How much money can an average person earn in a year making YouTube content?

One creator named Huang Siping is a typical example. Initially, he made videos just to try it out, but a year later, his channel not only gained tens of thousands of followers, but also earned $1,200 in advertising revenue per month. More importantly, the income he earned through CPS commission promotion far exceeded the advertising revenue sharing.

So, can ordinary people actually make money through YouTube? This article will take you through Huang Siping's experience to give you a complete understanding of the real process from zero to earning over 10,000 yuan a month.

His channel mainly consists of two parts: revenue from promoting some tools and revenue from YouTube ads. Of course, I think the commission from promotions is definitely much greater than the revenue from YouTube ads. Currently, the channel has 54,800 followers and has uploaded a total of 66 videos.

Siping's channel previously had about 20,000 subscribers. When it had been operating for exactly one year, he shared a video about his earnings. According to the data he released on YouTube Studio:

The advertising revenue for the most recent month was approximately US$1,200 (equivalent to approximately RMB 8,700).

● In second- or third-tier cities or even rural areas, this income is quite considerable; but in a big city like Guangzhou, after deducting rent, utilities, and various living costs, there is not much left.

● It's worth noting that this income is the result of him updating 20 videos in one month.

This indicates that while YouTube's revenue has potential, it is highly correlated with the effort invested and the frequency of updates.

Income wasn't high from the start, but increased gradually over time.

● July: $151

● August: $120

● September: $228

● October: $523

● November: $683

● December: $1,200

As you can see, there has been a steady increase every month. Compared to the almost "zero revenue" environment on domestic platforms, YouTube has indeed given creators continuous motivation.

YouTube's core advantage lies in its advertising revenue sharing mechanism:

● Viewers will see ads while watching videos (most can be skipped after 5 seconds and do not affect the experience).

● Advertisers' payments are settled centrally by YouTube, with 55% going to the creators.

The advantages of this model are:

● Creators do not need to find advertisers themselves;

● There's no need to cram ads into the content;

● The source of income is stable and transparent.

In contrast, domestic platforms lack global advertiser resources, making it difficult to provide creators with equivalent revenue.

However, the more important source of revenue for Huang Siping's channel is not YouTube advertising revenue, but the commission from the products he promotes. He promotes mobile phone cards, AI tools, and so on, all of which offer commissions, which is CPS promotion.

CPS stands for Cost Per Sale , which is generally referred to as sales commission in Chinese.

 Simply put, it means:

 You help merchants promote their products, and when a user completes a purchase through your referral link, you receive a percentage of the commission. It's one of the most common affiliate marketing models. Compared to CPC (cost-per-click) and CPA (cost-per-registration/action), CPS offers advantages such as lower risk, more precise conversions, and higher commission rates.

Commission rate

● Physical goods e-commerce: typically between 1% and 15% (e.g., 3%–8% for most categories on Amazon).

● Virtual products/courses/software: commission rates are higher, commonly 20%–50%, or even 70%.

● High-priced products (such as luxury goods and financial services): Commissions can range from tens to hundreds of US dollars per transaction.

To enable monetization on YouTube, creators must meet the following conditions:

1. Number of subscribers ≥ 1000

2. Viewing time ≥ 4000 hours (long videos) in the past 12 months

 Or, the cumulative views within 90 days are ≥ 10 million (short video).

In practice, the most difficult thing to break through in this channel is the number of subscribers, although many people also believe it is the playback time.

Content creator Huang Siping experimented with various themes in his early stages: money-making tips, vlogs, current events, product unboxing, games, etc., before finally settling on "AI-related content." This illustrates that beginners shouldn't limit themselves too early; they should try different themes and use data to determine what their audience is truly interested in.

YouTube has a "probationary period" for new channels.

● A small amount of data will be provided at the beginning;

● Then it abruptly stopped, to see if the creator would persist;

● If you can maintain stable updates, the platform will gradually start recommending it.

Siping has also experienced several "slumps," and even had irregular updates due to taking care of her child. But once she persisted in producing content, her data curve saw a turning point.

YouTube's advertising revenue is primarily determined by RPM (revenue per thousand views).

Huang Siping's average RPM on this channel is $4.23.

● 1000 views ≈ $4.23

● 10,000 views ≈ $42.3 (approximately 308 RMB)

Main factors affecting RPM:

● Video themes: Finance, money-making, and technology videos have high RPM, while food and entertainment videos have relatively low RPM.

● Audience region: Advertising budgets for audiences in Europe and America are higher than those for audiences in Southeast Asia.

A rough estimate is: 10,000 plays ≈ 250 RMB. While not precise, most channels fall within this range.

YouTube has the following advantages:

1. Low cost: All you need is a mobile phone and a microphone to get started;

2. Growth potential: Revenue gradually increases with both the quality and quantity of content;

3. Fair and transparent: Ads are automatically distributed , allowing creators to focus on creating content;

4. Added value: Develop your expression, editing, and operational skills, making your time more valuable.

YouTube is a worthwhile side hustle option, especially for college students and freelancers.

YouTube is a platform where "you reap what you sow";

● Newcomers should be prepared for a long-term commitment; consistent updates are key.

● Don't worry about a slow start; once you're on the growth curve, the channel could take off quickly.

Based on Huang Siping's experience, YouTube is indeed a platform where "effort will be rewarded":

● It may be slow at the beginning, but as long as you keep producing, the data will eventually reach an inflection point;

● Advertising revenue is fundamental, but CPS commission-based promotion is a more worthwhile monetization method for ordinary people to focus on;

● For college students, office workers, and those trying out side hustles, YouTube is not only a way to make money, but also a long-term path to enhance self-worth.

Many people feel it's "too late," but the truth is—it's never too late to start making YouTube videos. The key is, are you willing to try, persevere, and upload your first video, just like Huang Siping?

After all, in this era where everyone is looking for a side hustle, YouTube could be your gateway to the global market.