Alexis Kestler
Hey there! If you‘re someone trying to make money as a creator on TikTok in 2023, you likely have a very important question on your mind – just how much can you earn on TikTok anyway?
I totally get it! As TikTok has exploded into one of the biggest social media platforms in the world, the earning potential has become massive. Top creators are pulling in hundreds of thousands or even millions per year!
But how much does the average or even above average creator make? And how much can you expect to earn when just getting started out?
In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down exactly how creator earnings work on TikTok and how much money you can expect to make based on your views and engagement. Let‘s dive in!
Overview: How Do Creators Actually Make Money on TikTok?
The great news is there are now several different ways for you as a creator to earn money directly from your TikTok account. Here are some of the main ones:
-
TikTok Creator Fund – This is TikTok‘s official program that pays creators actual money for views on their videos. It provides a really easy passive earnings stream.
-
TikTok LIVE – LIVE videos allow your fans to send you monetary "gifts". Top creators can make thousands per broadcast.
-
Sponsorships & Brand Deals – Popular creators can work directly with brands to create sponsored content and ads. This is where big money is made.
-
TikTok Commerce – Some creators earn commissions when directing fans to purchase products they promote.
-
Merchandise – Many creators design and sell custom apparel, accessories, and other merchandise for additional income.
But the Creator Fund is likely the easiest way to start earning as a new creator on TikTok. So let‘s take a closer look at how it works…
What Exactly is TikTok‘s Creator Fund and How Do You Get Paid?
In July 2020, TikTok launched its Creator Fund program as a way to pay creators real money for the videos they post. It was part of their $200 million creator fund initiative.
Here‘s a quick overview of how it works:
-
You must apply and be approved to join the fund. Approval is based on your account engagement, viewership and content.
-
TikTok will pay you a certain rate per 1,000 video views ranging from 2-4 cents typically.
-
You‘re paid monthly through direct deposit. You remain eligible as long as you meet audience and content requirements.
It provides a passive yet consistent income stream just for posting great content that viewers love watching and engaging with.
But there are certain eligibility requirements to join TikTok‘s Creator Fund:
-
You must be based in an eligible country such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, or Italy.
-
You must be 18 years old or older.
-
You need a minimum of 10,000 authentic followers.
-
Your account must have at least 10,000 video views in the last 30 days.
-
You must have posted at least 5 videos in the last 30 days.
-
Your content must comply with TikTok‘s community guidelines.
As you can see, there are definitely some hurdles to jump over to qualify, especially as a brand new creator.
But by consistently posting entertaining videos, using strategic hashtags, participating in trends, and building your audience, you can meet these benchmarks over time.
Once approved, the amount you earn per 1,000 views will vary based on the engagement your videos drive and your overall viewership.
Top creators likely earn towards the top end of that 2-4 cent range as they build their audience. But even at 2 cents per 1,000 views, the earnings add up quick!
Now that you know how TikTok‘s Creator Fund works, let‘s look at some estimated earnings for top creators…
Just How Much are Popular Creators Earning?
To give you an idea of real-world TikTok earnings, let‘s break down the estimated pay for some of the biggest stars:
Charli D’Amelio
- Followers: 149 million
- Average Views Per Video: 50 million
At even just a 2 cent RPM, Charli would earn $1,000 per video from the Creator Fund. Given her massive audience, she likely earns towards the top end around 4 cents per view.
That translates to over $2,000 per video or over $700,000 per year just from TikTok! And this doesn‘t include massive brand sponsorships.
Bella Poarch
- Followers: 92 million
- Average Views Per Video: 75 million
Based on her high engagement, Bella likely earns close to the 4 cent high end. At a 4 cent RPM, she can easily earn $3,000 per video from the Creator Fund.
Her earnings from other sources like brand sponsorships and music streams likely push her into the multi-millionaire zone yearly.
Spencer X
- Followers: 51 million
- Average Views Per Video: 30 million
With an audience approaching 100 million followers, Spencer X earns an excellent rate from TikTok. At a 3 cent RPM, he can make around $900 per video.
Combine that with his Facebook views, merchandise sales and brand deals, and he easily makes a full-time living from content creation.
Kris Collins
- Followers: 15 million
- Average Views Per Video: 5 million
With a mid-size but highly engaged audience, Kris Collins earns around the 2 cent minimum from the Creator Fund.
This equates to $100 per video or about $36,500 per year from TikTok views alone. Her overall income is likely 6 figures when including sponsorships.
