YouTube RPM by Niche (2026 Data)
YouTube Revenue Per Mille (RPM) represents how much a creator earns per 1,000 video views after YouTube takes its 45% cut. RPM varies dramatically by content niche, audience geography, and seasonality, with some niches earning 10-20x more than others.
This dataset compiles RPM data from creator economy reports and analytics platforms for 2026, covering 25+ content niches, geographic breakdowns, and earnings projections. Use our <a href="/business-marketing/rpm-calculator/youtube" class="text-blue-600 hover:underline">YouTube RPM calculator</a> to estimate your channel's potential revenue based on these figures.
Key Insights
- Personal finance is the highest-paying YouTube niche with an average RPM of $32.00, more than 9x higher than gaming content ($3.40).
- A finance channel with 1 million monthly views earns approximately $32,000/month, while a gaming channel with the same views earns only $3,400/month.
- US viewers generate RPMs 10-15x higher than viewers from India or Southeast Asia, making audience geography a critical revenue factor.
- Q4 RPMs across all niches are typically 30-60% higher than the annual average due to holiday advertising budgets.
- Long-form content (12-20 minutes) earns 50-80% more per view than short-form content under 8 minutes due to mid-roll ad placements.
YouTube RPM by Content Niche (2026)
Average RPM (revenue per 1,000 views) by content category, ranked from highest to lowest. Includes typical range and advertiser demand rating.
| Niche | Average RPM | Low Range | High Range | Advertiser Demand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Finance & Investing | $32.00 | $18.00 | $55.00 | Very High |
| Insurance | $28.50 | $15.00 | $48.00 | Very High |
| Legal / Law | $26.00 | $14.00 | $44.00 | Very High |
| Business & Entrepreneurship | $22.50 | $12.00 | $38.00 | Very High |
| Real Estate | $21.00 | $11.00 | $36.00 | High |
| Digital Marketing | $19.80 | $10.00 | $34.00 | High |
| Software & SaaS Reviews | $18.50 | $10.00 | $32.00 | High |
| Technology & Gadgets | $14.20 | $7.00 | $24.00 | High |
| Cryptocurrency | $13.80 | $5.00 | $28.00 | Medium-High |
| Health & Wellness | $13.50 | $6.00 | $22.00 | High |
| Education & Tutorials | $12.80 | $6.00 | $21.00 | Medium-High |
| Career & Job Advice | $12.40 | $6.00 | $20.00 | Medium-High |
| Home Improvement / DIY | $11.60 | $5.50 | $19.00 | Medium-High |
| Automotive | $11.20 | $5.00 | $18.00 | Medium-High |
| Cooking & Food | $8.40 | $3.50 | $14.00 | Medium |
| Fitness & Exercise | $8.20 | $3.50 | $13.50 | Medium |
| Travel & Vlogging | $7.80 | $3.00 | $14.00 | Medium |
| Beauty & Skincare | $7.40 | $3.00 | $13.00 | Medium |
| Fashion | $6.80 | $2.80 | $12.00 | Medium |
| Photography | $6.20 | $2.50 | $11.00 | Medium-Low |
| Music | $4.80 | $1.50 | $9.00 | Medium-Low |
| Sports & Athletics | $4.60 | $1.50 | $8.50 | Medium-Low |
| Comedy & Entertainment | $4.20 | $1.50 | $8.00 | Medium-Low |
| Pets & Animals | $3.80 | $1.20 | $7.00 | Low-Medium |
| Gaming | $3.40 | $1.00 | $6.50 | Low-Medium |
| Reaction Videos | $2.80 | $0.80 | $5.50 | Low |
| Kids & Family Content | $2.20 | $0.60 | $4.50 | Low |
YouTube RPM by Viewer Country (2026)
Average RPM based on the geographic location of the viewer. Ad rates vary significantly by country due to advertiser budgets and economic factors.
