Does TikTok Actually Pay You? (Read This First)

Many users wonder if they can make a decent living off of being creative on TikTok. 

How does it work? More importantly, do you have what it takes to start making big money too? 

In this article, I will detail all of the hidden details when it comes to earning money on TikTok, as well as ways you can boost your visibility for TikTok to work for you!

Can You Make Money On TikTok?

Yes, you can make money on TikTok.

However, there are a few rules that you have to follow:

  1. You have to be at least 18 years of age.
  2. You have to have acquired at least 10,000 followers. This one can be a little trickier because having a popular video doesn’t always mean that the people who liked you will follow it.
  3. You have to have had at least 100,000 views on your videos over the past 30 days.

Why so many rules?

The rules are in place to encourage users to continue developing and creating content to post to the site. TikTok is looking to reward users who want to put in the work and time.

For example, if you had a viral video last month and have already gained 10,000 followers, you may not get paid for the new month if you haven’t been engaging with the community to help raise your view count. 

So, yes, you can make money on TikTok, but you will have to work for it!

How Exactly Do You Get Paid On TikTok?

Every user on TikTok will have a “Creator’s Fund.”

This feature will become available once you have completed the three steps discussed above to earn money. Here you will see that your money will start adding up like a bank account.

Once a video reaches a certain threshold, money will be automatically added to your creator’s fund. From there, you can transfer the funds directly into your bank account and start making your creativity profitable!

But, how does TikTok determine how much you can make? It all comes down to a few things, including likes, engagements, and views. Videos with a higher view count and a higher number of engagements (likes, comments, etc.) will make more money than videos with fewer views.

Also, it is important to note that not every video you make will be deemed “profitable.” Depending on the type of content you put out, TikTok reserves the right not to monetize all videos. Especially for videos that the company deems “inappropriate.”

The main mission for TikTok is to reward users for their content.

Can You Make Money On Outside Sponsorships?

Outside of making money directly from TikTok, you can earn some cash from sponsorship deals. 

Sponsorships are what many social media influencers have been doing for years.

Many social platforms don’t offer monetization for content, so people had to get creative when making money on their content. Landing a sponsorship deal is a great way to make money. However, it can mean that you may have to sacrifice a little of your creativity.

Sponsorship means you will have to promote that company’s products or services directly from your TikTok account. 

Sponsorships will include:

  • Making videos for promotion.
  • Company shoutouts on your socials.
  • Even trying out the goods for yourself.

However, TikTok does require that you disclose with your viewers that it is a sponsored ad. This way, influencers are being held accountable for the products they promote.

More popular influencers make a good amount of money on sponsorship deals.

Popular TikTok users often work with a business manager to secure these deals. So, if you’re serious about turning your TikTok creations into a career, that is a path you might want to take.

Are You Guaranteed To Get Paid On TikTok?

Starting a TikTok account is fairly simple. You need to sign up with an email and create an account.

From there, you are guaranteed to meet new people and share your content. However, there is no guarantee that you will earn any money doing so. TikTok makes this pretty clear in its terms and services.

Even if you have accumulated 10,000 followers, 100,000 views and are over the age of 18, you’re still not guaranteed to make money. It all depends on the type of content that you choose to post. TikTok reserves the right to monitor all content posted.

So, if you have made it to the top-tier elite who are raking in serious money and are still not earning a dime, check your content. For a full list of terms as well as appropriate content that TikTok allows, check this out!

How Much Money Are People Making On TikTok?

That is quite a spread when it comes to how much money people are making on TikTok.

Mostly because popular influencers have found ways to make money from the notoriety they received from TikTok, through TV appearances, record deals, and book contracts, some of the most elite are making well into 6 figures a year.

Not to mention a countless amount of sponsorship deals and other advertising ventures they’ve received. However, it is important to remember that these are very rare cases that often have a ton of strings attached.

So, let’s focus solely on money gained from TikTok alone, forgetting about promotional content and other dealings.

TikTok users can make anywhere from 2 to 4 cents a view on videos.

What Exactly Counts as a view?

A view is anyone who has passed by your video, even if they didn’t watch the whole thing. TikTok counts a view as a millisecond of view times.

So, if you’ve landed on someone’s “for you page,” you automatically have a view. Users view the “for you page” as the holy grail for making money on TikTok. The more users you reach with your content, the more views you will have.

The more views you have, the more you could potentially make. Let’s say you had a video that had a whopping 1,000,000 views.

You could make up to $40 for that one video alone! For a complete breakdown of how much money you can earn, check out this cool TikTok earnings calculator!

How Much Can You Expect To Make When Starting?

If you start from scratch with TikTok and want to know how much you can make, the answer is pretty simple.

