Content creators in 2025 can earn anywhere from virtually nothing to millions of dollars per year. Earnings vary hugely based on the platform, audience size, and monetization methods.
Most creators earn modest income (often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a month), while a small elite of top influencers earn six or even seven figures annually.
For example, it’s estimated that the average full-time creator’s annual revenue is over $100,000 (median around $50,000), yet 71% of creators earn under $30,000 per year in the U.S. (only about 9% make over $100K).
But, How do Different Platforms Compare?
The table below gives a simplified overview of creator earnings across popular platforms versus a direct subscription model:
| Platform | Earnings Range | Monetization | Top Earners | Requirements | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube (Ads) | $2–$12 per 1K views | Ads (55% share) | MrBeast ($54M/yr) | 1K subs, 4K hrs | 45% revenue |
| TikTok Fund | $0.02–$0.04 per 1K views | Creator Fund, sponsors | Khaby Lame ($20M) | Eligibility | No direct fees |
| TikTok Shop | Affiliate sales | Affiliate, sales | Thousands/event | Affiliate setup | ~5% commission |
| Patreon | $315–$1.5K/mo avg. | Subscriptions | True Crime ($223K/mo) | Regular content | 5%–12% |
| OnlyFans | $150–$180/mo avg. | Subscriptions (80%) | Celebrities ($10M+) | Niche, subscribers | 20% |
| Twitch | $50–$200K/mo | Subs, ads, tips | Kai Cenat ($140K/mo) | Affiliate (50+ followers) | ~50% subs |
| $2K–$25K/post | Sponsors, affiliates | Influencers (1M+) | High engagement | Negotiable | |
| Meta Shops | Sales volume | Direct sales | Top shops high sales | Checkout enabled | ~5% per sale |
| Telegram (Ads) | $20–$50/mo per 1K subs | Ads (50%) | Undisclosed | 1K+ subscribers | 50% revenue |
| Telegram (InviteMember) | $100–$50K+/mo | Subscriptions | Top groups $50K/mo | Payment bot setup | 3%–5% |
YouTube: Ad Revenue and Creator Earnings
YouTube shares ad revenue with creators (55% creator, 45% YouTube). Creators typically earn $2–$12 per 1,000 views. For instance, 1 million views usually earns around $2,000–$3,000. Some niches like finance or technology pay more ($18 per 1,000 views), while others like gaming or vlogs pay less.
Top creators, like MrBeast, earn tens of millions annually. Most YouTubers earn far less, often just a few hundred dollars monthly from ads and other monetization tools like memberships and Super Chats.
TikTok: Virality vs. Low Payouts
TikTok pays creators from its Creator Fund, but rates are very low—about $0.02–$0.04 per 1,000 views, which is only $20–$40 for 1 million views. Most TikTokers rely heavily on sponsored content, earning around $1,000–$3,000 per sponsored video if they have 50,000–75,000 followers.
Top TikTok creators, like Khaby Lame, earn millions yearly primarily from sponsorships. Low direct payouts push many creators toward other monetization software or platforms like YouTube or Instagram.
TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop allows creators to earn through affiliate commissions, product sales during live streams, and shoppable videos.
Earnings vary greatly, but successful creators often earn thousands per live event or through popular affiliate products.
Patreon: Memberships and Monthly Support
Patreon allows fans to support creators through monthly subscriptions. Creators typically earn $315–$1,575 per month.
Top Patreon creators, like the podcast True Crime Obsessed, earn over $200,000 monthly. Patreon provides stable monthly income compared to fluctuating ad revenues.
OnlyFans: A Wide Earnings Gap
OnlyFans creators average about $150–$180 monthly, but top earners make over $100,000 per month. The platform takes a 20% fee, leaving creators 80% of subscriber income.
Most creators earn little, while a small number generate large recurring incomes, especially popular in the U.S. and Europe.
Twitch: Live Streaming Income
Twitch streamers earn money from subscriptions, ads, and viewer donations. Small streamers earn around $50 to $1,500 monthly, while mid-sized streamers earn $5,000–$30,000.
Top streamers, like Kai Cenat, earn $100,000 or more per month, mostly from subscriptions and sponsorships. Twitch ads pay around $3.50 per 1,000 views, significantly lower than YouTube.
Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter)
Creators on Instagram mainly earn through sponsorships, charging $2,000–$25,000 per sponsored post. Facebook offers monetization via in-stream ads and subscriptions, but earnings vary widely. X (Twitter) has shifted from ad revenue sharing to subscription-based models like Super Follows.
Meta Shops (Instagram & Facebook)
Meta Shops enable creators to sell directly within Instagram and Facebook apps. Earnings depend on product sales volume, with Meta taking roughly a 5% transaction fee. Successful creators and businesses generate significant income directly from their audiences.
Telegram: Emerging Platform for Monetization
Telegram allows creators to monetize via its Ads platform, sharing 50% of ad revenue. More importantly, creators use subscription-based monetization tools like InviteMember to run private, paid communities. With InviteMember, creators set subscription fees, earning stable income directly from loyal subscribers.
This subscription model is popular for niches like finance groups, educational channels, and exclusive communities, enabling creators to monetize without relying heavily on ad algorithms.
In conclusion
How much content creators make in 2025 depends on the mix of these monetization strategies and the size/loyalty of their audience. A creator heavily focused on ad revenue might need millions of views to hit $50k/year, whereas a creator with 1,000 true fans on a subscription could make that much more easily.
The top earners leverage every channel: they get ad revenue, sponsorships, and subscription dollars all together, reaching astronomical incomes. But most creators find a sustainable middle ground – maybe earning a few thousand a month – by diversifying and choosing the methods that best fit their content and community.
