How Much Does YouTube Pay for 1,000 Views? (2026 Real Data)
How much money do YouTubers make per 1,000 views? Real data from 100 creators reveals the truth about YouTube earnings, RPM, and what affects your pay.
How Much Does YouTube Pay for 1,000 Views? (2026 Real Data)
The most common question about YouTube money: "How much do you get for 1,000 views?"
We asked 100 monetized creators, and the answer might surprise you: It varies wildly—from $0.50 to $35+ per 1,000 views.
Here's what the data actually shows.
The Short Answer
Based on our survey of 100 monetized creators:
| Earnings Tier | Per 1,000 Views | % of Creators |
|---|---|---|
| Very Low | $0.50 - $2 | 15% |
| Below Average | $2 - $4 | 25% |
| Average | $4 - $8 | 35% |
| Above Average | $8 - $15 | 18% |
| Excellent | $15+ | 7% |
Median earnings: $5.20 per 1,000 views
Range: $0.50 - $35+ per 1,000 views
Why the Huge Variation?
Same 1,000 views can pay vastly different amounts. Here's why:
1. Niche Matters (9x Difference)
Our data shows finance channels earn $18.40 RPM vs gaming at $2.05—a 9x difference.
Real example: 100K views
- Finance channel: $1,840
- Gaming channel: $205
2. Audience Location (3-5x Difference)
US/UK/Australia viewers earn 3-5x more than other regions:
- US audience: $5-15 RPM
- India audience: $1-3 RPM
- Same content, different pay
3. Video Length (Up to 50% Difference)
8+ minute videos earn ~50% more through mid-roll ads:
- Short (<3 min): Baseline RPM
- Long (8+ min): +50% RPM
4. Season (20-40% Swing)
December Q4: Peak RPM (+30-40%) Summer months: Lowest RPM (-20-30%)
Per-View Earnings by Niche
Here's what 1,000 views actually pays in different niches:
| Niche | Per 1K Views | Per 10K Views | Per 100K Views |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance | $18.40 | $184 | $1,840 |
| Business | $12.30 | $123 | $1,230 |
| Tech Reviews | $9.80 | $98 | $980 |
| Education | $7.20 | $72 | $720 |
| Health | $6.80 | $68 | $680 |
| Lifestyle | $4.50 | $45 | $450 |
| Travel | $4.20 | $42 | $420 |
| Gaming | $2.05 | $20.50 | $205 |
| Entertainment | $3.20 | $32 | $320 |
Data source: Survey of 100 monetized creators, 10K-1M subscribers, December 2025.
The YouTube Revenue Split
YouTube keeps 45% of ad revenue. You get 55%.
Example:
- Advertiser pays: $20 CPM (per 1,000 views)
- YouTube's cut (45%): $9
- Your earnings (55%): $11 RPM
This is why RPM matters more than CPM—RPM is your actual take-home pay.
Real Examples from Our Survey
Example 1: Gaming Channel
- Niche: Gaming
- Views: 100,000/month
- RPM: $2.05
- Monthly earnings: $205
Example 2: Tech Review Channel
- Niche: Tech Reviews
- Views: 50,000/month
- RPM: $9.80
- Monthly earnings: $490
Half the views, 2.4x the earnings.
Example 3: Finance Channel
- Niche: Personal Finance
- Views: 25,000/month
- RPM: $18.40
- Monthly earnings: $460
Quarter the views of gaming channel, 2.2x the earnings.
Factors That Increase Your Per-View Pay
Can't change your niche? Here's what 100 creators recommend:
1. Extend Video Length (+35-50%)
Aim for 8+ minutes to enable mid-roll ads:
- Add depth, not fluff
- Cover topics comprehensively
- Use natural break points for ads
2. Target High-Value Audiences
- US/Canada/UK viewers pay most
- Adults 25-45 earn more
- Professional/decision-maker content
3. Create Purchase-Intent Content
Reviews and buying decisions earn more:
- "Best X for Y" videos
- Product comparisons
- Buying guides
4. Upload During High-RPM Months
- November-December: Highest RPM
- January: Strong (resolution season)
- July-August: Lowest (plan accordingly)
5. Optimize Your Metadata
Better targeting = better-matched ads = higher CPM:
- Use specific keywords in titles
- Detailed descriptions
- Proper tags and categories
The "Per View" Misconception
Many people think YouTube pays per view. This is wrong.
YouTube pays for ad impressions, not views. Factors:
- % of viewers who see ads (ad block, Premium)
- Number of ad placements per video
- Ad engagement rates
- Advertiser competition for your audience
Real example:
- 1,000 views with 50% ad-block = 500 ad impressions
- 1,000 views with 10% ad-block = 900 ad impressions
- Same views, 80% difference in revenue
YouTube Premium: Bonus Revenue
YouTube Premium members don't see ads, but you still earn money.
How Premium pay works:
- You get a share of Premium subscription fees
- Based on watch time from Premium users
- Typically 50-100% higher than ad RPM
Real data from our survey:
- Regular ad RPM: $5.20
- Premium RPM: $8-12
Don't worry about Premium viewers hurting revenue—they often pay MORE than ad viewers.
Calculating Your Potential Earnings
Formula:
Monthly Earnings = (Monthly Views ÷ 1,000) × RPM
Example:
- 50,000 monthly views
- $7 RPM (your niche)
- (50,000 ÷ 1,000) × $7 = $350/month
Use our Free YouTube Earnings Calculator to estimate your potential revenue.
Beyond Ad Revenue: The Full Picture
Ad revenue is just ONE income stream. Our survey found creators diversify:
| Income Source | % Using It | % of Total Income |
|---|---|---|
| Ad Revenue | 100% | 40% |
| Sponsorships | 67% | 35% |
| Affiliate Marketing | 58% | 12% |
| Products/Courses | 32% | 8% |
| Memberships/Patreon | 45% | 5% |
Top earners (top 20%) get 60%+ of income from non-ad sources.
Key Takeaways
-
Median is $5.20 per 1,000 views—but range is $0.50 to $35+
-
Your niche is the biggest factor—finance earns 9x gaming
-
Audience location matters 3-5x—US viewers pay most
-
Video length adds 50%—8+ minutes enable mid-rolls
-
YouTube keeps 45%—you earn 55% of ad revenue
-
Premium viewers pay MORE—not less—than ad viewers
-
Diversification wins—top earners get 60%+ from non-ad sources
Want to calculate your earnings? Try our Free YouTube Earnings Calculator.
For complete monetization data, see our 100 YouTubers Survey Results.