Curious about Twitch streamer earnings? The platform's top 1% creators rake in more than half of all payouts. Successful streamers can earn upwards of $10,000 monthly through subscriptions and sponsorships.
Most smaller content creators see modest earnings between $0-$25. Let's dive into Twitch streamer salary ranges and revenue opportunities that will shape the platform in 2025.
How much do Twitch streamers make in 2025?
Twitch streaming income isn't as straightforward as most people think. A small group of streamers earn big money, but most streamers barely make anything from the platform.
A Stream Scheme poll shows this reality clearly – 72.8% of smaller streamers earn nothing on Twitch, and just 15.2% make between $1 and $25 each month.
Income ranges by viewer count
Your viewer count directly affects how much money you can make on Twitch.
Here's what streamers typically earn based on their average viewers:
- 5-10 viewers: $50-$200 per month
- 20 viewers: $200-$400 per month
- 50 viewers: $500-$750 per month
- 100 viewers: $1,000-$1,500 per month
- 500 viewers: Approximately $5,000 per month
- 1,000 viewers: $5,000 per month
- 5,000 viewers: $13,000 per month
- 10,000 viewers: $30,000 per month
Money distribution on Twitch is heavily uneven. A major data breach in 2021 revealed that half of all money went to just the top 1% of Twitch streamers that year. Just 0.06% of accounts earned more than the U.S. median household income of $67,521.
Real examples from small to top streamers
Let's look at what streamers at different levels actually make:
Small streamers:
- YouTuber George Dunnett's first month brought in $228.61 – $17.30 from ads, $69.45 from donations, and $141.86 from subscriptions.
- Content creator Twatter earned $590.54 in three months with 37 average viewers and 220 subscriptions. Ad revenue was just $22.83.
- Creative Finance streamed 43 hours in July 2023 and made $191.37 from 65 subscriptions.
Mid-tier streamers:
- A Twatter-managed streamer pulled in $8,170.53 over seven months with 42 average viewers and 2,609 subscriptions. Subscriptions were her main income, plus over $2,000 from cheers and $43.52 from ads.
- Moonlight Social, a music streaming duo, made nearly $9,000 in 2021 with just 15 concurrent viewers.
Top-tier streamers:
- Mizkif has 2 million followers and makes $20,000 to $25,000 weekly on Twitch. His August 2023 earnings hit $80,000, with ads alone bringing in over $42,000.
- The 2021 data breach showed the highest-paid Twitch channel earned $5 million that year.
- Summit1g (Jaryd Lazar), 2023's top streamer, broadcasts 13-14 hours daily and streams about six days weekly.
How much does a Twitch streamer make per month?
Monthly earnings vary wildly between different streamer tiers:
Beginner streamers with fewer than 50 viewers usually make $50-$500 monthly, though many earn nothing. A Streamscheme survey reveals that 70% of Twitch streamers don't make any money.
Mid-tier streamers with 100-1,000 viewers can make $1,000-$5,000 monthly. Regular subscriptions and occasional sponsorships start coming in at this level.
Established streamers with over 1,000 viewers typically earn $5,000-$30,000 monthly. A streamer with 1,000 viewers can expect around $5,000 monthly, while 5,000 viewers might bring in about $13,000.
Elite streamers with over 10,000 viewers rake in $30,000 to $200,000 monthly. Influencer Marketing Hub estimates 2023's top five Twitch streamers combined earnings exceeded $35 million.
The math works like this: 100 subscribers at $5 each means about $250 monthly. This scales up to $2,500 with 1,000 subscribers, and $25,000 with 10,000 subscribers – just from subscriptions.
Streamers get about $2.50 per subscriber after Twitch's cut. They also earn roughly $3.50 per 1,000 ad views, which adds up quickly for channels with big audiences.
Twitch Affiliate vs Partner: What’s the difference?
