Ever catch yourself thinking, “How much do YouTubers really make?” You're not alone, and the truth might surprise you. From creators with just a few thousand subscribers to global icons like MrBeast and Jacksepticeye, YouTube earnings come in all shapes and sizes. Some rake in a few hundred bucks a month, while others turn their channels into multi-million dollar empires.
In this blog, we break down how much money YouTubers earn based on subscriber count, niche, and YouTube revenue streams like AdSense, merch, sponsorships, and affiliate links.
Whether you’re a curious viewer or an aspiring creator, this is your behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get paid on YouTube. Meanwhile MilX helps you stay on top of your YouTube income, no matter how big or small it is.
Top Creators: Influencers Cashing In on Billions of Views
Forbes’ October 2024 list, Top Creators 2024: The Influencers Turning Buzz Into Billions, spotlights 50 digital powerhouses who’ve turned social media and YouTube fame into serious cash. Together, these creators have a combined following of over 2.7 billion across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, and raked in nearly $720 million over the past year.
Here are some standout names:
- MrBeast takes the crown with 500 million followers and $85 million in earnings.
- Dhar Mann is ranked second, Dhar Mann's motivational and life lesson videos contributed to his estimated income of $45 million in 2024.
- Rhett & Link is a comedic duo that transformed their "Good Mythical Morning" YouTube channel into a multimedia engine, earning them a spot among the top creators.
- Kai Cenat is recognized for his dynamic live streams and engaging personality, Kai earned approximately $4.67 million in 2023 from his activities on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
This list proves one thing loud and clear: creators aren't just building audiences, they're building empires.
The Main Revenue Streams
The most successful YouTubers mix a few key streams to maximize their earnings. Here’s what usually makes up the stack:
- YouTube Partner Program (AdSense). The classic. money from ads running on your videos.
- Channel memberships. Monthly support from your fans.
- Affiliate earnings. Recommend products you love and earn a cut when someone buys through your link.
- Sponsorships: Brands pay you to feature their product. Usually one of the biggest checks you’ll get.
- Merch and products. Selling your own stuff builds both brand and bank.
Creators usually combine a few (or all) of these to build a solid, scalable income.
Now, let’s break down how these streams play out at different subscriber levels.
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How Much YouTubers Make Based on an Amount of Subscribers
So, how many subs do you need to actually start earning? You don’t need millions to make money.
NOTE:
YouTube earnings aren’t based on subscriber count. They depend on views, niche, CPMs, and alternative income streams. In this article, we use subscriber milestones to showcase common patterns, but what truly drives YouTube revenue is views. Two channels with 10,000 subs can have 100,000 or 500,000 views — leading to very different earnings.
The table below shows average earnings from US views.
|
Subscriber Count |
Estimated Monthly Income (USD) |
|
1,000 – 10,000 |
$100 – $1,000 |
|
10,000 – 50,000 |
$500 – $3,000+ |
|
50,000 – 500,000 |
$1,000 – $10,000+ |
|
500,000 – 1,000,000 |
$2,500 – $50,000+ |
|
1,000,000 – 10,000,000 |
$55,000 – $275,000+ |
|
10,000,000 – 50,000,000 |
$50,000 – $500,000+ |
|
50,000,000+ |
$1M+ |
YouTube Channel With Up to 10,000 Subscribers
Can you actually earn under 10,000 YouTube subscribers? Absolutely.
Creators in the 1K - 10K range are already cashing in, making anywhere from $100 to $1,000 a month. Your niche, audience location, and how much people interact with your content all play a big role.
Still, one of the main things here is the YouTube Partner Program (AdSense). This is YouTube’s built-in way to pay creators. Once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you can start earning from ads on your videos.
How much? It depends. Most creators make $2 - $5 per 1,000 views, but channels in high-paying niches like finance or tech can earn $15 - $30 per 1,000. More views = more money.
It’s a solid income stream, but not the most stable. That’s why most creators use it as a base and add other ways to make money.
Tom Storey, a real estate YouTuber with nearly 10,000 subscribers and approximately 700,000 annual views reported earning $3,137 over a year from YouTube AdSense. This averages to about $260 per month.
Do not forget about channel memberships at 10,000 subs stage. The fans can pay a monthly fee to unlock perks like exclusive videos or live chats. Even if only a small percentage of fans sign up, it adds up fast. Meanwhile, big creators can pull in tens of thousands a month from memberships alone.
Even with a modest conversion rate, the income can be substantial. For example: 1,000 members at $4.99/month generate $4,990 monthly before YouTube's 30% cut, resulting in approximately $3,493 net earnings.
