YouTube in 2025: How much do content creators really earn?

Many dream of making a living from YouTube, but few people know how much you can really earn on YouTube. The answer is: it all depends. From the size of the audience to the geographic location of viewers, including the type of content and monetization strategy — each variable directly impacts profits. This article provides a realistic overview of earnings in 2025, with data by subscriber range, income sources, and what is needed to get started.

The reality of earnings: how much you can earn on YouTube varies greatly

Beginners (up to 10,000 subscribers): Usually earn between R$ 100 and R$ 500 per month, mostly limited to AdSense. However, by combining affiliate sales, own products, and small partnerships, they can increase this revenue.

Growing creators (50,000 to 500,000 subscribers): Fluctuate between R$ 2,000 and R$ 5,000 per month. At this stage, SuperChat, Channel Clubs, and paid collaborations start to contribute significantly.

Established channels (1 million+ subscribers): Exceed R$ 20,000 monthly, easily reaching R$ 100,000 when including sponsorships and structured advertising videos.

Mega creators (tens of millions of followers): Between R$ 200,000 and R$ 3 million per month, depending on the niche and volume of corporate campaigns.

Where to start: equipment and minimum requirements

You don’t need much to take the first step. A smartphone camera works fine. Additionally:

• Decent microphone (greatly improves quality)
• Affordable editing software (CapCut, DaVinci, Premiere)
• Basic lighting
• Optimized thumbnails and consistent content strategy

On the platform, you need: a Google account, a created channel, original content, and posting frequency. That’s it.

How much does a creator earn per view? The real numbers

Globally, averages are as follows:

• Per individual view: approximately US$ 0.018
• CPM (cost per thousand views): between US$ 0.25 and US$ 4.50
• At 20,000 views: revenue of US$ 36 to US$ 60

These values fluctuate depending on the viewer’s country, channel niche, and engagement quality. Viewers from developed countries pay more per click.

The 7 real ways to monetize on YouTube

1. Google AdSense Ads ( The most traditional model. The creator gets 55% of the revenue. Payments vary based on CPC )cost per click( and CPM )cost per thousand impressions(. RPM )revenue per thousand( is what really matters — it’s your actual earnings.

2. YouTube Shopping With 500 subscribers and participation in the Partner Program, you can sell physical or digital products directly on the platform. Except if your content is for children or penalized.

3. Affiliate Marketing One of the most profitable for beginner channels. Commissions can reach 80% depending on the product and program. An excellent income supplement.

4. SuperChat and Super Stickers Fans pay to highlight messages during live streams — works well on channels with an engaged community.

5. Channel Club Recurring subscriptions )R$ 1.99 to R$ 2,699.99(. The creator keeps 70% of the amount. A stable model if well executed.

6. “Valeu Demais” Voluntary contributions in videos and Shorts. Simple but effective on channels with a loyal community.

7. YouTube Premium Revenue Part of the annual subscription from Premium users is redistributed among creators proportionally.

When do you start earning real money?

After meeting the requirements of the Partner Program:

• Be 18 years or older
• At least 1,000 subscribers
• 4,000 hours of watch time on long videos OR 10 million views on Shorts
• Channel in good standing )no violations(

Payment is only released when you accumulate US$ 100 or more.

The difference between a beginner and a professional creator

A YouTuber who earns a lot doesn’t rely on just one source. They combine all sources. A beginner might earn R$ 500 with pure AdSense. But by adding affiliates, SuperChat, digital products, and a small first partnership, they jump to R$ 2,000 — 4x more.

The secret isn’t in the initial size of the channel, but in the growth curve. Consistency, technical quality, a well-managed editorial calendar, and strategic exploitation of each monetization method turn a small channel into a solid income source.

For those starting out: don’t focus only on initial numbers. Focus on building the structure. With dedication and proper planning, it’s entirely feasible to turn YouTube into a recurring income — and yes, even a millionaire one.