher chance that they’ll watch the ad.
In-Feed Video Ads
This type of advertising may appear alongside related YouTube videos, as part of a YouTube search result, or on the YouTube mobile homepage.
They blend in with the rest of the content on YouTube, and advertisers are only charged when the site visitors click on the thumbnail to watch the video.
Bumper Ads
Bumper advertising is a type of pre-roll video that is 6 seconds or shorter and plays before, during, or after another YouTube video.
The viewer has no option to skip the ad, so they’re great for quick, attention-grabbing messages.
Outstream Ads
Outstream ads are video ads that run on other sites apart from YouTube that form part of the Google video partners.
Masthead Ads
Masthead ads are the most prominent and visible type of ad on YouTube.
Only available through a Google sales rep, these are used by big brands to get maximum visibility and reach on YouTube.
Other Ways To Make Money On YouTube
While YouTube content creators can make money through ad revenue, there are other ways to monetize their channels.
Features such as super chat, stickers, subscriptions, and channel memberships can help.
These features allow fans to support their favorite YouTubers directly, and the person can make more money than just through ads.
Some YouTubers even create Patreon accounts, where their fans can pledge a monthly amount to help support the creation of new videos.
There are also other methods that do not involve the YouTube platform.
For example, some YouTubers use their platform to sell products or services.
Whether they create an online course and use YouTube videos to preview the content and show the value they can provide inside their paid course, or whether they have an ecommerce store and use YouTube as a channel to drive traffic to their website, there are several ways that YouTubers can monetize their business.
Others work with brands on sponsored content, using either an affiliate or a sponsorship model.
With an affiliate marketing model, the YouTuber gets paid a commission for every product sold through their unique link.
In a sponsorship model, the YouTuber gets paid a flat fee or a percentage of the total campaign budget to feature the brand in their video.
Many YouTube stars also make money through live events and merchandise.
From using webinar platforms to host their events and conventions to selling branded t-shirts, hats, and other merch, there are several ways that YouTubers can make money outside of advertising.
The Top Paid YouTubers
After I’ve covered all the ways YouTubers can make money, you might wonder who the highest-paid YouTubers are.
Here are the top ten YouTube earners as of 2022.
- Jeffree Star – $200 million
- Ryan Kaji – $100 million
- Jake Paul – $60 million
- Logan Paul – $45 million
- PewDiePie – $40 million
- Markiplier – $35 million
- Daniel Middleton – $35 million
- MrBeast – $25 million
- VanossGaming – $25 million
- James Charles – $22 million
Other notable mentions include Dude Perfect and Rhett & Link, who both have millions of subscribers.
While looking at these numbers, you might think that becoming a million-dollar YouTuber (or more) seems like a pipe dream.
While it is challenging, it’s certainly not impossible.
The list above shows a diverse group of people making a very good living doing what they love.
Most Successful YouTube Niches To Make Money
It’s a fact that some niches are just more lucrative than others.
So, if you’re looking to start a YouTube channel and want to maximize your earnings potential, here are some of the most successful niches to make money.
Gaming
With many identifying with the gamer identity, the right influencer in this niche is passionate about their hobby.
This results in a lot of potential money to be made on YouTube.
With video views and watch time skyrocketing for popular games, there’s no shortage of opportunities for the right person.
From PC video games to mobile games, this industry has a lot of money to make.
Celebrity Gossip
Comparable to other social media networks in terms of advertising revenue, celebrity gossip YouTube channels can make a lot of money.
Ad views for celebrity gossip channels are often high, and with vlogs, interviews, and other types of content, there’s a lot of content for the right person to create.
Lifehacks
Another big niche for YouTube earnings, lifehack videos are famous worldwide.
Many YouTubers make a full-time living by creating helpful content in this genre.
Popularized by TikTok and other social media platforms, there’s a lot of potential for those who can tap into this market.
News
With a high CPM and CPC due to the nature of the content, news channels can make a lot of money on YouTube.
If you have a knack for engagingly delivering breaking news, there’s potential for you in this niche.
Personal Finance
Many people want to get better with their personal finances, and a successful YouTube channel that deals with this topic can be a lucrative opportunity.
There are many different ways to monetize a personal finance YouTube channel.
Creators typically get paid well when advertisers run ads on their channels.
In addition, affiliate marketing in this niche can involve anything from recommending the best credit cards for a specific business, to the latest tax apps, and more.
Another angle you could take would be debt reduction and removal.
If you’re passionate about helping people save money and get out of debt, this could be an excellent niche.
Fail Compilations
While more on the humoristic side, the advertising revenue on such channels can be significant.
The video content of such channels is often easy to produce, and there’s always an audience that spends a lot of time watching fail videos.
Top X Lists
Apart from such channels’ advertising potential, there are other ways to monetize a top X-list channel.
From channel memberships that provide access to exclusive perks and discounts, to various product recommendations, the products one recommends in their videos can make money for the content creator.
Food Reviews
Potentially becoming a full-time job for the right creator, food-related YouTube channels can be highly profitable.
With various collaborations that can be made with restaurants and other brands, there’s a lot of potential earnings to be had in this niche.
One can also cater to various sub-niches within this industry, so content ideas will never be hard to come by.
Makeup Tutorials
With many product recommendations available through Amazon and other avenues, the average YouTuber specializing in makeup tutorials can make a decent living.
Some of the most popular YouTubers in this space include James Charles, Jeffree Star, and Nikkie Tutorials.
As you can see from the top ten list above, two of YouTube’s top earners are found within the makeup niche.
This means that while there is competition in this space, new YouTubers can still profit from such content.
Those who are creative with their content and passionate about making people look their best might do well in this niche.
How-To Demonstrations
YouTube creators specializing in how-to demonstrations can quickly find themselves with a loyal and engaged audience.
Many topics can be covered in this genre, from gardening to car repair and home improvement.
This could be the perfect niche for you if you’re passionate about teaching others and can make complex topics easy to understand.
With people looking for such videos when they have real problems, the watch time with your content can be through the roof.
Funny Animal Activities
Funny cat videos… That’s the first thing that comes to mind when many people think of YouTube.
The average YouTuber can take any video content shot on their phone and turn it into a hilarious compilation that will have people returning for more.
The more creative your content is, the more successful you’re likely to be in this niche.
In addition, those who can make people feel emotion while featuring cute animals will do well in this space.
Product Unboxing (Especially Kids Toys)
Another niche that lends itself well to affiliate marketing and promotions is product unboxing videos.
With Ryan Kaji (Ryan’s World) being a great example of a ten-year-old that shot to fame by unboxing and reviewing kids’ toys, this is a viable option for those with young children.
With the number of subscribers in the 100 million+ range, the net worth of YouTubers in this niche can be pretty high.
Other channels like “Like Nastya” are other great examples of this.
This could be the perfect option if you have young children and are looking for a way to bring out their creative side while making money on YouTube.
Wrap Up.
While not all YouTube niches are created equally, the earning potential for YouTubers has grown significantly in recent years.
Making videos is as easy as taking your phone out of your pocket and shooting.
With that said, it’s important to remember that becoming a successful YouTuber takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and luck.
If you’re thinking about starting a YouTube channel, make sure you’re prepared to put in the time and effort needed to make it a success.
Treating it as a business goes a long way.
Who knows?
You could be one of the highest-paid YouTubers in a few years, making an impressive amount of money from doing something you love.
Further reading on AdamEnfroy.com: If you’re planning on going live on YouTube, the right streaming software will ensure you can run a high-quality stream that engages your viewers.
Finally, here are various YouTube alternatives that can help you spread your video marketing message to a broader audience than that just found on YouTube.
