Editorial Addition (Jan. 2010)…. here’s a newer post on how much YouTube partners make. Since this post gets so many daily views via search engines, let me answer your question simply. It’s a fraction of a fraction of a penny per view. It’s not enough to cover the mortgage for most, and it’s certainly not yet the reported $2.50 per 1,000 views. It’s often far less, and varies greatly on whether the views have InVideo ads (YouTube charges $25 per thousand and shares that with creators) or the flat square ads (cost far less for advertisers, and doesn’t pay creators). Although I can’t reveal my income, I can tell you it’s highly influenced by my top 5-10 videos, which get millions of views per month (as opposed to the new ones). That said, if you get millions and millions of views per month and live cheap, you could quit your job.
YouTube’s Fred was rumored to be making seven-figures, but Google clarified that as six figures. But if you take his 350,000,000 views and multiply it by a conservative $1 per 1,000 views…. you’re talking $350,000.00. I’m making more on YouTube than I made in my first job out of school, but with four kids and a lot of debt, it’s not enough for me to pull a Sxephil, Shaycarl, or Michael Buckley and rely on it as a primary income source.
Oh how’s THAT for a blog title, when you’ve signed a confidentiality document that precludes you from talking about your revenue as a YouTube partner?! Don’t worry, YouTube. I’m not breaking rank. But I’m very interested in what people THINK partners are making.
Before YouTube, I’ve always been transparent about my revenue related to online video. I feel that’s part of my role on this blog… to give creators a realistic sense of what they can make in online video (beyond food). Alas, YouTube prohibits it for reasons that aren’t quite clear to me — are there tiers? If compensation varies, then I can be sure I’m at the bottom based on my complete lack of negotiation skills.
I do believe that some prominent YouTube partners are beginning to earn what amounts to a full-time job through the site. But I also understand that some of the early Partner contracts are up for renewal about now.
- Could some be overstating their earnings? Yes. But some partners are doing $10K a month, especially those that already had an audience and moved them to YouTube. And some creators get millions of views consistently.
- When some say they’ve quit their day jobs, is that because their costs are so low that even a couple grand a month can sustain them? Maybe.
- Could the earnings be based on a point of time where, say, they had a video featured that was monetized? Sure.
While there’s no question that many could still earn more money per hour doing something else (like consulting or bartending), I am happier with my income from YouTube than what I was making from YouTube before I became a partner (zero). And while I’m not sure whether the per-view profit is as strong as Revver’s and Metacafe’s (I don’t even have access to any such metrics), I’m not getting any significant views on those sites anymore. So YouTube is far outperforming them.
My advice remains: if you’re looking to get rich, create a bunch of mortgage blogs and sell adsense. Or go into financial services or recruiting like the former co-worker that just called me to “network.”
But if you love video and the community around it, then it’s nice to get an income subsidy that helps you justify the time commitment to yourself, wife and family. I remain optimistic that more of the top creators of YouTube will be able to quit their day jobs, but that’s partially because amateurs will slowly get trumped by the semi pros (whose day job is performing or video creation). It’s already happening. While the amateur vloggers are holding top positions, we’re seeing more semi-professional content done by comedy troups, bands or known offline celebrities.
Now here’s the purpose of my post. I’m curious what people THINK partners make. I can tell from a lot of comments that people WAY over estimate what creators make: “You get paid for this shit?” “You’re asking us for ideas? You’re the one who gets paid.” I can’t participate in this thread, but it will be fun to watch.
And if you’re not a Partner yet, don’t let it upset you unless you have hundreds of thousands of monthly views. Grow the audience and reapply later. Even if YT did make you a partner, it’s not worth it unless you have some views. Take it from a guy that tried Google ads on his blog for a while, and quickly realized that it wasn’t worth the cosmetic interference.
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@50
Yeah, I get similar sad sack earnings. It’s just not worth the effort just to make Google rich(er).
