The average social media influencer today wants to get paid on TikTok, and this is not a far-fetched financial goal, as over 61% of marketers use TikTok to work with influencers. However, earning more revenue on this platform involves several factors beyond just posting your content.
One of the basic requirements you must meet is having a lot of followers, even though that alone isn’t enough to earn you more revenue on TikTok. We see examples from influencers with huge followings, like Charlie D’Ameli, who earns over $100,000 per post on TikTok, and Khaby Lame, who earns over $750,000 per post.
In this article, we’ll share some of the major factors to consider to get paid on TikTok, including follower count, engagement rate, and available content monetisation methods such as the Creator Rewards Program. You’ll also find out exactly how many followers you need—whether it’s 10,000 for the Creator Program or a larger audience for brand sponsorships.
How Many Followers Need to Join the TikTok Creator Rewards Program
The TikTok Creator Fund was launched in 2020 to pay creators for their popular content, based on the number of views and engagement each post generated. However, in March 2024, it was replaced by the TikTok Creativity Program (also known as the Creator Rewards Program), which offers improved monetisation options for creators.
To join the Creator Rewards Program, you typically need to meet the following criteria:
- Age: Be at least 18 years old, or 19 years old in South Korea.
- Followers: Have at least 10,000 followers on your profile.
- Views: Accumulate at least 100,000 video views in the past 30 days.
- Location: Be in a country where the program is available. Some eligible countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil.
- Account Type: Have a personal account on TikTok; business, political, or government accounts are not eligible.
- Account Status: Ensure your account is in good standing and has a history of adhering to all TikTok rules and regulations.
- Content: Regularly post original, high-quality videos that are at least one minute long.
How to Get More Followers on TikTok
Increasing your follower count on TikTok enhances your content visibility and opens up monetisation opportunities through the TikTok Creator Funds program. However, if you’d like quicker audience growth, your best bet is to buy TikTok followers, as this gives you an early boost.
We make this easier at Media Mister by providing real followers with 100% authentic accounts to grow your TikTok profile. Buying from us will increase your chances of appearing on more For You Pages (FYPs), getting you even more organic followers.
How Do Influencers Get Paid on TikTok Based on Followers?
Here are some of the various ways influencers can earn money on TikTok:
1. Promote Partnerships / Brand Collaborations
One of the most popular ways influencers get paid on TikTok is through brand deals, paid collaborations, and influencer marketing, regardless of their follower count.
Even with 5K+ followers, you can earn $50–$500 per campaign as a creator. All you have to do is reach out to brands or join influencer platforms. For example, Addison Rae started landing early partnership campaigns with fashion brands before hitting millions.
Below is a breakdown of how earnings usually grow with followers in content partnerships:
- Nano-influencers (1K – 10K): $5 to $50 per post
- Micro-influencers (10K – 50K): $50 to $1,200 per post
- Mid-tier (50K – 500K): $1,200 to $5,000 per post
- Macro (500K – 1M): $5,000 to $10,000 per post
- Mega (1M+): $10,000+ per post
2. Make Money via the TikTok Creator Rewards Program
The TikTok Creator Rewards Program, also known as the Content Monetisation Program, helps you increase your revenue as long as you meet specific requirements. This includes having at least 10,000 TikTok followers, allowing you to apply and start making money from TikTok directly.
Once accepted, you can earn engagement payouts ranging from $0.02 to $0.04 for every 1,000 views. This means that a video with over 1 million views could earn you about $20 to $40. TikTok rewards consistent efforts, enabling you to earn more as you create and publish additional content.
3. Earn as a TikTok Shop Creator
TikTok Shop sales are one of the fastest ways to reach a wider audience and drive more conversions. It allows product tagging directly on your content, increasing your eCommerce sales.
While you need at least 5,000 followers to set up a TikTok Shop, there’s a Pilot Program that makes selling online easier for users with fewer followers. Let’s see the requirements of them below:
Standard TikTok Shop Creator Requirements
The following requirements must be met to be a TikTok Shop Creator:
- You must have at least 5000 followers.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have posted a video in the last 28 days.
- Your account must adhere to TikTok’s community guidelines and policies.
Pilot Program
This program is suitable for lower follower accounts. The following requirements must be met to be part of the Pilot program:
- Have at least 1000 followers
- Meet the other requirements as stated above for TikTok Shop Creator
- NB: The number of shoppable videos you can post per week is limited.
Once you meet the requirements, you can earn commission income ranging from 5% to 20% per sale. For example, while fitness influencers add their fitness gear and protein products in their videos, beauty influencers often tag their products naturally into their videos for easy online shop promotion.
4. Sell Your Own Products
Boost your eCommerce income by marketing your products directly to your audience. You don’t need a specific number of followers to start; even with 1,000 followers, you can connect with your target audience and generate around $100 to $1,000 monthly.
