Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Jan Barley
Content Creation Can be Lucrative But It Takes Time to Build An Audience
So, you’re considering becoming a content creator and wondering how much money you can make. Content creation is a big business, but many fail to make a financial impact.
Browse any social media platform, and you’ll find a mixed bag of well-produced content alongside the poorest quality content, and that’s the difference.
The first thing to consider is whether you want to create content in-house for a company or step into the freelance world and take your chances.
What is the Average Income For A Content Creator?
Well, you might as well ask how long a piece of string is because there are so many variables to consider. However, I will try to narrow it down to specific situations based on whether someone is employed or a freelance content creator with a large audience that engages with their content.
Average Income For An Employed Content Creator
The average income for an employed content creator in the United States is between $50k and $80k. That depends on the size of the company. Blue chip companies pay higher, but you might start with less if you work with a start-up.
Average Income For A Freelance Content Creator
Here’s where it gets tricky to provide accurate figures. If you’re starting out as a content creator, you’d make more money working for McDonalds. However, if you’re near to becoming an influencer, look out. It’s raining cash.
Many top-level content creaters easily become 6 and 7 figure earners.
Once many thousands of followers engage with your content, it’s easy to get brand deals, and that’s where most of the money is.
Bear in mind these figures change constantly; here’s a rough idea.
- Instagram Content Creators make $10 to $1,000 per post
- The TikTok Content Creator Fund Program can generate $0.20 to $0. 40 per 1,000 views
- YouTube pays variable advertising revenues depending on the niche, from a few dollars up to $18+ per 1,000 views
Another factor to consider is whether you produce faceless content as that can take longer to build momentum.
Successful Content Creators Diversify For A Higher Income
The trick to making more income as a content creator is to diversify. For instance, you may create courses, sell coaching or mentoring, or sell affiliate products and services you promote on your channel.
Indeed, many content creators base the foundation of their earning potential on add-ons to platform monetisation.
How to Make Money as a Content Creator
Get started. That’s more than most people do. Once you start, keep going because that’s where many fail. Your posts get met by crickets for a long time, and it feels like you’re talking to yourself.
Consistency is 100% the key to success. It may take weeks or months to build a following and even longer to get engagement, but it will come.
Be Authentic
Don’t copy others. Be yourself and let your personality shine through. Provide value and share genuine content.
Engage With Your Audience
Always respond to comments. Encourage conversation and help build your community of followers.
Network With Other Content Creators
Connect with others and support each other. You could do guest podcasts or duets and things like that.
Build An Email List
Suppose you have 100k followers on one channel, and the platform closes your account. Bam! Just like that, you’ve lost your audience. Building an email list ensures you can still access your audience and offer them subscriber discounts on products, services and courses.
Note: You can build a subscriber list up to 2k for free
Sell Merchandise
When you have an engaged audience, they are keen to buy merchandise from you. Run special offers, discounts and deals specific to your audience.
Offer A Mentoring or Coaching Service
Almost without intention, once you have some success online, people start asking about mentoring and coaching. They want to be where you are and believe you can help them.
Consider Starting A Membership Site
Instead of one-to-one mentoring or coaching, a membership site can be a productive alternative. There are dozens of paid options online, such as Skool, Kajabi, Patreon and Mighty Networks. They all have monthly or annual fees, but when making money as a content creator, these fees are tax deductible.
Sign Brand Deals
Brand deals will open up as your popularity grows. Companies will pay you for a mention, and these can be lucrative. Top influencers suggest aligning brands with your own and ensuring they are ethical products. Otherwise, your audience could lose trust in your reviews.
Conclusion
My journey into content creation is always work in progress. I joined a DFU Business in June 2024 and am really enjoying that journey.
I’d suggest a long look at yourself before starting because the early (what feels like) rejection can be hard to stomach. Personally, I have no desire to become an influencer.
I want to create watchable content and have fun doing it. It’s taken me a few months to accept this is a long game. It’s not something to do for a few weeks or months and then forget about.
Enjoy. Have fun, and monitor your progress.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
