How Much Does TikTok Pay Creators in 2025?

TikTok is no longer just a space for dance trends and short comedy skits. Over the last few years, it has transformed into one of the most powerful platforms for creators to make a living. Millions of people across the world are now earning income directly from their TikTok presence. But how much does TikTok actually pay creators? Is it possible to live off TikTok earnings alone, or is it more of a side income?

The truth is, TikTok earnings vary widely depending on the program you are part of, the type of content you create, and how you engage with your audience. In this article, we will explore TikTok’s payment system in detail—covering the Creator Rewards Program, brand sponsorships, TikTok Shop, ad revenue sharing, and more. We’ll also include real statistics, examples, and numbers from actual creators to give you a clear picture of what you can expect.

The Evolution of TikTok Monetization

TikTok’s approach to paying creators has evolved significantly since it first introduced monetization. In 2021, the company rolled out the Creator Fund, which was meant to reward creators for producing popular content. However, many users were disappointed with the low payouts.

The Creator Fund typically paid between $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views. That meant even if a video went viral and hit one million views, a creator would only earn between $20 and $40. For many creators putting in hours of work into production, this amount felt discouraging.

To address these concerns, TikTok introduced the Creativity Program Beta in 2023. This was designed to give creators more incentive by paying them better rates if they produced longer, higher-quality content. By 2024, TikTok officially transitioned to the Creator Rewards Program, which replaced the Creator Fund altogether.

Under the Creator Rewards Program, TikTok now pays $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 views. That translates to between $400 and $1,000 per one million views. Compared to the original payouts, this is a major upgrade and has given many creators renewed confidence in TikTok as a revenue stream. According to Descript, many creators have already confirmed that they are seeing significantly higher earnings under this new system.

How Much Does TikTok Pay Per View?

When people first hear that creators can get paid for views on TikTok, the next question is usually: “Okay, but how much money is that per view?” The answer depends on which payment program you are in.

In the past, TikTok ran the Creator Fund. Under this system, payouts were very low—about $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views. To put that into perspective, even if your video went viral and reached one million views, you would only take home between $20 and $40. That’s why many creators were frustrated, since creating videos takes time, creativity, and often real production effort.

To fix this, TikTok introduced the Creator Rewards Program, which is the current system. This program pays creators $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 views. That may not sound like much at first glance, but it’s a huge difference compared to the old rates. For example:

• If your video gets 1 million views, you could earn $400 to $1,000.
• If your video gets 10 million views, your earnings could be $4,000 to $10,000.

That’s more than 10–20 times higher than what creators used to earn under the old Creator Fund.

This improvement has made TikTok much more appealing to content creators. It puts the platform in closer competition with YouTube, which has long been known for offering more reliable creator payouts.

Of course, not every creator will make thousands of dollars right away. Your earnings depend on your engagement, consistency, and niche. The average TikTok creator earns somewhere between $100 and $1,000 per month from TikTok payouts. But some creators, especially those who produce viral content or post consistently in high-demand niches, earn much more.

In short, TikTok doesn’t make every view worth gold, but compared to its early days, it now offers creators a realistic chance of turning content into a steady income.

Who Is Eligible for TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program?

Not everyone can join TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program. The platform has set certain requirements to ensure that only serious and engaged creators get access. To qualify, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have at least 10,000 followers.
• Have accumulated 100,000 views in the last 30 days.
• Be located in one of the eligible countries such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
• Hold a Pro or Creator account.
• Follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines.

This means that if you are just starting out, you won’t be able to rely on TikTok payments right away. Instead, you’ll need to build your audience and consistency before being able to monetize directly through the platform.

Beyond Views: Other Ways to Earn Money on TikTok

While TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program is the most talked-about way to make money, it’s far from the only one. In fact, many successful TikTokers earn much more through alternative income streams than they do from per-view payouts. TikTok has built an entire ecosystem where creators can monetize their influence in multiple ways. Let’s break them down.

1. TikTok Shop and Affiliate Marketing

TikTok Shop is one of the biggest game-changers for creators. Instead of sending your followers to external websites, you can now sell products directly inside TikTok.

