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Hitting the one-million-view mark is a milestone that can give small creators their big break, or at least draw more attention to their channels as they bust through the algorithm and land in more users’ recommendations. Unfortunately, those hoping to make some big bucks off of their lengthy video essays after they cross the million-view finish line may be disappointed at how much they may actually profit.
Channels enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) average between $2,000 and $4,000 for one million views, but the median revenue per mille (RPM) is $2,300 (long-form videos). On average, YouTube pays between $1 and $5 for every thousand views, depending on their niche. Education and science channels can make more from the higher end, whereas music and entertainment creators are on the low end. It’s important to know that many YouTubers will cite their cost per mille (CPM) for what they make, but that’s just whatadvertisers will pay users per 1,000 ad impressions.
Sadly, YouTube doesn’t let the creator walk away with all of the spoils, either, as the platform takes 45% of the ad revenue. So the RPM represents what a channel’s actual net profit is after the platform receives the money it’s due. Thus, the CPM isn’t a true representation of what creators actually make. While the average outsider still might think hitting one million views is like striking gold, hopeful YouTubers will need to consistently grind and put out several videos with that view count to strike it rich.
How do YouTubers get paid?
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Small YouTube channels that hit one million views for the first time may be disappointed to learn that they won’t immediately score some cash with their achievement. Eligible channels must have at least 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours on long-form content — or three million YouTube Shorts — to unlock fan funding options like channel memberships and super chat. They also must have at least three qualified uploads which, like the aforementioned requirements, must be within a 90-day period.
Those aiming to be paid by YouTube directly must scale even further, including 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 total viewing hours — or 10 million views from Shorts videos. Once these milestones are checked off, content creators may profit via ad revenue and YouTube Premium subscription revenue sharing. Plenty of creators who’ve made their YouTube work a full or part-time job, but don’t consider their base pay sufficient, have turned to third-party options like sponsorships to earn more revenue per video.
Common sponsor choices range from website builders such as Squarespace, data privacy and security services like Incogni, and budget headphone brands like Raycon. While some users may not enjoy the idea of interrupting their content to deliver an ad, others will find that the YouTube dollar tree will yield even more fruit if they do so.