Partners get paid enough to quit their day jobs.. alot of the partners have!! The amount they get paid depends on the views obviously and also everytime a viewer clicks on an ad, they get paid more.. Factors such as view ratings and how many times the videos get favourited determines how much the advertisers pay the partners on the next video..
how much they get paid? im guessing 1 dollar per 2000 views..
that works out as for every million views, you get $500..
but that is just a very wild guess
Some partners make more money than others of course that is true. I have not made enough through the partner program to cover the normal expense of shooting high quality video. The ad revenue generated through clicking of the ads far exceeds anything youtube will pay me per views. On average I have over 200,000 views per month. Early partners were on a different contract deal then when I entered the program. One thing I wish youtube would do is let us have the ability to see what ads are clicked on what video so we could gear our videos towards that audience. The goal is to have legitimate clicks so that the advertiser can have a sale and the content provider is paid for use of the video. I have noticed more ads that are not relative to the video..lol In my opinion youtube marketers really need to start hitting the real content with correct ads and promoting those videos. Viral video is ok but it will sale on television or a television like market, which youtube will be facing in the near future. Hulu is killing youtube in profit and its because youtube does not know how or where to market. If youtube had a few television marketing advisors in the mix it would probably really help them out. This is just my opinion
i wonder how much fred gets
heyya Please check out my page on youtube buzchannel and please subscribe ! it would mean alot (:
Ok I think that YP make 30K a year unlike fred and commountiychannel they get 500K a year or probably more
hahah
After over 2 million views for JumbaFund, KevJumba said he earned $1,218 for charity just off of YouTube. 2,000,000×0.02 = $40,000. I would have to disagree that they get paid 2 cents for every view.
Working with the KevJumba/JumbaFund setup –
IF he is being legitimate (which I think he isn’t, I mean, partners aren’t supposed to be allowed to reveal their ad revenue to people I thought?) he got $1708 for 2,000,000 views (a little over that number.)
That works out to be $1 per 1108 views, a bit of a strange number.
I get the feeling certain ads pay different amounts – jumbafund does both InVideo and side panel advertisements, and it’s likely the amount for each impression is different.
Those annoying non-transparent ones likely pay the most, but JumbaFund doesn’t use those.
check out
http://www.youtube/WeAreGoodDucks
tell me what you think of us!!
I’ve been reading this and I’m a partner with youtube. I do have 1,400 videos on youtube. I generate 80,000 views a day in all my videos and my revenues are $1,200 per month on average. This month I might reach the $2,000 mark. I’ve been a partner for a year. I don’t really know how the deal on views, comments,etc. But I know If a video reaches 5,000 hits and more, that video will generate more money. I have roughly 175 videos that pass the 5,000 views mark and 3 that are around 3,000,000 views so the popular videos you have, the better income will generate. My goals are to make at least $5,000 a month. Now I’m uploading 100 videos a month. I know some partners are making $400 and more a day. If your videos are popular and has tons of views then expect to make good money. Also it will depend what type of videos you have so advertisers will feel good telling youtube what channels are good for them for their products. Hollywood.tv channel is making bank or any celebrity channel.
I have no idea what they earn but it sounds good to me – make a video, have fun and then earn money…
BTW check my videos out too..
i thought it was against policy to disclose your earnings on youtube.
I enjoyed reading this very much.
I went here to find out how much partners made and you guys gave me an alright idea
)
If you would like to check out some fun video’s, feel free.
http://www.youyube.com/FUNBullLauren
and my personal account
http://www.youtube.com/sarahbull
I would like to become a partner but I realize it may take a while to reach that goal. Maybe you could help me.
Well Guys Ime looking to be Partnered,
Ime starting doing reviews on Laptops,Pcs, Cameras ,Guitars, Audio, Software,
Its the only thing ime good at,
And the views started rolling in the 1000s over the last few days
Come see me at http://www.youtube.com/lipsmoker
Leave me a comment cya soon
There is one girl doing a charity channel that just started and she has only had about 150,000 views so far but stated on her channel that she has already raised 1,000 dollars. On her personal channel for make up reviews she generates about 500,000 views per video that she puts out each week, so I cant imagine how much money she is making. I goto school with her and she once told someone that she makes around 500 a video. Her family is poor and she used to live off her boyfriends credit card, now she wears 900 dollar christian loubitin shoes and carries around a prada bag.
