The five ways influencers earn
- Paid campaigns. You apply to open campaigns and get paid per approved video. Open to small accounts.
- Brand deals. A brand pays you directly for a post. See How to get brand deals.
- Platform payouts. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube run their own programs, each with its own thresholds.
- Affiliate links. You earn a commission on sales through your link or code.
- Your own products. Merch, courses, bookings, music.
What paid videos pay, by audience size
| Followers | Average per video | Largest single payout |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1K | $1.81 | $26 |
| 1K–10K | $2.04 | $289 |
| 10K–50K | $4.51 | $173 |
| 50K–250K | $17.62 | $420 |
| 250K–1M | $26.20 | $934 |
Net payout to the creator per approved video on Sound.me, 90 days to September 16, 2026.
What paid videos pay, by country
Pay follows what advertisers pay for that audience. In the same period the average approved video paid $14.62 in the United Kingdom, $8.74 in the United States, $7.20 in Colombia, $3.35 in Brazil and $2.30 in the Philippines. See Get paid by country.
What a working creator makes
Among creators with 5,000 to 20,000 followers who were paid in that period, the average made $17.88 from 5.4 videos, and the top earner in that group made $1,173. Across all sizes, 35 creators cleared $500 and 130 more made between $100 and $500, almost all by posting steadily.
Be realistic: for most small creators this is side income, not a salary.
Where to start
- Pick one topic and one platform, and post on a schedule.
- Download the Sound.me app and apply to paid campaigns. It is free, and you must be 18 or older.
- Use your paid videos as a portfolio when you pitch brands directly.