How Much Does TikTok Pay Creators

The current position of TikTok is a scary one, since everyone is talking about the possibility of its ban. While it is a genuine concern, TikTok remains one of the best instruments to find and build an audience. So, how much does it actually pay? What is its monetization model? How much you could be earning potentially? Let’s dive in.

Where the Real Money Is: Brand Deals

Despite the ongoing concerns and a rather unstable position that TikTok is in, you need to remember that the real power of TikTok lies in its ability to build influence faster than any other platform. And, where comes the influence, come the brand deals. There are three main paths on how you can get one on TikTok:

1. Inbound (Brand Reaches Out)

Brands or agencies DM you, email you (if you’ve listed it), or reach out through TikTok’s Creator Marketplace (TCM). The quality of these deals can vary: some are legitimate partnerships, others are lowball “can you post this for $50” types.

1. Outbound (You Pitch)

If you’ve got a clear niche (fitness, comedy, parenting, fashion), proactively reaching out to brands that match your content works well. You can create a media kit and offer creative concepts that align with your content style. TikTok’s short format makes brands more open to experimental partnerships.

1. Via Marketplaces

TikTok's own TCM tool is increasingly reliable for deals over $500, and lets you negotiate through the platform.

Typical rates vary by niche, audience size, and engagement rate, going everywhere from $200 all the way to $20 000+.

Source: bethmfuller

Free Tool That Helps You Get More Deals

A lot of creators run into trouble getting deals.

Some brands vanish, some never reply, and some ask for your stats five different times. To make that easier, many creators now use a free tool called pin.top.

It’s basically one link that shows everything brands need:

• your rates
• what services you offer
• your audience stats
• and your past work 

You just drop the link in your bio or messages, and it works like a mini storefront. Brands can quickly understand what you offer and place orders. It doesn’t guarantee deals, but it makes the whole process way more clear and structured.

The Creator Fund: What It Really Is (and Isn’t)

TikTok’s Creator Fund is often the first place creators look for income. The numbers sound appealing at first: you can get paid for your views. But let’s pull back the curtain.

TikTok’s fund is a fixed pool of money divided among everyone who qualifies. As more creators join, the pie stays the same, but the slices get thinner. Under the Creator Fund umbrella, they can earn about $0.02-$0.04 per 1000 views. 

Nowadays, with the Creator Rewards Program, there’s a better earning potential, especially rewarding original video of at least one minute. With this new system, creators who make original content commonly see RPMs of $0.40-$1.00, which is a huge improvement, but their earnings greatly depend on their region, engagement, and other similar metrics. The content needs to be 100% original, so no reposts, lip syncing, duets, stitches, or anything similar.

Source: lana.k.social

TikTok Shop

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. TikTok Shop has exploded, especially in markets like the US, UK, and Southeast Asia. But most creators fail here because they treat it like affiliate marketing. 

Let us give you a better framework: you’re not selling products, you’re selling attention triggers. 

How to: TikTok Shop

Some of the mechanics of the TikTok shop might look familiar to people who are already waist-deep in the world of Etsy Shop. The fundamentals still remain the same. At its core, TikTok Shop is a native e-commerce marketplace (like Amazon inside TikTok). You can earn by promoting products and getting a cut of commissions from sellers. But it’s not just that. You can also sell your own products if you want to. Here’s what to keep in mind: 

• Don’t just slap a link to the product in your bio. Make an effort to promote it in your videos.
• Don’t pick the most high-commission items, instead aim for high-converting. 
• Test the product yourself before promoting it. 
• Use TikTok Live for promotion.
• Follow your CTR and other metrics to improve your marketing strategy.
• Do not ignore customer feedback whether it’s positive or negative.
• Do not promote too many products, or sketchy trending ones. It can negatively affect your reputation.

Done right, creators can earn more from TikTok Shop than from brand deals. Especially in niches like beauty, wellness, kitchen hacks, or personal care.

Source: thekeirajones

The Smarter Play: Integrate TikTok, Don’t Rely Solely on It

TikTok is a great tool to get discovered quickly, it’s amazing for marketing, but as it stands currently - it is also unreliable. There are many alternatives to TikTok that you need to check out, because the best course of action in this case is to spread your content far and wide. 

If you are solely on TikTok, you lose a lot of visibility and revenue. Take YouTube Shorts as an example. If you spread your content on both platforms - you win instantly, because that’s double the amount of income for the same amount of work. 

And if you’re confused and unsure on where to start - drop us a message and we’ll gladly help!