There are two main ways creators earn here:

• Selling your own products: For example, if you design clothing, sell handmade jewelry, or even have a digital product like an eBook, TikTok Shop lets you showcase these directly to your followers.
• Affiliate marketing: Even if you don’t have your own products, you can partner with brands. TikTok gives you affiliate links to products, and whenever someone buys through your link, you earn a commission. This affiliate model is powerful, but many brands are also exploring the challenges and opportunities of combining influencer and affiliate marketing to maximise both reach and conversions.

For example: A beauty influencer might make a “morning skincare routine” video and feature a moisturizer available on TikTok Shop. If their audience buys it, they get paid a percentage of each sale. For some influencers, these commissions can easily surpass what they earn from views.

2. Live Gifts and Diamonds

TikTok has a built-in tipping system where followers can send virtual gifts during live streams. These gifts are converted into something called Diamonds, which creators can cash out as real money.

This system works a lot like Twitch donations or YouTube Super Chats. The more engaging your live stream is, the more likely people are to send gifts. For instance, musicians, comedians, or creators who interact directly with their fans often see the highest live-gift earnings.

A casual creator may only earn a few dollars during a stream, but popular live streamers sometimes make hundreds, or even thousands, in a single night.

3. TikTok Pulse (Ad Revenue Sharing)

TikTok also offers a program called TikTok Pulse, which is essentially ad revenue sharing. Similar to YouTube’s Partner Program, it allows creators to earn money when ads are placed next to their videos.

However, TikTok Pulse isn’t open to everyone. To qualify, you need:

• At least 100,000 followers.
• To consistently rank in the top 4% of videos by views in your category.

If you qualify, TikTok shares 50% of ad revenue with you. For creators with large audiences, this can become a steady source of passive income.

4. Brand Sponsorships and Partnerships

One of the most lucrative ways to earn on TikTok is through sponsorship deals with brands. Companies are willing to pay creators to promote their products, often far more than what TikTok itself pays per view.

The amount you earn depends on your audience size and engagement:

• Smaller creators (10k–50k followers) might earn a few hundred dollars per sponsored post.
• Mid-tier creators (100k–500k followers) can earn $500–$5,000 per post.
• Mega influencers (1M+ followers) often charge tens of thousands of dollars per video.

For example, fashion and beauty influencers frequently partner with clothing, makeup, or skincare brands, while fitness creators might team up with supplement companies. A single brand deal can sometimes be worth more than months of Creator Rewards payouts.

5. Selling Services and Off-Platform Opportunities

TikTok also works as a launchpad for other businesses. Many creators use the platform to promote services such as coaching, courses, photography, or consulting. Others use it to drive traffic to YouTube channels, blogs, or online shops, where they can monetize in different ways.

For instance, a finance influencer might share short tips on budgeting and then direct followers to a paid financial course. Similarly, an artist might showcase their work on TikTok and then sell prints through their website.

The Big Picture

The key takeaway here is that TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program is just one piece of the puzzle. While payouts per view are higher now than in the past, the real money often comes from combining multiple revenue streams—TikTok Shop, live gifts, brand deals, and off-platform business opportunities.

This layered approach is how many TikTok creators are able to turn their accounts from a fun side hobby into a full-time career.

Putting It All Together: TikTok Earnings Summary

To get a clearer picture of how much money you can make on TikTok, let’s recap the different revenue streams available to creators. Each income stream can vary significantly depending on factors like the size of your audience, the quality of your content, and how consistently you engage with your followers.

Let’s break it down into the key monetization methods:

1. Creator Rewards Program

$0.40–$1.00 per 1,000 views (roughly $400–$1,000 per 1 million views)

The Creator Rewards Program is TikTok’s core monetization method. It’s what most creators rely on to earn money from their videos. If you make videos that receive a large number of views, you can earn a payout directly from TikTok.

Here’s how it works:

• The $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 views means that for every 1,000 views your video gets, you’ll earn anywhere from $0.40 to $1.00.
• So, if one of your videos hits 1 million views, your earnings could range from $400 to $1,000.
• TikTok pays out more for longer, higher-quality videos, and creators who produce viral content often see much higher payouts.

