Here Is What You Need to Know about YouTube Paying Creators for Views

Published on 18.02.2026 by TF

YouTube does pay creators for views, but it does not work the way most people think. YouTube does not pay a fixed amount for every single view. Instead, it pays you based on ads shown on your videos through a program called the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

 

How YouTube Payments Actually Work

YouTube makes money from advertisers who place ads on creator videos. When a viewer watches or clicks on an ad, the creator earns a share of that ad revenue. Creators receive about 55% of the ad revenue, while YouTube keeps the remaining 45%. The key metric here is called CPM (Cost Per Mille), which is the amount advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions. It is important to understand that not every view counts as a paid view. Only views where an ad is actually displayed or watched generate revenue. So if a viewer uses an ad blocker or if no ad loads on your video, you will not earn anything from that particular view.

 

How Much Does YouTube Pay per 1,000 Views?

On average, most creators earn between $2 and $12 per 1,000 views. The sweet spot for general content aimed at US audiences sits around $3 to $5 per 1,000 views. However, this number changes a lot depending on several factors, including your niche, your audience location, and the time of year. For example, finance and business channels can see CPM rates between $20 and $50, while gaming or entertainment channels might only get $2 to $10. Creators in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia earn much more per view than creators with audiences in countries like India or the Philippines.

 

How to Join the YouTube Partner Program

Before YouTube pays you anything, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program. Here are the requirements:

  • At least 1,000 subscribers
  • 4,000 hours of watch time in the past 12 months (for long-form videos) Or 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days (for Shorts creators)
  • No active community guideline strikes
  • A linked and verified Google AdSense account

Once accepted, you can turn on ads for both new and old videos and start earning money.​

 

Factors That Affect Your Earnings

Your YouTube income depends on more than just view count. Here are the main factors:

  • Niche: Finance, tech, and legal topics pay the most. Gaming and vlogs pay less.
  • Audience location: Viewers from the US, UK, and Canada bring in higher ad rates.
  • Video length: Videos over 8 minutes allow multiple ad placements, which increases earnings.
  • Season: Advertisers spend more in Q4 (October to December), so earnings go up during that time.​

 

Other Ways YouTube Pays Creators

Ad revenue is not the only way to earn. YouTube also offers Channel Memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers during livestreams, Super Thanks (fan tips on videos), and a share of YouTube Premium subscription revenue. These extra features help creators build more stable income beyond just ad views.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?

YouTube pays most creators between $2 and $12 per 1,000 views, with the average sitting around $3 to $5 for US-based audiences. The exact amount depends on your niche, viewer location, and ad engagement. Finance channels earn more, while gaming and entertainment channels earn less. High CPM niches like business and legal topics can push earnings above $10 per 1,000 views.

How many views do I need to have to get paid on YouTube?

YouTube does not pay based on a specific view count alone. You first need to join the YouTube Partner Program, which requires 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. After joining, you earn from ads on your videos. You must also reach the $100 minimum AdSense threshold before YouTube sends your payment.

Is 7,000 views viral?

No, 7,000 views is generally not considered viral. For most small channels, it is a decent number, but viral videos usually get hundreds of thousands or millions of views in a short time. What counts as "viral" depends on the size of your channel. For a brand new channel with few subscribers, 7,000 views in a few days could feel like a big success, but it is not viral by standard definitions