Key Findings
The TikTok earnings report for Q1 2026 shows that average creator RPM across all monetization programs reached $1.05 per 1,000 views, a 22% increase compared to Q1 2025. This comprehensive analysis draws from self-reported earnings data across 4,200 creators in 18 countries, covering January through mid-February 2026 with projections through March.
Three trends define Q1 2026 creator earnings. First, the Creativity Program now pays 40% more than the legacy Creator Fund per 1,000 qualified views. Second, finance and technology niches continue to command the highest RPMs, reaching $1.80 and $1.65 respectively. Third, creators in the United States earn 2.3x more per view than the global average.
The most significant shift: brand deal revenue now accounts for 62% of total income for full-time creators, up from 55% in Q1 2025. Direct monetization through TikTok's own programs remains a secondary income stream for most, but the gap is narrowing as the Creativity Program matures.
Use the TikTok Money Calculator to see how these updated figures translate to your specific follower count and niche.
Q1 2026 TikTok Creator Earnings Report — Primary Data
The primary earnings data for Q1 2026 reveals clear patterns in RPM trends, niche performance, and geographic distribution that every creator should understand.
RPM Trends: January Through March 2026
RPM (revenue per mille, or per 1,000 views) is the single most important metric for understanding TikTok creator pay. Q1 2026 RPM data shows a steady upward trend across all major programs.
| Month | Creativity Program RPM | Creator Fund RPM | TikTok Pulse RPM | Blended Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | $0.95 | $0.035 | $1.80 | $0.92 |
| February 2026 | $1.05 | $0.033 | $2.10 | $1.05 |
| March 2026 (projected) | $1.15 | $0.032 | $2.25 | $1.18 |
| Q1 2026 Average | $1.05 | $0.033 | $2.05 | $1.05 |
| Q1 2025 Average | $0.72 | $0.038 | $1.45 | $0.86 |
| YoY Change | +45.8% | -13.2% | +41.4% | +22.1% |
The Creativity Program RPM surge reflects TikTok's deliberate investment in longer content (more than 60 seconds), which carries higher-value mid-roll ad placements. The legacy Creator Fund continues its decline, paying an average of just $0.033 per 1,000 views — a clear signal that creators should migrate to the Creativity Program.
TikTok Pulse, which places creator content alongside premium brand advertising, delivers the highest RPM but remains available only to top 4% of creators by engagement metrics. For a detailed breakdown of RPM by platform, check TikTok vs YouTube RPM by niche.
Earnings by Niche
Niche selection remains the strongest predictor of creator RPM, with a 4x spread between the highest and lowest-paying categories. Advertisers in finance, technology, and business pay premium CPMs, which directly translates to higher creator payouts.
| Niche | Average RPM (Creativity Program) | Average Monthly Views (Mid-Tier Creator) | Estimated Monthly Earnings | YoY RPM Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance / Investing | $1.80 | 2.1M | $3,780 | +38% |
| Technology / Reviews | $1.65 | 1.8M | $2,970 | +42% |
| Business / Entrepreneurship | $1.45 | 1.5M | $2,175 | +35% |
| Health / Fitness | $1.20 | 2.5M | $3,000 | +28% |
| Beauty / Skincare | $1.10 | 3.2M | $3,520 | +31% |
| Food / Cooking | $0.95 | 2.8M | $2,660 | +19% |
| Comedy / Entertainment | $0.75 | 4.5M | $3,375 | +15% |
| Dance / Music | $0.55 | 5.0M | $2,750 | +10% |
| Gaming | $0.90 | 2.0M | $1,800 | +25% |
| Education / Tutorials | $1.30 | 1.6M | $2,080 | +33% |
Beauty and comedy creators earn the highest total monthly income despite lower RPMs because they generate significantly more views. Finance creators earn the highest per-view rate but typically have smaller audiences. This is the core tradeoff every creator faces when choosing a niche.
For deeper niche analysis, see our brand deal rates by niche data and TikTok creator income distribution.
Q1 2026 TikTok Creator Earnings Report — Extended Data
The extended data set covers earnings by country, program comparisons, and year-over-year growth metrics that complete the Q1 2026 picture.
Earnings by Country
Geographic location dramatically affects TikTok creator earnings because advertiser demand and CPM rates vary by market. US-based creators continue to earn the highest RPMs globally, but the gap is narrowing as TikTok expands its ad marketplace.
| Country | Average RPM | Median Monthly Earnings (Full-Time) | Creator Fund Available | Creativity Program Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $1.25 | $3,800 | Yes | Yes |
| United Kingdom | $0.98 | $2,900 | Yes | Yes |
| Canada | $0.88 | $2,400 | Yes | Yes |
| Australia | $0.82 | $2,200 | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | $0.75 | $1,900 | Yes | Yes |
| France | $0.70 | $1,750 | Yes | Yes |
| Brazil | $0.35 | $650 | Limited | Beta |
| India | $0.18 | $280 | No (banned) | No |
| Philippines | $0.22 | $350 | Limited | Beta |
| Nigeria | $0.15 | $220 | No | No |
The US-to-global RPM ratio stands at 2.3x, meaning American creators earn more than double what the average global creator earns per view. This premium exists because US advertisers pay the highest CPMs on TikTok's ad platform.
For country-specific breakdowns, explore TikTok pay for US creators and TikTok pay for UK creators.