This girl is raging popular over the internet but doesnt have any friends at school or get recognized for any of her art work, most people have never even heard of her. Its crazy how someone can become so famous over the web and have all these friends they make money off of but be complete loners in real life when they seem so self absorbed on the internet.
^@65
yourmom,
That’s the life I want!
I just read about this YouTube documentary coming out and there’s a small clip of DaveDays saying that the “money’s good” and that he doesn’t really need to go to college because he’s making enough, something like that. The guy drives a BMW at what, 17-18, I’m sure he’s being paid well. I’m pretty envious of the guy, he only has to put out a video a month and he’s pretty much set.
Smpfilms once said he was making six figures, and he doesn’t have nearly the amount of views as someone like Fred or Smosh, so I can’t imagine what those guys are earning. Speaking of Smosh, they said in an interview that they were making enough to not have to have a day job, so again, they’re doing well.
And since we’re on a roll, ShaneDawson, sheesh! This guy is averaging what, 500k-2million views per video and it seems like he’s putting one out every couple days. I saw that fancy new house you moved into Shane haha
I believe yourmom is talking about beauty guru MichellePhan…I read she is going to sign a contract with Lancome?(a highend beauty brand sold in department stores) I don’t know if that’s true, but she does have her new very expensive skincare line, so as the story goes, I’m sure girl’s making bank.
The whole Carls Jr Mushroom burger sponsorship thing I’m sure earned some of them all a few thousand as well.
I’ve always just assumed the average was around $1,000 per million views. But for instance with JumbaFund, he had up 3 videos totaling around 1,700,000 views and he only earned $400. Then the second time he had 2,200,000 views and he said he earned $1700 so I think it really depends on how many advertisements people are clicking on, there is no set number.
I think most of you should stick with the day job flipping burgers in McDonalds, you will have more chance of making money…..Stay cool…
Aah, you’re just jealous cuz you live in a dinky little has-been country. Move over here to the good old US of A. You know you wanna…
http://www.youtube.com/UniQuEclectics
If you’d like to show support
And also, I believe I just spent 30 minutes reading all these comments lol 
That’s pretty crazy. I’m not a partner, but I always hoped that I would be making 1-2k a month for my videos by 2010. I would truly stop making videos if I found out that I was making less than 1-2k a month when my videos are getting over a million views in less than a week. (Shanedawson/Smosh/Fred) etc. Those partners would not be making videos if they made any less. That is why I believe that if you were to make partner you would make about a dollar every 1-2 thousand views. Not sure though 
Just hoping that you make that much <3
This is probably the best reference yet to YouTube partners and what they make. The partners range in views from sxephil or fred generating a million views a week to the small time scum like me. LOL. I have one video at 3/4 mil, and about 15 that have gone past the 10k mark. but most of the rest are 1,000 to 2,000 views. The biggest reason is because I choose not to do topical stuff, I’m just not very good at it. If you make a video about a celebrity like sxephil or WhatTheBuck then you are going to get a lot more hits than someone like me cracking jokes. Also I saw MarkApsalon commented above. If you have a show where you are reviewing equipment or software like he does, that can generate more views. Like I said before, I am pretty small potatoes but I like it that way, and I generate about $100 ever two months. I also put out only one video a week too. So the range really varies.
Can someone please tell me:
In order to be a youtube partner, do ALL videos you upload need to be free of copyright infringement and/or be suitable for all viewers?
What if you made a show that was free of copyright infringement, but had other uploaded videos that are not?
Could youtube only place ads on eligable videos, or must all videos on the page follow the rules for partnership??