Streamers need to know the difference between Twitch Affiliate and Partner status to maximize their earnings. These two tiers mark different stages in a streamer's journey, each coming with specific requirements and money-making options.
Twitch Affiliate requirements and benefits
Starting your monetization journey on Twitch begins with becoming an Affiliate.
The platform has four basic requirements:
- Stream for at least 8 hours in the last 30 days
- Stream on 7 different days in the last 30 days
- Average 3 or more concurrent viewers per stream
- Reach at least 50 followers
Affiliate status opens up several ways to earn money:
- Subscriptions: You'll get 50% from Tier 1 ($4.99), Tier 2 ($9.99), and Tier 3 ($24.99) subscriptions
- Bits: Each Bit (worth 1 cent) cheered by viewers earns you 1 cent
- Ad revenue: You earn money from ads that play during streams
- Game sales: Your channel's game sale links bring in 5% of the purchase price
Twitch processes payments after you reach $100 in earnings. The platform holds subscription payments for 60 days, which means your sub money arrives two months after you earn it.
Twitch Partner eligibility and perks
Partner status stands as Twitch's top tier for content creators.
The bar sits much higher for requirements:
- Stream for 25+ hours in the last 30 days
- Stream on 12+ different days in the last 30 days
- Average 75+ concurrent viewers per stream
- Complete the Partner Achievement on your Path to Partner
Twitch looks beyond these numbers. They review your content quality, community building, and how well you follow their guidelines.
Partners get several exclusive benefits:
- Priority support: You get direct access to Twitch staff for technical help
- Extended VOD storage: 60 days instead of Affiliate's 14 days
- Channel teams: You can create and join streamer teams
- Custom chat badge: Your subscribers get a unique badge
- Higher transcoding priority: Your viewers get better video quality options
- Custom subscriber emote slots: Up to 60 slots compared to Affiliate's 5
- Channel points: More ways to customize viewer rewards
- Longer stream delays: Up to 15 minutes versus 30 seconds for Affiliates
Partners receive the same money-making features as Affiliates but often with better terms.
Revenue share differences
The biggest gap between Affiliates and Partners shows up in how they split revenue.
Subscription revenue split:
- Affiliates: Get a 50/50 split across all subscription tiers
- Partners: Start at 50/50 but can negotiate up to 70/30 splits based on their success
2023 brought changes to Partner revenue. Those making over $100,000 yearly from subscriptions now see their split drop to 50/50 after hitting that mark.
Ad revenue:
- Affiliates: Get standard CPM rates
- Partners: Earn higher CPM rates and can negotiate based on their audience
Payment thresholds:
- Affiliates: Need $100 to get paid
- Partners: Can cash out at $50 in most regions
Payment timing:
- Affiliates: Wait 60 days for subscription money
- Partners: Get paid after 45 days
Exclusivity requirements: Before 2022, Partners couldn't stream on other platforms. Now they can stream elsewhere when not live on Twitch.
A Partner's earning potential far exceeds an Affiliate's. To cite an instance, a Partner with 1,000 subscribers might earn $2,500-$3,500 monthly from subscriptions, while an Affiliate would make about $2,500.
Most dedicated streamers take 6-24 months to reach Partner status. Some exceptional creators make it in just 3 months. Moving from Affiliate to Partner isn't just about status – it's a chance to boost your Twitch earnings through better revenue splits and advanced monetization tools.
Main revenue streams for Twitch streamers
Twitch streamers can make money in several ways. From subscription money to brand deals, successful creators usually make use of multiple income sources to earn more. Here's a look at how streamers can make money in 2025.
Subscriptions and how much streamers make per sub
Monthly subscriptions are the bread and butter for most streamers who have been around for a while.
Viewers can support their favorite channels through three subscription tiers:
- Tier 1: $4.99 per month
- Tier 2: $9.99 per month
- Tier 3: $24.99 per month
Streamers usually get half of the subscription money, while Twitch takes the other half. This means a streamer makes about $2.50 per Tier 1 sub, $5.00 per Tier 2 sub, and $12.50 per Tier 3 sub before taxes.