You will make nothing. This is because TikTok has certain guidelines in place for creators to start making money. As mentioned earlier, you still need to complete the three steps (age, followers, and views) before you can even begin making money on TikTok.

While this may seem futile, it is done for a pretty good reason. This is to encourage people to put their best foot forward and make compelling and creative content.

Users can’t keep creating accounts to mass post the same content they’ve used before. This way, the ones who are getting the payouts deserve it. This is a wild break from the social media norms of not monetizing on your own work.

This also means that if you are lucky enough to break in big with just your first video, you will still have something to work towards before making money.

How Do You Start Getting Paid On TikTok?

So, you’ve created an account and have completed the three steps to make money.

What’s next?

TikTok Creator Fund:

The next thing you will need to do is apply for a Creator’s Fund.

This can be done right through the app! Once your application is approved, you can start collecting money into your fund. It’s that easy!

If you want to branch out and make turn TikTok into a full-time money-making job, there are some extras you can do to start getting paid.

Post Regular Content:

You want to keep creating relevant content that speaks to people.

Try to post as often as you can but no more than once a day to ensure that you aren’t spamming your followers. Posting regular content is your best shot to gain new followers and increase your view count.

From there, reach out to brands who regularly promote on TikTok to secure yourself a fancy branding deal.

Just make sure you approach brands you know and trust so that you don’t appear disingenuous to your fan base.

Get Your Name Out There:

Lastly, create a press portfolio for yourself. This is a package that will include the work you do as well as a brief personal bio.

This can be sent out to advertisers and brands. Also, having a handy press pack on file is a great way to connect with sponsors who approach you directly. This will help you to appear more professional and can increase your engagements with paying brands.

Another great way to increase your brand is to partner with other influencers on the app. Using features like stitching and duets is a great way to reach a whole new audience you might not have gotten to yet.

Remember, views are the name of the game when it comes to getting paid on TikTok.

Can Anybody Make Money With TikTok Videos?

Yes, anyone over the age of 18 can make money by posting content on TikTok.

That is the beauty of it all! TikTok wants people to be themselves and showcase their talents no matter what they are. Having so many unique perspectives and talents on TikTok makes it easier for everyone to find something that they can connect with.

Isn’t that want social media is all about? Making connections and having an outlet for your creative impulses is the best thing about being a part of a social community.

Scrolling through, you can find a little bit of everything. From amazing dinner recipes to modern dances, TikTok has something for you. So, yes. Anybody can make money by posting TikTok videos. But, I encourage you to stick to what also resonates with you!

If you’re doing what you love on TikTok, people will take notice of your passion and skill and want to follow along your journey.

The more people who follow along, the more views you will get. So, be yourself, and the rest will soon follow!

How Many Likes Do You Need On TikTok To Get Paid?

While views are the most important thing when trying to earn money on TikTok, it doesn’t end there.

Likes are also very important. It is said that you should shoot to have 1/3 of likes versus views on each video. This means that pay increases when 1 out of 3 people who view your video like it. This is because TikTok pays you 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views, but what makes up the difference?

The answer is “likes!” If you want to earn a top dollar per post, keep your content within the realm of what your followers like to see.

What Are The Best Ways To Make Money On TikTok?

Now that you know about all the ins and outs of how to start earning money, we are going to break down the best ways to earn the big bucks.

Here are the top ways to make money on TikTok:

  • Achieve over 10,000 followers and 100,000 views.
  • Post regular content that is relevant to both yourself and your followers.
  • Partner with other TikTok influencers to create content in hopes of reaching a wider audience.
  • Strive to get 1 like for every 3 views on your video.
  • Take advantage of current trends that are picking up on TikTok.
  • Reach out to trusted brands in hopes of securing a sponsorship deal.
  • Create sponsored content under the guidelines of “advertising” on TikTok.
  • Promote your content across all of your other social media platforms by sharing.
  • Engage with the community.

Once you better understand how to make the most out of TikTok’s Creator Fund, it’s a fairly easy formula to follow!

Wrapping It Up!

While the main goal for most users on TikTok is to have an outlet to socialize and release some creative energy, getting paid to do so doesn’t hurt one bit!

The best part about the Creator’s Fund is that it has been in operation for over a year. This means there is a ton of data and experience to make the most money possible.

However, the best advice I can give you is to stick with what you’re passionate about. The rest will come to you.

So whether you like to knit giant scarves or are a thrill seeker posting content from the tops of mountains, keep it up! I promise you there is an audience out there who loves what you love.

Connecting with people who are into what your post is the best way to start earning money fast.

Reference Links:

5 Ways People Can Make Serious Money On TikTok

How to Make Money on TikTok: 4 Easy Strategies

TikTok Money Calculator [Influencer Engagement & Earnings Estimator]

How to get paid on TikTok

Community Guidelines | Tiktok.com