How Much Money Can You Earn on YouTube with 20 Million Views?
If you‘re an aspiring YouTuber hoping to earn money from your videos, one of the big questions is: how much do creators really make? While individual earnings vary, as a rough guide, YouTubers earn an average of $2-$5 per 1,000 video views. That means with 20 million views, your earnings could be $40,000-$100,000.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll break down exactly how YouTube pays creators, average earnings per 1,000 views, estimated income for view milestones up to 20 million, and tips to maximize your revenue.
How Does YouTube Monetization Work?
YouTube allows creators to earn money through its Partner Program, which gives YouTubers a share of the advertising revenue earned from their videos. There are two main ways to monetize:
YouTube Advertising Revenue
This includes the ads displayed on the YouTube watch page, as well as video ads that play before or during your content. It works like this:
- YouTube places ads on videos and charges advertisers for each view.
- The advertiser pays YouTube a certain rate per view, known as the cost per thousand (CPM).
- YouTube then shares a percentage of that ad revenue with the video creator.
YouTube Premium Revenue
YouTube Premium is a $11.99/month subscription that allows members to watch videos ad-free. A portion of the subscription fee is paid out to creators based on how much their content is viewed by Premium members.
The amount you earn is based on your RPM – your Revenue Per Thousand views (CPM), which varies based on your channel niche, content type, audience demographics and more.
What is the Average YouTube RPM?
YouTube RPM rates can range significantly depending on the factors above. As a benchmark, here are average YouTube RPMs:
- Small channels (<10k subs): $0.25-$4 RPM
- Medium channels (10k-100k subs): $1-$5 RPM
- Large channels (100k-1M subs): $3-$10 RPM
- Top creators/celebrities: $10-$20+ RPM
However, most YouTubers tend to earn $1-$3 per 1,000 views. Those with high viewership and loyal audiences can achieve RPMs on the higher end.
Based on data from over 11,000 YouTube channels, the average RPM in 2022 is $7.60 per 1,000 views. However, creators in the 10th-90th percentile range earn $3.61 to $16.54. [Source: Channel Meter]
How Much Does 1 Million YouTube Views Earn You?
Based on the average RPM range, here‘s what you can expect to earn from 1 million views:
- Small channels: $250-$4,000 per million views
- Medium channels: $1,000-$5,000 per million views
- Large channels: $3,000-$10,000 per million views
- Top creators: $10,000-$20,000+ per million views
Overall, most YouTubers earn $2-$5 per 1,000 views, meaning 1 million views pays around $2,000-$5,000.
But how many views do you need to start earning? There is no view requirement to join the YouTube Partner Program. However, you need 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months to begin monetizing your channel through ads.
Estimated YouTube Earnings by View Milestones
Here‘s a breakdown of the estimated earnings YouTubers can make at different view counts, based on a $2-$5 CPM rate:
| YouTube Views | Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|
| 100,000 | $200 – $500 |
| 500,000 | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| 1 million | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| 5 million | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| 10 million | $20,000 – $50,000 |
| 20 million | $40,000 – $100,000 |
| 50 million | $100,000 – $250,000 |
| 100 million | $200,000 – $500,000 |
| 500 million | $1M – $2.5M |
| 1 billion | $2M – $5M |
As you can see, earnings ramp up quickly once views reach the multi-millions.
But remember – these are rough estimates based on average RPMs. Your actual income depends on the rate your channel can command based on its niche, content quality and audience.
Real-World Examples of YouTuber Earnings
To give you a better idea, here are some real-world examples of estimated earnings from popular YouTubers:
- MrBeast: $54 million in 2021 from 8 billion views (over $6 per 1,000 views)
- Jake Paul: $45 million in 2021 from 5 billion views (~$9 RPM)
- Markiplier: $38 million from 3.2 billion views in 2021 (~$12 RPM)
- Graham Stephan: $6-8 million in 2021 from 500-800 million views ($7.50-$16 RPM)
As you can see, top creators tend to achieve much higher RPMs allowing them to earn millions per year. But they have invested years into building dedicated audiences.
Even mid-size YouTubers with 1-5 million subscribers can make a good living from the platform:
- Shelby Church – 1.2 million subscribers. Shared she earns around $85k/year primarily from YouTube.
- JennaMarbles – 20 million subs. Earned $4.9M in 2019, about $2.50 per 1,000 views.
- The Plain Bagel – 1.3 million subs. Earns around $60k/year from 5 million views a month.
How to Maximize Your YouTube Earnings
Here are some proven tips to help you maximize revenue from YouTube:
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Optimize metadata – Fill out titles & descriptions with engaging keywords. Make thumbnails eye-catching.
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Increase watch time – YouTube recommends 8+ minute runtimes. Slice longer videos into parts to retain viewers.
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Post consistently – Aim for 1-2 quality uploads per week to keep subscribers engaged.
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Do collabs – Collaborating with other creators exposes you to new audiences.
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Promote your content – Invest in Facebook/AdWords ads, promote videos on social media.
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Offer memberships – Fans pay monthly for custom emoji, badges and exclusive content.
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Sell merchandise – Earn additional income from branded apparel, accessories and products.
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Live stream – Go live with Q&As, unboxings or gameplay to boost viewer loyalty. Fans can send Super Chats.
By leveraging these strategies, you can maximize both your YouTube views and your RPM over time.
Is It Realistic to Make a Living on YouTube?
While top creators earn millions, smaller channels can find it challenging to earn a steady full-time income from YouTube alone. Some factors to keep in mind:
Pros
- Massive earning potential if you build a large audience
- Passive income that keeps flowing from old videos
- Ad rates are higher than most social platforms
Cons
- Very oversaturated market, hard to stand out
- Reaching 1 million+ views per month takes significant time
- Videos require regular production and promotion
- Ad rates fluctuate seasonally
For most people just starting out, I recommend treating YouTube as a side hustle you do for fun and supplemental income. Very few channels will see massive success right away. Focus on consistently producing quality content, building your skills, and growing your audience. With hard work and persistence, YouTube earnings can become a significant income stream over time.
The Bottom Line
While individual earnings vary widely, as a rough baseline – YouTubers earn an average of $2-$5 per 1,000 video views. At 20 million views, that translates to potential earnings between $40,000-$100,000.
Top creators with higher ad rates and massive dedicated audiences can earn millions annually from their videos. But smaller channels will take time to build up their views and climb the YouTube income ladder.
With dedication and smart strategies, YouTube‘s massive audience reach offers significant monetization potential. Just don‘t expect overnight success – building influence and income as an influencer requires tremendous work. But for those willing to hustle, the platform offers life-changing financial upside.