Top performing streamers can get better deals. The Plus Program (formerly Partner Plus) lets streamers who keep 100 Plus Points for three months straight get a 60/40 split. Those with 300 Plus Points can earn even more with a 70/30 split.
Gifted subscriptions work just like regular subs money-wise. Streamers get the same amount while these gifts help build a stronger community.
Bits and direct donations
Bits are Twitch's own virtual currency that lets viewers show support. Twitch takes its cut right away – viewers pay about $1.40 for 100 Bits. Streamers then get one cent for each Bit used in their chat.
The math works out like this:
- 100 Bits = $1 for the streamer
- 1,000 Bits = $10 for the streamer
- 10,000 Bits = $100 for the streamer
Bits are safer than other donation methods because they protect streamers from chargeback fraud. Viewers can't take back their payments after making donations.
Many streamers also take direct donations through PayPal, cryptocurrency, or services like StreamElements. These options often work out better because the fees are much lower than Twitch Bits.
Ad revenue and CPM rates
Ads are a big money maker for larger streamers. Once they reach Affiliate status, streamers get a cut of the ad money shown on their channels.
The payment works on CPM (cost per thousand views), and the rates change based on who's watching, stream timing, and time of year. Right now, streamers make about $3.50 for every 1,000 ad views.
Twitch wants streamers to run more ads. They give a 55% net ad revenue share to those who run at least 3 minutes of ads every hour. On top of that, it helps viewers because running mid-roll ads turns off those annoying pre-roll ads for new viewers.
A streamer with 1,000 viewers who runs 3 minutes of ads hourly might make $10-15 per hour just from ads.
Sponsorships and brand deals
Brand deals often become the biggest money maker for established streamers. Companies pay them to showcase products during streams or on other platforms.
Twitch made brand deals more available in 2025 by adding a sponsorships tab in the Creator Dashboard. The new Creator Profile helps streamers show their channel to potential sponsors. A partnership with StreamElements now brings sponsorship offers straight to eligible streamers.
Sponsorship money grows quickly with audience size:
- Small streamers (under 1,000 viewers): $500-$1,000 per sponsored stream
- Mid-tier streamers: $1,000-$10,000 per deal
- Top streamers: $10,000-$50,000+ per sponsorship
Success with sponsorships comes from finding brands that fit your content and audience.
Merchandise and affiliate marketing
Selling merch and using affiliate links can bring in money even when you're not streaming. Many streamers sell their own clothing with their brand, emotes, or catchphrases. Affiliate marketing lets streamers earn commission by promoting products with special links.
Gaming gear, supplements, and subscription services are popular choices for streamers.
Companies like GFuel and gaming chair makers often team up with streamers. They create special discount codes that work for everyone – viewers save money and streamers earn commission.
Whatever your follower count might be, using different ways to make money creates the most stable income for anyone looking to make it big on Twitch.
How much do streamers make from each income source?
Here's a detailed breakdown of what streamers actually earn from different income sources in 2025. Each revenue stream adds up differently to create a streamer's total income, and the actual amounts change based on audience size and how viewers participate.
Subscription income breakdown
Twitch streamers get 50% of subscription revenue through the standard program.
The three subscription tiers pay streamers:
- Tier 1 ($4.99): $2.50 per subscriber
- Tier 2 ($9.99): $5.00 per subscriber
- Tier 3 ($24.99): $12.50 per subscriber
Streamers who perform better can earn higher revenue shares. The New Streamers Program gives a 60% revenue share to those who have 100+ paid subscribers. The Partner Plus Program takes this further with a 70% revenue share for streamers who keep 350+ recurring paid subscribers for three months.
