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How Much Does TikTok Pay For Their Content Creator 

March 18, 2024
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

how much does tiktok pay

This article will cover how much TikTok pays to its content creators, including earnings per like and engagement rate. We’ll also explore the income potential of top TikTok influencers and discuss various monetization methods available on the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • TikTok pays content creators through their Creator’s Fund, which distributes funds to eligible creators based on their video views and engagement metrics.
  • The payment structure of the TikTok Creator’s Fund is based on a range of 2-4 cents per 1000 views. 
  • The exact earnings from TikTok can vary widely and depend on factors such as the creator’s audience size, engagement rate, and the overall performance of their videos.

TikTok Payment: Overview

how much does tiktok pay

In the past, TikTok didn’t pay its users, even if they had millions of views and followers. As a result, popular TikTokers had to find other sources of income, such as sponsorships and promotions.

However, in late 2020, TikTok launched “The Creators Fund,” in May 2023, they announced their “Creativity Program Beta” for eligible US creators. This program pays creators and influencers on TikTok for their organic contributions to the platform, such as creating engaging videos that attract new users and retain existing ones.

Under this new program, TikTok pays an average of two to four cents per 1,000 views on a video. The pay scale varies from user to user and is based on multiple factors that the company does not publicly disclose. However, social media experts and TikTokers speculate that factors such as the authentic count of views and engagement may play a role in determining payment.

TikTok Payment: Calculation methods

Our research indicates that while it’s impossible to determine the exact amount of money earned per like or view on TikTok, there is a correlation between video analytics and payment history. This suggests that engagement plays a significant role in determining TikTok payouts.

The table below illustrates the earning potential of likes on TikTok:

Total FollowersTotal FollowersEngagement RateEstimated Earning
10010020%$5 – $8
1001000200%$17 – $26
100100002000%$54 – $81

It’s important to note that our research focused on the performance of a single video. As the number of videos increases, the engagement rate per video may decline, resulting in lower earnings.

TikTok Payment: Insights

Let’s discover the metrics that TikTok uses to determine payment to its content creators.

TikTok Pay Through the Creator Fund

how much does tiktok pay

In 2023, TikTok introduced its Creator Fund to incentivize and reward creators. Although the algorithm used to calculate payments under this fund is kept secret, it is speculated that the TikTok Creator Fund pays between 2 and 4 cents per 1,000 views, or $20 to $40 for a million views.

Despite the seemingly low payout, many creators welcomed this initiative as it allowed them to earn money from the platform without involving third parties. Additionally, once earnings reach a minimum of $10, creators can withdraw their payout using services such as PayPal or Zelle.

To apply for the TikTok Creator Fund, follow these steps:

  1. Open the TikTok app and go to Account Settings.
  2. Click on Creator Tools.
  3. Click on TikTok Creator Fund to start your application.

TikTok Pay Through the Creativity Program Beta

how much does tiktok pay

In response to the lukewarm reception of the low payouts from the Creator Fund, TikTok began experimenting with a “Creativity Program Beta” in May 2023. According to TikTok, this program was introduced to provide creators of all types with more significant revenue potential. 

The program is invite-only and will soon be available to U.S.-based creators. Those already part of the TikTok Creator Fund can transition to the Creativity Program Beta through the app.

However, as this program is new and still in beta, more is needed to know about its payment matrix. Only time will tell how successful it will be.

TikTok Pay For 1 Million Views

Based on TikTok’s payment rate of 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views, TikTok pays between $20 and $40 for one million views. This may seem unpleasant, especially compared to other social media platforms.

However, for popular TikTokers or viral videos, this can still be a significant source of income as they can accumulate billions of views. For example, if a video receives two billion views, the creator could earn up to $80,000. The monetization potential of TikTok views is substantial, especially for content creators who manage to capture the attention of a vast audience.

The richest TikTokers recorded in 2023

While TikTok is not generally known for its high payouts, the top creators on the platform are earning millions. 

how much does tiktok pay

You may already follow them or hear about them for the first time, but their estimated income compared to their number of followers can give you an idea of the earning potential on TikTok.

Best ways to earn passive income from TikTok

If you are part of the Creator Fund, you can directly earn money for your content. However, more than relying on this may be due to the low payout required. To qualify for the Creator Fund, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be 18 years or older.
  • Have at least 10,000 followers.
  • Have at least 100,000 views in the 30 days before applying.

