YouTube paid out more than $70 billion to its creators between 2022 and 2024. This figure highlights its huge earning potential. The platform in 2025 hosts nearly 2.5-2.7 billion monthly active users, with 69 million creators are over 100 million channels.
Users watch more than 1 billion hours daily, whereas YouTube Shorts generate about 70M views every day. Top U.S. creators like MrBeast earn tens of millions per annum. If you are also wondering how to make money on YouTube, we will explore the 10 best proven strategies to monetize full-fledged videos & shorts and turn creativity into YouTube income.
List of Top 5 USA YouTubers (2025 Edition)
Here are the most followed YouTubers or YouTube channels along with their estimated revenues and number of followers.
| Ranking | Channel Name | Subscribers in Million | Estimated Earnings |
| 1. | MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson | 432 | $700 million annually |
| 3. | Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes | 197 | $120 million |
| 5. | Vlad and Niki | 145 | $105 million |
| 6. | Kids Diana Show | 136 | $105 to 110 million |
| 7. | Stokes Twins | 131 | $20 milion |
According to the 2024 U.S. YouTube Impact Report, YouTube’s creative ecosystem contributed $55 billion to the U.S. GDP, supporting nearly 490,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
How YouTube’s Income Has Increased Over Time?
The following are some findings (in a graph for the USA/global US influence) on how YouTube pay has increased over the past few years.
How to Make Money On YouTube? (Effective Strategies)
Through smart planning and adaptability, creators can overcome tough competition and consistent algorithm shifts while finding new paths to boost their revenue. At present, there are some of the leading methods you are advised to use to make money on YouTube:
1. Become a YouTuber Partner
The most effective way to start earning on YouTube is joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). U.S. creators can earn revenue through ads, fan funding, and Shorts monetization. Ads are tailored to viewers’ interests, which helps in improving engagement and overall earnings.
How Does Monetization Work (must-read)
YouTube splits revenue with creators from different modules:-
- View Page Ads – You receive 55 percent of ad revenue from ads shown on your public videos.
- Shorts Fund – You receive 45 percent of revenue depending on your share of Short views.
- Fan Features – YouTube’s features like Super Stickers, Super Chat, and Memberships let you earn 70 percent of net revenue.
How to Become Eligible for YPP?
To apply for the YouTube Partner Program, you must fulfil the following criteria:-
- Hold 1000+ subscribers
- Earn 4000+ valid public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10M shorts views in 90 days.
- Belong to a country where the program is available
- Have no active policy violations
- Have a valid Google AdSense account
How to apply? (Step-by-Step process)
- Log in to your YouTube Studio.
- Click the monetization option, located in the left menu.
- Review your progress against the eligibility requirements.
- Once you have qualified, agree to YPP’s terms and attach your AdSense account.
- YouTube personally reviews your channel. If everything seems perfect, approval typically comes within 15 to 30 days.
In essence, if youre seeking how to get monetized on YouTube, becoming a YouTube Partners is the first crucial step.
Also Read: How to Make $100 A Day in U.S.
2. Work with Brands via Sponsored Content
Another best way creators in the U.S. make money from YouTube is through sponsored videos. Contrary to ad revenue from the YPP, this income doesn’t depend upon how YouTube pays. Instead, it offers direct access to brands that want access to your audience.
Let’s check how it works:-
- A company partners with you to feature their offerings in your video.
- Rather than making money from sales, you charge a flat fee or a package deal for creating content across their brand.
- The bigger and more engaged your audience will be, the higher you will be able to charge.
How to Secure Brand Deals – know the secret
- Many companies reach out once your YouTube channels receive traction.
- You can even pitch directly to brands that are able to spend largely on influencer marketing.
- Many platforms, including Izea and Upfluence, connect YouTubers with advertisers seeking partnerships.
Sponsored content is one of the most growing revenue streams for U.S.-based creators. It’s also a great reminder that when thinking about how does YouTube pay, the answer goes far beyond ads; brands are also willing to invest directly in creators with a strong influence.
3. Sell Your Online Courses on YouTube
If you are asking how to get paid on YouTube other than ad revenue, selling online courses could be a great option. Not just for entertainment purposes, YouTube is a powerful social space to reach potential students, reveal your expertise, and drive course sales.
Read on How to Make this Strategy Work:
- Provide viewers with a taste of what your courses offer. Short clips demonstrating important lessons or actionable tips can spark interest and encourage people for signing up.
- Reward your YouTube audience with a special discount or bonus material they can’t find on your website.
- Go live to provide a mini-lesson or Q&A session. Live content attracts your YouTube audience in real time and gives them a preview of your teaching style.
- Invite current students and share how your course impacted their lives. Genuine testimonials build trust and show potential students the value of your content.
Using these tactics, you can build a loyal community and generate revenue, everything while answering the big question: how to make money on YouTube.