Bits and donation examples
Streamers earn $0.01 for each Bit used in their chat, so 100 Bits equals $1.00 in revenue. Twitch takes about 30% upfront from Bit purchases. To name just one example, viewers pay $1.40 for 100 Bits, while streamers receive $1.00.
Direct donations through PayPal come with much lower processing fees of only 2.9% plus a small fixed fee per transaction. This explains why streamers often prefer direct donations for bigger contributions.
Bits used in extensions pay streamers 80% of the $0.01 per Bit, and extension developers get the remaining 20%.
Ad revenue estimates
Streamers earn between $2.00-10.00 for every 1,000 ad views through the CPM system. A viewer's location substantially affects these rates, with US viewers bringing in the highest revenue.
Streamers must reach Affiliate or Partner status to make money from ads. Both Affiliates and Partners can earn 55% net ad revenue by running at least 3 minutes of ads hourly.
Running 3 minutes of ads during streams blocks pre-roll video ads for new viewers for an hour, which creates a better viewing experience. A streamer who has 1,000 viewers typically earns about $3.50 per ad break.
Sponsorship deal ranges
Channel size determines sponsorship rates:
- Small channels (under 100 viewers): $100-500 per sponsored stream
- Mid-size channels (100-viewers): $500-2,000 per stream
- Large channels (500+ viewers): $2,000-10,000+ per stream
Twitch added a sponsorships tab to the Creator Dashboard in 2025, which makes brand connections easier. Streamers can now review and accept offers right from their dashboard, while payments happen separately from regular Twitch payouts.
Affiliate and merch earnings
Merchandise sales become profitable once streamers reach about 100 concurrent viewers, which suggests they have enough loyal fans.
Popular merchandise includes:
- Custom t-shirts and hoodies: $10-15 profit per item
- Stickers and pins (lower margins but great starter items)
- Custom mousepads and gaming accessories
- Limited edition collectibles
Print-on-demand services like Streamlabs Merch and Design by Humans take care of everything from printing to shipping. Streamers can start with minimal upfront costs. These services take a bigger share of profits but eliminate the risks of managing inventory.
Amazon Associates gives streamers another way to earn through commission by linking products on their page. This works especially well with gaming equipment and accessories that streamers use during their broadcasts.
What affects a Twitch streamer’s salary?
Several factors determine how much a Twitch streamer makes. These variables help explain the huge earnings gap on the platform, where some hobbyists make nothing while top creators earn millions each year.
Viewer count and engagement
The number of viewers affects every revenue stream on Twitch. Each new regular viewer could become a subscriber, donate bits, or watch ads. In fact, earnings usually grow proportionally with viewership – twice the viewers typically means twice the potential income.
Raw numbers aren't everything – engagement makes a big difference. A channel with 100 active viewers often earns more than one with 200 passive viewers.
Engaged communities tend to:
- Choose higher tier subscriptions
- Donate bits during exciting moments
- Interact more with sponsored content
Streaming consistency and schedule
A regular streaming schedule can boost your income potential. Streamers who show up at the same times each week help viewers build watching habits, which leads to better retention rates. This reliability helps maintain steady subscription numbers.
Most successful mid-tier streamers find their sweet spot broadcasting 4-5 days weekly for 4-6 hours each session. This schedule helps maximize visibility without burning out.
Game or content niche
Your chosen content category substantially affects your potential twitch streamer salary. Competitive titles with older audiences often attract viewers who have more money to spend. Some categories also draw better sponsorship deals based on their viewer demographics.
New games can offer growth opportunities through better visibility, which is why many streamers switch to fresh releases. Popular categories like Fortnite have huge potential audiences but face intense competition.
Geographic audience and ad rates
Where your viewers live makes a big difference in ad revenue. CPM rates vary by region – North American viewers generate 3-5 times more ad revenue than those from developing nations. Streaming during peak hours in high-value regions helps maximize ad earnings.
Production quality and branding
High-quality production shows credibility to potential sponsors and subscribers. Good webcams, lighting, microphones, and custom overlays create value that viewers want to support through subscriptions.
