Discover how much YouTube really pays in 2025: A study on creator earnings

The illusion of easy money on YouTube ends as soon as you start. The truth is that how much a YouTuber earns depends on much more than just hitting record. Channel size, specific niche, authentic engagement, geographic location of the audience, and — most importantly — how you mix different revenue sources. This article will reveal the real figures, without romanticization.

The numbers most people don’t talk about: how much YouTube really pays

Many creators join the platform expecting to earn within weeks. The reality is different. Let’s look at the data:

Beginner creators (up to 10 thousand followers)
In the beginning, you see R$ 50 to R$ 300 per month from AdSense. Yes, it’s small. But if you combine with affiliate marketing, small partnerships, and SuperChat, you can reach R$ 500 monthly. The secret: slow growth is normal.

Channels in development (50 thousand to 500 thousand followers)
Here, income becomes serious. We’re talking R$ 2,000 to R$ 5,000 per month when you organize your revenues well. AdSense provides the base, but Channel Clubs, SuperChat, and occasional partnerships sustain it.

Established channels (over 1 million)
Now, YouTube pays generously. These creators earn over R$ 20,000 monthly, with the potential to surpass R$ 100,000 when including direct advertising and structured sponsorships.

The true millionaires (influencers with tens of millions)
In this stratosphere, we’re talking R$ 200,000 to R$ 3 million per month. But the revenue YouTube pays is only a fraction — most comes from huge advertising contracts.

How the math behind YouTube’s payout works

The ad model — where it all begins

AdSense is the foundation. You enable ads on your videos, and YouTube pays based on clicks and impressions. But pay close attention: you don’t get paid per view. The payment comes through three metrics:

• CPC (Cost per Click): how much each ad click is worth
• CPM (Cost per Thousand): what advertisers pay per thousand impressions
• RPM (Revenue per Thousand): how much you actually earn per thousand views, after YouTube’s cut

The platform keeps 45% of ad revenue. You keep 55%. This means that what YouTube pays isn’t the same as what you earn.

Values by view range

Based on real data from 2025:

• 1,000 views generate between R$ 2 and R$ 8
• 20,000 views yield approximately R$ 36 to R$ 60
• 100,000 views produce between R$ 180 and R$ 300

These numbers vary depending on your niche. Finance and cryptocurrencies pay much more than gaming or personal vlogs.

Seven ways YouTube pays creators (and which is most profitable)

1. Ad Revenue (AdSense) — the slowest

Starts small but is consistent. A creator with 500,000 views per month can expect R$ 900 to R$ 1,500 from this source alone. Patience is everything here.

2. Affiliate marketing — the shortcut to quick income

You recommend products and earn commissions. 5% to 80% depending on the program. Someone selling a R$ 500 course and earning 30% commission makes R$ 150 per sale. You don’t need 1 million subscribers for this to work.

3. SuperChat and Super Stickers — income during live streams

Fans pay to highlight messages. Values range from R$ 1 to R$ 500 per Super Chat. Creators with an engaged community earn R$ 500 to R$ 2,000 per live. YouTube pays 70% of this.

4. Channel Memberships — your audience’s subscription

Fans pay R$ 1.99 to R$ 2,699.99 monthly for exclusive access. You keep 70%. A channel with 5,000 members paying R$ 9.99/month generates R$ 35,000 monthly. That’s gold.

5. YouTube Shopping — direct sales on the platform

You connect your store and sell physical or digital products. No limit on commission — how much YouTube pays depends on your final price.

6. YouTube Premium Revenue — subscription sharing

Part of the amount paid by Premium users is distributed among creators they watch. Small, but automatic.

7. Sponsorships and advertising campaigns — the real treasure

A brand pays you directly to promote. R$ 5,000 to R$ 50,000 per video. This doesn’t go through YouTube — it’s a direct deal. Big creators live off this.

What really matters: when YouTube starts paying

Patience. You meet the requirements and then wait:

• Minimum age: 18 years
• Subscribers: 1,000 (not so hard)
• Watch hours: 4,000 in regular videos OR 10 million views in Shorts
• Channel free of violations

Once you reach R$ 100 in earnings, the payout is released. Usually between 21 to 26 business days after the end of the month.

The psychological side nobody mentions

Many creators give up because they expect to earn what YouTube pays within the first 3 months. The real curve is like this:

• Months 1-6: R$ 0 to R$ 200 (you invest in equipment, don’t recover)
• Months 7-12: R$ 200 to R$ 1,000 (algorithm starts recognizing content)
• Year 2: R$ 1,000 to R$ 10,000 (growth accelerates if quality is maintained)
• Year 3+: What YouTube pays increases drastically, especially with diversified income

The most important thing isn’t the initial number. It’s the trajectory. Do you want to be growing?

Conclusion

Making money on YouTube is absolutely possible. But it’s no joke. It requires strategy, patience, and professionalism. How much YouTube pays depends on your choices — which niche to pick, how to allocate time between creation and promotion, whether to diversify income or put everything into AdSense.

The creators who earn the most aren’t those with the most views. They are those who understand the math, test different monetizations, and stay consistent for months until they see results. If this resonates with you, start today. The algorithm doesn’t evaluate initial size; it evaluates growth and engagement. Your advantage is to start now.