Also Read: TikTok Shop Affiliate Program
4. Launch Your Branded Merchandise
Have a loyal YouTube following? Selling branded merchandise is one of the effective strategies to monetize your audience. It can generate extra revenue, as well as strengthen your personal brand. Many creators wonder, How much money does a YouTuber make through branded merchandise? The income typically ranges from a few dollars to millions of dollars per annum.
Steps to Turn Your YouTube Channel Into a Mini E-Commerce Business:
Step 1: Design Your Merchandise
Start with simple designs for mugs, T-shirts, hats, or hoodies. To bring your ideas to reality, leverage tools like Canva.
Step 2: Create Your Online Store
Launch an online store through Shopify. Integrate with a print-on-demand service to avoid managing inventory on your own.
Step 3: List Your Items
Upload your designs and decide prices, considering profit and affordability.
Step 4: Do Promotions on YouTube
Mention your merch in content, link your store in the description box, and create hype using launch videos.
Step 5: Fulfillment Made Easy
You get paid your profit automatically without even touching a product.
When considering merchandise, sponsorships, and ad earnings, your YouTube views in dollars can increase faster than you think.
5. Use Fan Funding to Increase Your Revenue
Fan funding lets your YouTube audience support you directly. If you are looking forward to how to make money on YouTube, you can also prefer this method. Online platforms like BuyMeACoffee, Patreon, Hy.Page and Tribe allow you to provide exclusive content or perks to subscribers.
If it is paired with ad revenue, merchandise, and sponsorships, your YouTube views in dollars can quickly add up, becoming a steady source of income.
6. Try Affiliate Marketing
You can generate revenue through affiliate marketing in the form of commissions. This is a practical method to increase your earnings and a smart method to understand how to make money on YouTube outside of ads and sponsorships.
You can suggest items that naturally fit your content and get a commission whenever viewers purchase through your unique links. To start, join an affiliate program under your niche you can check with ExtraPe (extrape.us), inlinks to your video description or pinned comments, and be transparent with your viewers about your partnership. This method gives a clear idea of how much money do you make on YouTube when leveraging original content smartly.
Also Read: How to Make Money With Affiliate Marketing 2025?
7. Make Money via YouTube Premium
The platform pays creators based on watch time from Premium members – another best way to earn revenue on your channel.
Works similarly to YouTube pay per view, the more premium subscribers view your videos, the more you make. For perspective, combine ad earnings and premium viewership to increase your earnings per video. Understanding 1000 YouTube views money now includes both ad revenue and premium payouts, so the maximum watched videos can generate more than you might expect.
8. Offer Services On Your Channel
You can turn your expertise into a service-based business after gaining authority on YouTube. Your subscribers may reach out to hire you directly for consulting, coaching, or freelance work.
This shows a practical way how to make money on YouTube beyond popular methods. Offering services on YouTube, you can significantly boost what you earn, offering context to 1000 views on YouTube money, because monetization isn’t restricted to ad revenue.
9. Flip YouTube Channels to Earn
This ideal is simple: grow a channel, post quality content on a regular basis, build members, and start making money. Once it’s profitable, you can sell it multiple times its monthly income. You can sell your YouTube channel to a buyer directly or list it on popular sites such as Trustiu, Flippa, or Frameswap.
This approach also helps respond to when do you get paid with YouTube; you start earning as fast as your channel meets monetization requirements. Use your main channel to grow side projects, then sell them when they start becoming profitable. Meanwhile, maintain your main channel to keep earning and growing.
10. Leverage YouTube Shorts
Making money from YouTube Shorts works differently from long-form videos, and the payment isn’t always simple. The income depends on whether music used in the clip and the share of views you generate compared to other Shorts in your country.
Location plays an important role here; U.S.-based creators earn around $0.33 per thousand views, while creators from Switzerland, Australia, South Korea, and the U.K. also earn comparatively higher RPMs. For instance, a creator with 800,000 views and an RPM of $0.04 could earn anywhere between $32 and $35 in Shorts revenue. If you’re searching the web to know how to make money on YouTube, try YouTube Shorts.
Also Read: How To Make Money On TikTok in Dollars
Final Words!
Making money from YouTube becomes easier when you have a loyal audience. As soon as your popularity grows, you can increase your income by sending subscribers to your website, online courses, or services. Ask your questions about making money on YouTube in the comments – I will gladly answer!
FAQs:-
1. How many subscribers on YouTube are needed to make money
You must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months to qualify for the YouTube Partner Program and start earning money from ads.
2. When do you get paid by YouTube?
Creators get paid once a month, typically between the 21st and 26th, as long as you have earned at least $100 in your AdSense account.
3. How many views are required to make $1000 on YouTube?
Around, it takes about 500,000 views to make $1,000 from ads. Well, the exact figure depends on your niche and audience.
4. How long does it take to make money through YouTube?
Most of the new channels need about 6 to 8 months of regular uploads for monetization, unless a video goes viral.
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