Remember, creators retain 70% of membership revenue, with YouTube taking a 30% commission.
Channel With 10,000-50,000 YouTube Subscribers
What about YouTube income for 50K subscribers? Once your channel hits 10,000 subscribers and starts climbing toward 50K, the real earning potential kicks in. Most creators in this range pull in $500 to $2,000 a month from AdSense alone.
But ads are just the beginning. Many YouTubers at this level stack extra income through affiliate links, sponsorships, and digital product sales, turning their channel into a serious YouTube revenue stream.
Kelly Anne Smith, a personal finance YouTuber with around 50,000 subscribers, earned $922 from AdSense in one month, but her total monthly income exceeded $3,100 when you factor in affiliate earnings and course sales.
Creators share product links, viewers click, buy, and the creator earns a cut. No extra cost to the buyer, just passive income for the YouTuber.
Platforms like Amazon Associates, Impact, and ShareASale make it easy to join. If your audience trusts your recommendations, affiliate income adds up fast.
In a LinkedIn article, Bryan Guerra detailed how he made a total of $5,210.67 in one month solely from affiliate marketing on YouTube. He emphasized that this demonstrates the potential to earn a full-time income through this method.
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Channel With 50,000 - 500,000 YouTube Subscribers
For channels within this subscriber range, monthly AdSense earnings can span from approximately $1,000 to over $10,000.
A Dutch gamer launched a VTube channel named 'Bloo,' which, with around 500,000 subscribers, generated $250,135 in AdSense revenue over three months (this data from 2022 year and presented as an example). This equates to approximately $83,378 per month.
Sponsorships are often the biggest part of a top creator’s income at this level. Tech, finance, and lifestyle creators usually get the highest offers. If your audience trusts you, brands will want in.
Brands pay YouTubers to feature their products, and if your channel has strong views and loyal fans, they’ll pay a lot.
Most creators with 100,000+ YouTube subscribers can earn $2,000 to $50,000 per sponsored video. Top names can charge $100,000 or more, depending on views, engagement, and niche.
Channel With 500,000 - 1,000,000 YouTube Subscribers
At this stage, you’re no longer just a content creator, you’re running a full-blown media brand. Monthly AdSense earnings can vary a lot, typically landing anywhere between $2,500 and $50,000+.
For example, a finance or tech channel targeting U.S. audiences might hit the higher end of that range thanks to premium ad rates. On the flip side, a vlog channel with global viewers might see lower payouts per view.
Nate O'Brien - a personal finance YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers, reported monthly earnings between $14,600 and $54,600 from AdSense (data from 2023 year). His content's focus on finance, a high-paying niche, contributes to these substantial earnings.
Channel With 1,000,000 - 10,000,000 YouTube Subscribers
Once you cross the 1 million mark, you’re playing in the big leagues. A channel with 10 million subscribers could earn between $55,000 and $275,000 per month from AdSense alone.
Still, at this level, though, most creators don’t rely on AdSense alone. With a huge fanbase, they pull in serious cash from sponsorships, merch, affiliate deals, and sometimes even their own product lines or companies. It’s not just YouTube money anymore, it’s brand empire territory.
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), with over 500 million followers across all social media platforms, earned approximately $85 million in 2024 from his content and business ventures.
Selling merchandise has become a significant income source for many YouTubers, often generating six to seven figures annually. Selling T-shirts, hoodies, or even snacks? That’s big money.
Once again, MrBeast makes a fortune from his own merch and snack brand, Feastables. He achieved approximately $250 million in sales in 2024, surpassing his YouTube earnings.
Channel With 10,000,000 - 50,000,000 YouTube Subscribers
At this level, you’re not just a creator, you’re a global icon. Channels with 10M+ subscribers can earn anywhere from $50,000 to over $500,000 per month.
Jacksepticeye (Seán McLoughlin), an Irish YouTuber with over 30 million subscribers, Jacksepticeye was estimated to have earned $27 million in 2023.
Channel With 50 million+ YouTube Subscribers
This is the top of the mountain. At this level, monthly AdSense earnings alone can hit $1 million+, depending on how often you post and how global your audience is. But the real money? It’s everywhere else.
Creators in this league turn their channels into multi-platform brands, launch their own products, land major brand deals, and build companies off their content. YouTube becomes more than a platform, it becomes their engine for global influence and business growth.
Dude Perfect, this sports and comedy group, with over 60 million subscribers, raised over $100 million in funding in 2024 to expand into toys, gaming, and live events, indicating substantial YouTube revenue and growth potential.
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