Im trying to get into the partnership program so hopefully I can become big one day
Please check out my Youtube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/SWAGGProductions
&
http://www.youtube.com/JerkafiedKidz
so in english pounds how much can you make?
Guys, please check out http://www.xboxliveforfree.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Dougklohnjr
I think youtube is getting their feet wet and soon will (maybe)open the doors to something that will help us videographers money.
2010 will bring on a new wave for online video no doubt.
Last week I got an invitation to prepare videos to sell at this website golygoose.com as soon as they launch, I think I have a better chance with them then youtube.
Hmm… very interesting hehe. I’m an amateur producer and I’ve realized that YouTube is probably one of the most accessible means to distribute my work…
The most money I have made from a video was a drunk slapping contest between my friends that I happened to get on camera, and submitted to Break.com which earned me a cool $400. It would be great to get income from YouTube though!
Any ideas what topics are most popular nowadays? I’m seeing explosion in view count for teenagers’ videos showing “what’s in my purse” which is a total garbage and I won’t ever waste my time to do such videos.
In YouTube’s own partnership guidelines they state that you “should own ALL rights to your video”, and “should NOT monetise: a photograph, any music, any film or tv visuals, any artwork, or any theatrical work, unless you created the contents of the entire video.”
So my question is, what about people that are making money from videos they lazily shot of other peoples’ content? For example, if your entire video consisted of a single shot of a stage show, a live concert, or a theme park attraction, are you allowed to make money from that? I’ve seen a lot of people that are, and it just doesn’t seem right. Might they one day have to give all the money they made BACK to YouTube?
I would like to know how WhatTheBuck gets away with showing photos in his monitized videos. Anyone know?
@31 Josh
He got Youtube’s special Gay Dispensation Waiver.
This stuff is just mindblowing. I’ve been watching Shay Carl’s videos so much now – I mean, on his new channel – SHAYTARDS – he uploads one video per day, which takes him just a couple hours a day to upload, and he usually gets over 200,000 views within the first couple days, and lots of videos over the 1,000,000 mark. So, since he is on like video 350 on his channel, how much you think he makes for over 200,000,000 views?? He has other channels too that have lots and lots of views too.
My brother has two channels one with 8,000,000 views and and newer one with 2,000,000 views the oldest one with the most views consistently makes $2500-3000 per month whether he adds anything or not.
The new channel does $800-1200 your content makes all the difference in the world. He lives off his youtube income but he has no kids and no bills other than a car payment and rent.
MichellePhan- is beautiful that makes a HUGE difference and her click thru rate is off the charts because she peddling makeup, I would not be surprised if she is at the 5K mark per month. Her demos are crazy, young college women with their parents credit cards!
Shaytards take base on my brothers metrics is like $15-25K per month perhaps more more. The guy is married with 2 1/2 kids living in LA and the wife doesn’t work…do the math he is making a lot of money!
I am working on a concept now, it seems the most insipid or the most brilliant content gets the most hits.
This seems to be the latest greatest on the Tube and they have no ads. I think ads would take away from this video and make it less of an attraction, as it is a serious, instead of funny topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ_jqvnOahk
I recently got my first check from google – $100. Some of my vids have nearly 1 million views. I wish I could figure out how to make $1 per 1000!
people expecting to make money by pointing a webcam at themselves.. this is one of the problems with our society.. and one of the reasons people in lesser societies, despise us. Get off yourselves.. get off youtube. DO something instead of talking about nothing. Stop expecting money for bullshit marketing.
^ dumbass
I don’t have any youtube experience but based on my experience with CPC ads on my own websites, I would say earning $1 per 1000 views is good and probably higher than what the average youtube video earns.
Your earnings are based on the number of ad views, your click-through rate, and the average cost-per-click for your video which formulates your eCPM or earnings per 1000 views. So each user will have their own eCPM.
Here’s a link to a youtuber experiencing what he considers a low eCPM ($0.23 cents / 1000 views) on his youtube videos:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/AdSense/thread?tid=4b09bb9197025dfc&hl=en
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