First, determine what you wish to sell. It could be digital products like online courses, ebooks, worksheets, and templates, or physical products like merch, art, or custom items. It can also be something different and unique. For example, you could sell self-made products like crafts and generate more merchandise sales.
5. Offer Coaching or Consulting
In addition to your online product sales, you can offer coaching services to your audience as an expert in your niche. Even with a small following (like 1k followers), you can still draw in clients, as the focus is mostly on what you’re offering and how you promote it.
This includes the pricing factor, where you have the liberty to charge anywhere from $50 to $500 based on the service you offer. For example, you can offer paid mentorship sessions or share your expertise in short videos that can easily go viral.
You can also promote personalized guidance for beginners in your field, and a perfect example is a fitness instructor sharing tips for gym newbies. Other expertise monetisation strategies include selling ebooks or consulting online and getting paid per client session.
6. Collect Gifts on TikTok Live
TikTok gift monetisation allows viewers to express their appreciation for your live content or video content by purchasing coins to gift you as the creator. This can then be redeemed from your profile, so you can earn real-time income and get paid on TikTok.
These virtual gifts enhance your Live engagement and content popularity, as the algorithm recognises them and recommends your content to more users. However, you must meet specific requirements to qualify for these audience donations:
- Be in a location where Video Gifts or LIVE Gifts are available
- Be at least 18 years old
- Ensure your account is reputable and strictly adheres to the TikTok Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
- You can only use a personal TikTok account, not business or public interest accounts.
- Be eligible to go live to get LIVE gifts, which include having at least 1000 followers.
- For Video Gifts, you must have at least 10,000 followers and an account that is at least 30 days old, and you must have published a public video in the last 30 days.
7. Offer Premium Paid Content
Take your follower monetisation approach a notch higher on TikTok by offering premium content. Members-only content allows your followers to pay for exclusive access to some of your content. You can use TikTok’s built-in tools or other subscription platforms to provide this service. If you have up to 10,000 followers, you can put some of your services behind a paywall, potentially earning between $5 and $50 per month from each subscriber.
The eligibility criteria to earn content subscription revenue include:
- Be at least 18 years old (or 19 in South Korea)
- Have an account that’s been active for at least 30 days
- Use a personal or business Account (political and private accounts aren’t eligible)
- Have posted 3 or more public videos in the past 30 days
- At least 10,000 followers (with some exceptions)
- Gained 1,000 or more views in the last 30 days
8. Run TikTok Ads
To get paid on TikTok, you need to think beyond the organic approach and leverage TikTok ads for a faster and more effective result. You can run in-feed ads, Spark ads, or branded content ads, all of which can help boost your visibility, drive sales, and benefit from sponsored promotions.
In this scenario, follower count isn’t the primary focus; instead, higher engagement can increase your ad monetisation success rate. However, if you join the TikTok Shop Affiliate Marketing program, you’ll need at least 5,000 followers to get started and maximise your earning potential.
While TikTok ads are paid campaigns that allow you to promote your content or products for a fee, the TikTok Shop Affiliate Program enables you to earn commissions from sales of affiliate products tagged in your videos.
Who Are the Top Earners on TikTok?
Here are some top TikTokers with powerful follower monetisation.
- Khaby Lame has 161.4 million followers and earns from global brand deals and collaborations after gaining worldwide fame for comedic videos.
- Charlie D’Amelio has 156.3 million followers and earns huge influencer income from brand deals, her clothing line, and TV projects.
- Dixie D’Amelio has 54.6 million followers and earns through music, endorsements, and merchandise sales.
- Addison Rae, best known for her dancing videos, has 88.3 million followers and earns income from multiple brand deals, her skincare line, music, and more.
- Zach King has 82 million followers and earns through deals with several companies for his video editing skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many Views is $1 on TikTok?
TikTok does not directly pay users per view. However, users can earn money through the TikTok Creator Fund, with payouts ranging from $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views. So, based on that, you’d need roughly 25,000 to 50,000 views to make $1, depending on factors like engagement and location.
2. Does TikTok pay for likes?
TikTok does not pay for likes directly. The TikTok Creator Fund pays based on views and engagement (likes, comments, shares, etc.), but likes alone don’t generate income. More engagement can increase the likelihood of being paid, though.
3. Does TikTok pay monthly?
Yes, TikTok pays creators monthly if they are part of the Creator Fund. Payouts generally occur between the 1st and 15th of each month for the previous month’s earnings.
4. What Time does TikTok Pay?
TikTok typically processes payments between the 1st and 15th of each month, but the exact date may vary depending on your bank or payment method. Payments are made once you reach a minimum earnings threshold of $100.