Monetization Program Comparison
TikTok now offers five distinct monetization pathways. Understanding which programs stack and which require exclusivity is essential for maximizing total income.
| Program | Minimum Followers | Minimum Views (30 days) | Revenue Type | Q1 2026 Avg Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creativity Program | 10,000 | 100,000 | RPM-based | $1.05 per 1K views |
| Creator Fund (legacy) | 10,000 | 100,000 | Fixed pool | $0.033 per 1K views |
| TikTok Pulse | Top 4% engagement | N/A | Ad revenue share | $2.05 per 1K views |
| TikTok Shop Affiliate | 1,000 | 1,000 | Commission (5-20%) | $850/month median |
| LIVE Gifts | 1,000 | N/A | Virtual gift conversion | $420/month median |
The Creativity Program and TikTok Shop Affiliate commissions are the two programs with the lowest barriers to entry and highest growth potential. Creators earning more than $100K annually almost always combine at least three of these programs with external brand deals.
Learn how to stack these programs effectively in our seven ways to make money on TikTok guide.
Year-Over-Year Growth Analysis
Total TikTok creator payouts in Q1 2026 are projected to reach $1.8 billion globally, compared to $1.2 billion in Q1 2025 — a 50% increase. Several factors drive this growth.
Advertising revenue on TikTok grew 35% year-over-year as more brands shifted budgets from traditional television to short-form video. TikTok Shop GMV (gross merchandise value) increased 78% YoY, creating a new commission-based income stream that barely existed in Q1 2024. The Creativity Program's expansion to 28 new markets added millions of eligible creators.
Despite these gains, the median full-time creator still earns less than $2,500 per month from TikTok alone. Brand deals remain the primary income driver. Our brand deal rate calculator helps creators price their sponsored content accurately based on current market rates.
Income Distribution: The Creator Economy Gap
The income distribution among TikTok creators follows a steep power law. The top 1% of monetized creators earn 33% of all platform payouts, while the bottom 50% earn just 3% of total revenue.
| Creator Percentile | Monthly TikTok Income (Platform Only) | Monthly Total Income (Including Brand Deals) |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1% | $28,000+ | $85,000+ |
| Top 5% | $8,500 | $25,000 |
| Top 10% | $4,200 | $12,000 |
| Top 25% | $1,800 | $5,500 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $620 | $2,400 |
| Bottom 25% | $120 | $450 |
This concentration effect is intensifying. The top 1% earned 28% of payouts in Q1 2025, meaning their share grew by 5 percentage points in one year. For strategies to move up the income ladder, check our diversify TikTok income streams guide.
Methodology
This Q1 2026 earnings report aggregates data from multiple sources to provide the most accurate picture of TikTok creator income available.
Sample size: 4,200 creators across 18 countries who submitted verified earnings screenshots through our quarterly survey, supplemented by publicly available data from creator communities and platform announcements.
Time period: January 1 through February 15, 2026, with March projections based on seasonal patterns and confirmed advertiser spend data.
RPM calculations: All RPM figures represent net creator payouts (after TikTok's revenue share) per 1,000 qualified views. For the Creativity Program, only views on videos exceeding 60 seconds with more than 1,000 total views are counted.
Limitations: Self-reported data carries inherent biases. Higher-earning creators are more likely to participate in surveys. We apply statistical weighting to correct for this, but actual median earnings may be 10-15% lower than reported figures.
All currency figures are in US dollars. International earnings are converted at the exchange rate as of February 1, 2026.
Calculate Your Own Numbers
The data above represents averages and medians, but individual creator earnings vary widely based on niche, location, posting frequency, and audience engagement.
Use our TikTok Money Calculator to input your specific metrics and get a personalized earnings estimate based on Q1 2026 data. The calculator incorporates the RPM ranges, niche multipliers, and country adjustments from this report.
For creators focused on the Creativity Program specifically, our RPM Calculator breaks down expected revenue by video length and content category. And if brand deals represent your primary income source, the Brand Deal Rate Calculator uses current Q1 2026 market rates.
We also recommend reviewing our engagement rate calculator because engagement rate directly predicts both algorithmic reach and brand deal pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does TikTok pay per 1,000 views in Q1 2026?
TikTok pays between $0.033 and $2.05 per 1,000 views depending on the monetization program. The legacy Creator Fund pays the lowest at $0.033 per 1,000 views, while TikTok Pulse pays the highest at $2.05. The Creativity Program, which most eligible creators should use, pays an average of $1.05 per 1,000 views in Q1 2026.
Why did the Creator Fund RPM decrease year-over-year?
The Creator Fund operates from a fixed daily pool that gets divided among all eligible creators. As more creators qualify, each individual share decreases. The Creativity Program uses a different revenue-share model tied to actual ad revenue, which is why its RPM is increasing. TikTok has been encouraging migration away from the Creator Fund since mid-2025.
Which TikTok niche pays the most in 2026?
Finance and investing content pays the highest RPM at $1.80 per 1,000 views on the Creativity Program, followed by technology at $1.65 and business at $1.45. However, the highest total monthly earnings often go to beauty and comedy creators who generate more than 3 million monthly views despite their lower per-view rates.
How do TikTok earnings compare to YouTube Shorts in Q1 2026?
YouTube Shorts pays an average of $0.05-$0.07 per 1,000 views through its revenue sharing program, significantly lower than TikTok's Creativity Program average of $1.05 per 1,000 views. However, YouTube's long-form content pays $3-$8 per 1,000 views, making it more lucrative overall for creators who produce both formats. See our full comparison in TikTok vs YouTube Shorts 2026.