Even before introducing the Creator Fund and Creativity Program Beta, TikTokers had found ways to earn money on the platform through brand promotion or user engagement. Some of the most practical and lucrative ways to make a decent income from TikTok are discussed below:

Sponsors

how much does tiktok pay

Sponsors are one of the easiest ways to earn significant money. TikTok influencers like Charli D’Amelio can charge $100,000 to endorse a product in their videos. If you have less than 10k followers, you can charge $5-$25 per endorsement. With 10k-50k followers, you can charge $20-$125 per post; with 50k-500k followers, you can charge $125-$1000 per post.

You can contact brands and initiate a conversation about bringing potential buyers or adding value to their brand. The cold-pitching method can be effective if your profile is attractive and engaging. Make sure your engagement is high enough to attract sponsors to your profile.

Sell Your Product

You can use TikTok to sell your products and services globally and earn a significant profit. Many TikTok businesses have successfully set up e-commerce stores on the platform to expand their reach. You can start by posting engaging videos about your product to attract users.

Brands prefer this approach as it gives them complete control over content output and strategy and allows them to sell their products to users without spending money.

Collaborations

Collaborating with brands is another popular way to earn money on TikTok. With the rise of digitalization and social media, brands increasingly focus on building a solid social media presence. Brand collaborations can help you earn anywhere from $ 50k-$ 150k or more, depending on your engagement and number of followers.

Another way to earn money on TikTok is by receiving live gifts and funds directly from fans. Many fans on TikTok do not hesitate to transfer hundreds or even thousands of dollars to their favorite influencers.

Live Gifts

how much does tiktok pay

TikTok’s LIVE Gifting feature allows content creators to receive virtual gifts from fans, including TikTok Diamonds, which can be converted into real money.

Consultations

People are willing to invest in learning something new, especially when they can learn directly from an expert. If you are skilled in a particular area and believe you can help others improve in that field, you can offer consultation calls. Many consultants charge between $100-$500 per session.

Affiliate Marketing

TikTok has an affiliate marketing program within its app, giving you access to over 10,000 products in its marketplace. You can request brand samples and showcase your favorite items in videos and live streams. When someone purchases through your affiliate link, you will receive a commission from the sale.

Valuable tips to get money from TikTok

how much does tiktok pay

Understanding the potential of TikTok payments and the various ways to earn money on the platform is one thing, but putting it into practice is another. We’re here to help with that as well.

Over the years, social media experts and TikTok influencers have experimented, observed, and gathered insights that are widely used as best practices. While content remains king, here are some actionable tips to help reinforce it:

  1. Profile Optimization: To increase your presence and follower count on TikTok, optimize your profile by using relevant hashtags, including keywords in your bio, and linking to your other social media channels. This will help you get discovered by more users on the platform.
  2. Post Consistently: The time you post on TikTok can affect the performance of your content. Establishing and sticking to a regular posting schedule shows dedication and can help you tap into your audience’s routine. If you need help staying consistent, consider creating a content calendar to keep yourself on track.
  3. Three-Second Rule: The first three seconds of your video are crucial for capturing viewers’ attention and preventing them from swiping past. These moments also influence the promotion of your content by the TikTok algorithm to more “For You” pages if viewers watch for more than three seconds. Make those first seconds count!
  4. Video Responding: Reply with a Video Responding to comments with a new video is a great way to engage with your audience and show them they are heard and appreciated. It also helps you reach more viewers who may be scrolling through the comments to see your response.
  5. Q&A Feature: TikTok’s Q&A feature, launched in March 2021, allows creators to add a question-and-answer section to their profiles. Generally, the more questions you answer, the more engagement you can expect, so responding to as many as possible is essential.

FAQs Area

how much does tiktok pay
With TikTok’s payment range of 2-4 cents per 1000 views, you can earn $400 through the creator’s fund when your video reaches 10 million views.
TikTok does not directly pay for the likes you receive on your videos. However, accumulating a million likes can attract the attention of brands and sponsors, opening up opportunities to earn money through partnerships and endorsements.
Achieving viral status on TikTok requires a combination of art, science, and luck. However, adhering to TikTok’s best practices, such as using trending songs and hashtags, collaborating with popular influencers to capture their audience’s attention, and creating engaging content, can enhance your chances of gaining traction and reaching a wider audience.
Monthly earnings from TikTok can vary significantly. Established creators with a large following may earn thousands of dollars monthly through brand collaborations, gifts, and advertising revenue sharing. However, building an audience for new creators to see significant monetary returns may take months of persistent effort.

Bottom line

After reading the article, you can determine how much TikTok pays for content creators. TikTok offers both direct and indirect monetization opportunities. If you consistently achieve viral success on TikTok, you can earn anywhere from $100 to $500.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.