Let me guess - you just hit 100K views on your latest YouTube video, and now you're frantically googling how much money should be landing in your bank account. 

Or maybe you're planning your content strategy and wondering if those six-figure view counts are worth the effort.

I've been there. That mix of excitement and confusion when you see the numbers climbing but have no clue what they actually mean for your wallet.

The Straight Answer You Came For

Here's the deal: 100K YouTube views typically earns creators between $300 and $800. But (and this is a big but) I've seen creators make as little as $120 and as much as $3,000 from the same view count.

Wild range, right?

That's because YouTube doesn't pay you for views - they pay you for ads shown to viewers. And not all viewers are created equal in the eyes of advertisers.

Why Your Friend Makes More Than You (It's Not Personal)

Picture this: You and your buddy both get 100K views. You're making gaming content, pulling in $165. Meanwhile, they're talking about credit cards and investment strategies, banking $1,650.

Same platform. Same view count. Ten times the money.

The difference? Your friend stumbled into what we call a "high-CPM niche." CPM stands for Cost Per Mille (fancy Latin for cost per thousand), and it's basically what advertisers pay to show their ads to 1,000 viewers.

Here's what different niches typically earn per 100K views:

• Finance/Investment content: $1,200-$2,500

• Technology reviews: $700-$1,500

• Business/Entrepreneurship: $800-$1,500

• Education/Online courses: $500-$1,000

• Lifestyle/Vlogging: $300-$700

• Gaming: $150-$400

• Entertainment/Comedy: $200-$500

I once worked with a finance creator who showed me their analytics - $42 CPM during tax season. That same week, a gaming channel I consulted for was celebrating their $2.50 CPM like they'd won the lottery.

The Geography Game Nobody Talks About

Here's something that blew my mind when I first discovered it: A viewer from Norway is worth about 20 times more than a viewer from India.

Not kidding.

According to recent data, Norway tops the charts with CPMs around $43, while India sits at about $0.38. The US falls somewhere in the middle at $13-15.

So if your 100K views come primarily from:

• US/UK/Canada: Expect $400-$800

• Western Europe: Around $350-$700

• Eastern Europe: Maybe $200-$400

• Asia/Africa: Could be $100-$300

One creator I know specifically started making content in Portuguese after realizing Brazilian views were worth 5x more than his Indonesian audience. Smart move? Absolutely. Ethical? That's your call.

The 8-Minute Rule That Changes Everything

Want to know a quick way to potentially double your earnings? Make your videos longer than 8 minutes.

Here's why: Videos under 8 minutes can only show ads at the beginning and end. Cross that 8-minute threshold, and suddenly you can place mid-roll ads throughout your content.

I tested this myself. Same topic, similar view counts:

• 6-minute video: $3.20 RPM

• 12-minute video: $7.80 RPM

That's a 144% increase just by talking a bit longer. Though let's be real - padding your content with fluff just to hit 8 minutes is a great way to tank your channel. The extra length needs to add value, not just minutes.

YouTube Shorts: The Plot Twist

Now here's where things get interesting (and slightly depressing). YouTube Shorts - those vertical videos under 60 seconds - pay drastically less than regular videos.

We're talking $0.01-$0.03 per 1,000 views compared to the $1-$5 you might get from long-form content. So 100K views on Shorts might net you a whopping $1-$3.

I know, I know. It hurts.

But here's the thing - Shorts aren't really about direct monetization. They're about growing your channel fast, then converting those viewers to your long-form content where the real money lives.

The Money YouTube Keeps (Spoiler: It's A Lot)

Let's talk about something YouTube doesn't advertise: they keep 45% of all ad revenue.

So when an advertiser pays $20 CPM to show ads on your video, you're actually getting $11 RPM (Revenue Per Mille). That's your actual take-home before taxes.

This is why Youtube monetization services and alternative revenue streams become crucial once you start growing. Ad revenue alone rarely pays the bills unless you're pulling millions of views monthly.

When You'll Actually See The Money

Made your first $100? Cool, now wait a month.

YouTube pays out around the 21st of each month for the previous month's earnings. But only if you've crossed the $100 threshold. Otherwise, it rolls over until you do.

I remember hitting $97 in my first month and having to wait two whole months for my first payment. The anticipation nearly killed me.

Oh, and don't forget about taxes. YouTube doesn't withhold them for you (in most countries), so you'll need to set aside 15-30% depending on where you live. Nothing ruins the excitement of your first payment quite like realizing a chunk of it belongs to the tax authorities.

Beyond Ad Revenue: Where The Real Money Lives

Here's the truth bomb most articles won't tell you: successful YouTubers don't rely on ad revenue.

My 100K views might generate $500 in ads, but the affiliate links in my description? Those could bring in $2,000. The online course I mention? Another $5,000. The sponsorship deal? $3,000.

See where I'm going with this?

Smart creators use YouTube as a discovery platform, not an ATM. The views build your authority, and authority builds real business opportunities.

The Myth of Subscriber Counts

"But don't I need millions of subscribers first?"

Nope. I've seen channels with 10K subscribers out-earning channels with 100K. It's not about how many people hit the subscribe button - it's about how engaged they are and what action they take.

Quality beats quantity every single time. 1,000 true fans who buy your products beat 100,000 casual viewers who skip your ads.

Your Next Move

So you want to maximize your YouTube earnings? Here's your action plan:

1. Pick a profitable niche - Yes, even gaming channels can find sub-niches with better CPMs

2. Target high-value countries - Create content that appeals to audiences in countries with higher CPMs

3. Optimize video length - Aim for 8-12 minutes when it makes sense

4. Build multiple revenue streams - Don't rely solely on ads

5. Focus on engagement - Higher engagement = better ad rates

The platform is constantly evolving, and what works today might not work tomorrow. But one thing remains constant: creating value for your audience is the only sustainable path to YouTube success.

Remember - those 100K views are just the beginning. It's what you do with the attention that counts.

Now stop reading about making money on YouTube and go create something worth watching. Your audience is waiting.