Instagram influencers often lead glamorous lifestyles—in fact, that’s kind of their whole thing. But where does the money come from to live in luxury? Influencers can earn income in a number of ways, though none of them are especially easy. How much you can make as an influencer depends on your follower count, the audience you’re catering to, and your own personal brand.
Arguably the most important variable in the amount an influencer gets paid is the size of their audience. It makes sense, after all: The more followers you have, the more opportunities you have to sell a product. So let’s look at how much money you can expect to make based on your follower count. Keep in mind there is no hard-and-fast rule here—these are averages.
Nano-influencers (1K–10K followers) typically earn $10–$100 per post. Nano-influencers may have small audiences, but they can see high engagement rates. Brands may want to work with them because they have direct access to niche communities. Of course, people in this category have usually just become an influencer and may accept free products or small payments in exchange for posts. But even at this level, it’s possible to earn a few hundred dollars per month with consistent brand deals and affiliate links.
Microinfluencers (10K–50K followers) typically earn $100–$500 per post. Microinfluencers can similarly be highly desirable for brands because of their influence over tight-knit communities. They tend to have better engagement than larger influencers, making them a sweet spot for smaller brands. With consistent partnerships, microinfluencers can make a few thousand dollars per month.
Mid-tier influencers (50K–100K followers) typically earn $500–$5,000 per post. At this level, influencers usually have more polished content and a loyal audience. Brands may offer recurring sponsorships, and influencers often begin charging higher fees or bundling content. Some mid-tier influencers also start to diversify their income with brand ambassadorships, merchandise, or digital products such as courses (we’ll get into more of that later).
Macro-influencers (100K–500K followers) typically earn $5,000–$10,000 per post. Macro-influencers are pretty close to internet celebrities. They’ve got a broad reach and brand-name recognition, and therefore they can command much higher rates. These influencers may be represented by talent agencies and negotiate large campaign deals that span several weeks or months. At this level, most earn full-time incomes purely from social media.
Mega-influencers (500K+ followers) typically earn $10,000+ per post. Welcome to the big leagues! Mega-influencers include celebrities, top-tier creators, and viral personalities. Their influence stretches far beyond a single platform, and brands may pay tens of thousands of dollars for a single post. Most mega-influencers have agents and teams, and they can even launch their own product lines, TV deals, or major sponsorships.
All you need is a million followers and then you can expect a bulldozer to dump $100,000 in your front lawn, right? Well, not exactly. Understanding the algorithm and amassing followers is a big first step, but you’ll need to do more than that to have a content-creating career. Here are a few ways to make money on social media.
1. Sponsored posts and brand partnerships
This is the most common way influencers earn money on Instagram: Brands pay creators to promote products or services to their followers. The key is to have a defined niche (such as fashion, fitness, travel, or skincare) and an engaged audience. Even if you don’t have a huge following, brands are increasingly partnering with micro- and nano-influencers due to their high engagement and trust factor.
2. Affiliate marketing
With affiliate marketing, you promote a product and earn a commission for every sale made through your unique affiliate link. Instagram allows you to add links in Stories (if you have the Link sticker) or in your bio. You can join affiliate programs like Amazon Associates or ShareASale, or work directly with brands. This model works well for creators who have built trust with their audience and can recommend products authentically.
3. Selling your own products or services
Instagram is a fantastic platform for promoting and selling your own stuff, whether that’s physical products, digital downloads, or services. You can set up an Instagram Shop to sell items directly from your profile or direct followers to an external website.
4. Instagram subscriptions
Instagram now offers a subscriptions feature that allows creators to earn recurring income by offering exclusive content to paying subscribers. You can provide bonus Stories, Lives, or behind-the-scenes access for fans willing to pay a monthly fee. This helps build a loyal community while (ideally!) creating steady income.
5. Badges in Instagram Live
If you regularly go live on Instagram, you can earn money through badges, which are virtual tips your viewers can purchase during your broadcast. You’ll need to secure a creator account and meet Instagram’s eligibility requirements to enable badges.
6. Sponsored Reels
Short-form video seems to be Instagram’s current priority, so Reels get boosted in the algorithm. Brands hoping to capitalize on that are increasingly looking for creators to make authentic-seeming sponsored Reels to help them reach a wider audience.
What are Instagram Reels and Why Do They Matter?Who’s mastered the craft of making IG money? As you’ll see, these celebrities have amassed fame outside of Instagram—but trust us, you can still make money as a homegrown influencer. Some of this data is disputed, so these are ballpark figures on how much money these names are making.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: $3.23 million per post. With over 650 million followers, soccer phenom Ronaldo remains the highest-paid Instagram influencer. His global appeal and consistent engagement make him a top choice for brands worldwide.
- Lionel Messi: $2.59 million per post. Boasting around 500 million followers, Messi—also a soccer star—commands significant earnings per sponsored post. His recent move to Inter Miami has further amplified his influence, especially in North America.
- Selena Gomez: $2.55 million per post. Gomez, at 420 million followers, leverages her multifaceted career in music, acting, and beauty to secure high-paying brand deals.
- Kylie Jenner: $2.38 million per post. Beauty mogul and reality TV star Jenner’s nearly 400 million followers contribute to her substantial earnings per sponsored post.
- Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson: $2.32 million per post. Standing at around 393 million followers, Johnson’s diverse ventures in entertainment and fitness make him a valuable partner for brands.
- Ariana Grande: $2.26 million per post. Grande defies gravity at around 375 million followers; her ventures in music, fashion, film, and TV contribute to her high earnings.
- Kim Kardashian: $2.17 million per post. Kardashian continues to be a dominant force in beauty and fashion endorsements, with 356 million followers.
- Beyoncé: $1.89 million per post. Beyoncé’s 311 million followers and her influence in music and fashion secure her spot among the top earners on Instagram.
- Khloé Kardashian: $1.87 million per post. This Kardashian’s 302 million follower count and business ventures, including her clothing brand Good American, help her rake in the dough.
- Justin Bieber: $1.76 million per post. At 294 million followers, Bieber gets paid not just for his global music career but also for multiple lifestyle brand partnerships.
This list is certainly an endorsement of the adage “the rich get richer,” but with a decent chunk of followers, you can make a little money yourself. It may not get you to Ronaldo’s status, but a few bucks here and there never hurt.