| Country | Average RPM | Relative to US |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $12.50 | 100% |
| Australia | $11.80 | 94% |
| Canada | $10.40 | 83% |
| United Kingdom | $10.20 | 82% |
| Germany | $9.60 | 77% |
| Norway | $9.40 | 75% |
| Switzerland | $9.20 | 74% |
| France | $7.80 | 62% |
| Japan | $7.40 | 59% |
| Netherlands | $7.20 | 58% |
| South Korea | $5.80 | 46% |
| Brazil | $2.40 | 19% |
| Mexico | $2.10 | 17% |
| India | $1.20 | 10% |
| Indonesia | $0.80 | 6% |
Estimated Earnings by View Count and Niche
Projected monthly earnings based on monthly view counts across different niches. Assumes typical audience geographic mix (60% Tier 1 countries).
| Niche | 100K Views/mo | 500K Views/mo | 1M Views/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Finance | $3,200 | $16,000 | $32,000 |
| Business & Entrepreneurship | $2,250 | $11,250 | $22,500 |
| Real Estate | $2,100 | $10,500 | $21,000 |
| Technology & Gadgets | $1,420 | $7,100 | $14,200 |
| Cryptocurrency | $1,380 | $6,900 | $13,800 |
| Education & Tutorials | $1,280 | $6,400 | $12,800 |
| Cooking & Food | $840 | $4,200 | $8,400 |
| Beauty & Skincare | $740 | $3,700 | $7,400 |
| Travel & Vlogging | $780 | $3,900 | $7,800 |
| Gaming | $340 | $1,700 | $3,400 |
| Comedy & Entertainment | $420 | $2,100 | $4,200 |
| Kids & Family Content | $220 | $1,100 | $2,200 |
Why RPM Varies So Dramatically by Niche
The primary driver of RPM differences is advertiser willingness to pay. In the personal finance niche, advertisers for credit cards, investment platforms, insurance products, and fintech apps compete fiercely for viewer attention because the customer lifetime value of their products is extremely high. A single credit card customer or investment account signup can be worth $200-$1,000+ to these companies, justifying CPMs of $30-$80 for targeted ads.
At the other end of the spectrum, gaming and entertainment content tends to attract younger demographics with lower purchasing power, and the products advertised (often games, apps, or consumer electronics) have much lower margins. This results in CPMs of just $2-$8 and correspondingly low RPMs of $1-$4.
Content format also matters within niches. Long-form educational videos (10-20+ minutes) in any niche tend to achieve higher RPMs because they allow for mid-roll ads, and viewers who watch educational content are typically in a high-intent mindset. Short-form content under 8 minutes is limited to pre-roll ads and generally earns 30-50% less per view.
How Audience Geography Affects Revenue
Viewer location is arguably the second most important factor in YouTube earnings. A personal finance channel with a 90% US audience can earn $40-$55 RPM, while the same content with a predominantly Indian or Southeast Asian audience might earn $2-$4 RPM. This represents a 10-15x difference based purely on geography.
This geographic disparity exists because advertising budgets are proportional to the economic value of the market. US advertisers collectively spend over $200 billion annually on digital ads, resulting in high competition for ad placements and premium CPMs. In contrast, markets like India and Indonesia have much lower per-capita ad spend despite having massive populations.
For creators aiming to maximize revenue, targeting English-speaking Tier 1 markets (US, UK, Canada, Australia) is crucial. Our RPM calculator lets you model different audience geographic mixes to see how they affect projected earnings.
Strategies for Maximizing Your YouTube RPM
The most effective strategy for increasing RPM is niche selection. Creators who are able to produce content at the intersection of high-RPM topics and their own expertise have a significant monetization advantage. For example, a tech reviewer who pivots toward software reviews and SaaS comparisons can see RPM increase from $14 to $19+ without dramatically changing their content style.
Video length optimization is another lever. Videos between 12-20 minutes in length allow for 2-3 mid-roll ad breaks, which can increase per-view revenue by 50-80% compared to videos under 8 minutes. However, this only works if watch time remains high -- viewers must actually reach the mid-roll placements for them to count.
Seasonal patterns also affect RPM significantly. Q4 (October-December) typically sees 30-60% higher RPMs across all niches due to holiday advertising spend. Finance content in particular can spike to 2x normal RPM in January (tax season) and during market volatility events. Timing your best content to coincide with these periods can substantially boost annual revenue.