As you can see from these creator examples, even smaller and mid-tier creators can absolutely earn a healthy income from TikTok. Let’s look at some income projections at different audience sizes and engagement levels.
TikTok Earnings Calculator for Creators
Using the Creator Fund RPM estimate range, let‘s calculate expected earnings based on follower count and views per video:
100k Followers, 500k Views Per Video
500,000 x $0.002 = $1 per video
$1 x 365 videos per year = $365 per year
250k Followers, 750k Views Per Video
750,000 x $0.0025 = $1.88 per video
$1.88 x 365 videos per year = $685 per year
500k Followers, 1.5 million Views Per Video
1,500,000 x $0.003 = $4.50 per video
$4.50 x 365 videos per year = $1,642 per year
1 million Followers, 4 million Views Per Video
4,000,000 x $0.0035 = $14 per video
$14 x 365 videos per year = $5,110 per year
5 million Followers, 10 million Views Per Video
10,000,000 x $0.004 = $40 per video
$40 x 365 videos per year = $14,600 per year
As you can see, the earnings potential grows tremendously the more views and higher engagement your account generates.
While it takes time and effort to build up a profile with millions of fans, you can see how lucrative TikTok becomes for top creators driving significant viewership.
Now let‘s talk about some ways you can start increasing your earnings potential on TikTok…
7 Pro Tips to Maximize Your TikTok Earnings
Based on extensive research into top performing TikTok strategies, here are 7 tips to earn more money:
1. Post Consistently
Posting consistently and at optimal times builds predictability and authority with the algorithm. Top creators post multiple times per day.
2. Analyze Your Analytics
Pay close attention to your views, engagement and traffic sources in the TikTok analytics. This helps you make data-driven optimization decisions.
3. Use Hashtags Strategically
Include a mix of high-volume and niche hashtags so you appear in both generalized and targeted feeds.
4. Jump on Trends and Challenges
Challenges and viral songs present huge opportunities for views. Stay on top of what‘s trending.
5. Go LIVE Frequently
LIVES let fans support you with monetary gifts. The more you go live, the more you earn.
6. Respond to Comments
Replying to comments boosts engagement and keeps fans invested in your content.
7. Collaborate with Other Creators
Cross-collaborate with creators in your niche for new audiences and viral opportunities.
Implementing these best practices will put you on the path to building an engaged audience, driving more views, and maximizing your Creator Fund earnings.
TikTok FAQs: Additional Questions Answered
To wrap up this guide, let‘s go over some commonly asked questions about earning money as a creator on TikTok:
How much do you make from 1 million TikTok views?
1 million TikTok views would earn you around $20 to $40 through the Creator Fund based on a 2 to 4 cent RPM.
How much does 10 million views make on TikTok?
At a 3 cent RPM, 10 million TikTok views would earn approximately $300. Top creators likely earn 4 cents or more per view for $400+ at that viewership.
How much can you make from 100k TikTok followers?
100k authentic TikTok followers that consistently generate 500k+ views per video can earn $300 to $700+ per year from the Creator Fund alone.
How much do big TikTokers make a year?
Top creators like Charli D‘Amelio likely make anywhere from $500,000 up to $2 million+ per year between the Creator Fund, brand sponsorships, merchandise and other income sources.
Is it hard to get views on TikTok?
Gaining views and being discovered on a highly competitive platform like TikTok involves effort and consistency. But implementing proven growth strategies makes it very achievable.
What percent of TikTokers make money?
Currently, it‘s estimated only about 10% of creators on TikTok make money directly from the platform itself. But far more are able to monetize through indirect methods like sponsorships.
The Takeaway: Consistency and Quality Content Are Key
At the end of the day, while going viral presents challenges, the number one factor within your control is consistency.
Posting quality content daily in your niche gives you the highest chance of being discovered, building an audience and maximizing earnings.
It does take time and effort to build up a sizable profile. But by being strategic with your content and leveraging trends, you can steadily grow on TikTok.
Once you achieve 100k+ authentic followers and views, you‘ll be ready to apply for the Creator Fund and start earning hard cash from your videos.
The potential is enormous, with top creators making millions per year from TikTok and related opportunities. But even smaller creators can realistically earn thousands per year.
So get out there, start creating amazing content, engage with your audience, and build your TikTok empire one video at a time. The opportunity is yours for the taking!
I hope this detailed guide answered all your biggest questions around earning money on TikTok in 2023. Now go crush it!