This is a significant improvement compared to the old Creator Fund, where creators made just $20–$40 per million views. However, keep in mind that to earn more, you need to consistently create engaging content that attracts a large audience.

2. TikTok Shop & Affiliate Marketing

Varies based on commissions and sales

TikTok Shop is a game-changer for creators looking to sell products directly to their audience. With this feature, creators can set up an online store and sell items like merchandise, fashion, beauty products, or even digital goods.

• If you don’t have your own products to sell, you can still make money by promoting other brands. TikTok allows you to earn commissions when your followers buy products through your affiliate links.
• Earnings can vary greatly because commissions are based on the price of the product and the agreement between you and the brand.

For example, if you promote a skincare product worth $50 and your followers buy it, you might earn 10% of that sale, which would be $5 per sale. If you’re promoting high-ticket items like gadgets or fashion, commissions could be much higher. The more you sell, the more you earn.

3. Live Gifts and Diamonds

Varies widely, depends on live stream engagement

TikTok’s Live Gifts feature allows creators to earn money directly from their followers during live streams. Fans can send virtual gifts (like hearts or diamonds), which translate into Diamonds, and then creators can exchange these Diamonds for real money.

• The amount you earn from Live Gifts depends on how many followers attend your stream and how generous they are with gifting.
• For a more engaged creator, live gifting can be a substantial income stream, especially if you host frequent or high-engagement live streams.

For example, a fitness influencer might host a live workout session, and viewers can send gifts as a way to show support. A casual creator might earn a few dollars during a short session, while someone with a loyal fanbase might earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a single live session.

4. TikTok Pulse (Ad Revenue Sharing)

50% of ad revenue for eligible creators

TikTok Pulse is TikTok’s answer to YouTube’s AdSense program. Under this program, eligible creators can earn 50% of the revenue generated from ads placed alongside their videos.

• To qualify, creators need at least 100,000 followers and have videos that consistently rank in the top 4% in their category.
• TikTok Pulse offers a recurring revenue stream for creators who produce high-quality content that gets significant views.

For example, if your video is shown with an ad and the ad generates $100, you would earn $50 for that video. For creators with a large audience, this can add up quickly, especially as they produce videos with high engagement. The best part? This income is ongoing as long as the ad revenue continues.

5. Brand Sponsorships

$50 for nano-influencers, up to $75,000 for mega influencers

Brand sponsorships are often where TikTok creators earn the most money, and the amount you can make depends on your audience size, engagement, and niche. Sponsors pay creators to feature their products in TikTok videos, and these payments can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, depending on the creator’s influence.

• Nano-influencers (1k–10k followers) can make between $50–$150 per post.
• Micro-influencers (10k–50k followers) might make $150–$500 per post.
• Mid-tier influencers (50k–500k followers) can make $500–$5,000 per post.
• Macro-influencers (500k–1M followers) could earn $5,000–$10,000 per post.
• Mega-influencers (1M+ followers) could command anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000 or more per post.

For example, a beauty influencer with 500k followers might land a sponsorship deal worth $5,000 to promote a new makeup line. A mega influencer with 3 million followers could easily make $50,000 per post.

This makes brand sponsorships one of the most profitable income streams on TikTok, and it’s a great way for creators to earn far beyond what the Creator Rewards Program pays.

Final Thoughts: Can You Really Make a Living on TikTok?

TikTok’s new Creator Rewards Program has made the platform much more competitive in terms of payouts. While the old Creator Fund paid very little, the updated system offers a meaningful income stream for creators who can consistently produce engaging content.

Still, it’s important to note that TikTok earnings are not guaranteed. The algorithm can be unpredictable, and income can fluctuate dramatically from month to month. That’s why many successful creators combine multiple streams of income—such as brand deals, affiliate marketing, live gifts, and merchandise sales—instead of relying solely on TikTok payouts.

In 2025, TikTok remains one of the best platforms for creators to build an audience and earn money, but success depends on persistence, creativity, and smart monetization strategies.