Branding goes beyond technical quality. The most successful streamers create unique personalities, catchphrases, and visual styles that stand out across platforms. This consistent brand identity opens up opportunities for merchandise sales and cross-platform revenue that adds to their Twitch income.
Can you make money on Twitch as a beginner?
You don't need thousands of followers to make money on Twitch. New streamers have many ways to earn before reaching Affiliate status. The path might look tough at first, but you can start earning from day one with the right strategy.
How to start earning with few viewers
New streamers can make money even before qualifying for Twitch's subscription program. A donation button through PayPal or Streamlabs lets your viewers support your content. These platforms help you receive tips and donations without meeting the Affiliate requirements.
New streamers should focus on being consistent. Regular streams with good content will attract viewers and build a strong foundation for future earnings. Your focus should extend beyond gaming. Respond to comments, create a welcoming space, and stick to a schedule that builds viewer trust.
Using Patreon and affiliate links early
Patreon works as the quickest way to replace Twitch's subscription system. Your viewers can support you through monthly memberships and get exclusive perks in return. Patreon creators get about 85% of subscription revenue after fees, which beats Twitch's 50/50 split by a large margin.
Affiliate marketing opens up immediate revenue opportunities for streamers at any level. Product links in your Twitch profile can earn you commission from viewer purchases. Many successful streamers use this method to showcase gaming equipment, peripherals, and supplements.
Building a loyal community from scratch
Your best chance at creating a dedicated following comes from finding your niche. A specific focus works better than variety streaming to attract viewers who share your interests. A Minecraft-dedicated channel, for example, draws players who love that specific game.
Think of your stream as a hangout spot between home and work where people feel at home. This means you should notice returning viewers, let your audience help make decisions, and create a space where chat feels natural.
Building an engaged community takes time. The numbers show that only half of all streamers have earned money, with average yearly earnings of $1,264. Put your energy into creating value first, and the money will follow as your community grows.
Conclusion
The reality of Twitch streaming hits hard – success demands dedication and multiple income streams. Most beginners earn nothing at first. Quality content and consistency open doors to monetization over time. Streamers can combine subscription revenue, bits, ads, and sponsorships to build reliable income.
Your streaming career might start modestly, but meaningful earnings become possible with patience and calculated growth.
FAQs
Q1. How much can a Twitch streamer with 10,000 viewers expect to earn?
A Twitch streamer with 10,000 viewers can potentially earn around $30,000 per month. This income comes from various sources including subscriptions, ad revenue, donations, and sponsorships. However, actual earnings can vary based on factors like audience engagement and monetization strategies.
Q2. What are the main revenue streams for Twitch streamers in 2025?
The primary revenue streams for Twitch streamers in 2025 include subscriptions, bits and donations, ad revenue, sponsorships and brand deals, and merchandise sales. Each of these sources contributes differently to a streamer's income, with the exact amounts varying based on audience size and engagement levels.
Q3. How does Twitch's Affiliate program differ from the Partner program?
The Twitch Affiliate program has lower entry requirements and offers basic monetization options, while the Partner program is more exclusive and provides additional perks. Partners generally receive better revenue splits, priority support, and more customization options for their channels. The Partner program represents a higher tier of recognition on the platform.
Q4. Can beginners make money on Twitch without being an Affiliate?
Yes, beginners can make money on Twitch even before becoming Affiliates. They can set up donation buttons through third-party services, use platforms like Patreon for supporter subscriptions, and utilize affiliate marketing links. Building a loyal community and consistently producing quality content are key to monetization at any level.
Q5. What factors influence a Twitch streamer's income?
Several factors affect a Twitch streamer's income, including viewer count and engagement, streaming consistency and schedule, content niche, geographic audience distribution, and overall production quality. Higher viewer numbers and engagement typically lead to increased earnings across all revenue streams.
