There have been numerous sayings and rumors from various so-called gurus and influencers regarding social media platforms. The patterns, the shoulds and should n’ts, and today we’ll dive into one of the most lucrative and interesting media.
You’ve probably heard you need a million followers to make any real money on Instagram. That’s just not true anymore. What if I told you that creators with just a thousand followers are already pulling in hundreds of dollars a month? The game underwent a complete transformation in 2025. Also see our video version
Forget everything you think you know, because the days of needing to be a celebrity to monetize your account are long gone. We’ve gone through the latest industry reports and real-world creator data to get you the most accurate numbers. Stick with me, and I’m going to show you the exact dollar amounts you can expect to make at every level, from your first 1,000 followers to over a million.
Alright, let’s get straight to the numbers. We’ll break this down into four main groups of influencers.
With anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 followers. A lot of people in this bracket don’t even realize they can earn money. But in 2025, brands are actively looking for these accounts because of their super-high engagement and tight-knit communities. For a single sponsored post, a nano-influencer can expect to make between $10 and $100. Now, that might not be a full-time salary, but with a couple of brand deals and some affiliate links each month, you could easily add a few hundred dollars to your income. They can also start a few side hustles that will spike up their income.
With 10,000 to 50,000 followers. This is what many in the industry call the “sweet spot” for brands. You’ve got a real audience, but you still have that high level of trust and engagement that brands crave. Micro-influencers are pulling in between $100 and $500 for a single sponsored post. At this level, you can lock in more consistent partnerships and start making a few thousand dollars a month.
We move up with follower counts from 50,000 all the way to 500,000. This is where things get really serious. Your earnings per post can jump anywhere from $500 to $5,000. These creators are often landing bigger deals, like brand ambassadorships, affiliate marketing, and can start generating a very comfortable full-time income.
Finally, we’ve got the big leagues, with over half a million followers. For Macro-influencers with up to a million followers, a single post can bring in $5,000 to $10,000. And for the Mega-influencers, those with over a million followers—we’re talking $10,000 or more for just one post, with the biggest celebrities earning over a million for a single promotion. These people aren’t just influencers; they’re running full-scale media companies.
So, how are creators actually making this money? It’s not all about sponsored posts. The smartest influencers have multiple streams of income. Here are the top three ways to earn in 2025.
You know this one: a brand pays you to post about their product. But it’s evolved. It’s not just a single picture anymore. Brands are now buying packages that might include a Reel, a few Stories, and even content they can use for their own ads. The most important thing here is to be authentic. Only work with brands you actually like and use; otherwise, your audience will see right through it.
This is probably the easiest way to start earning, even if you have a small following. You team up with a brand, and they give you a special link or a discount code. Every time someone buys something using your link, you get a cut. Commissions can be anywhere from 5% to 30%, sometimes even more, depending on the product. Just think about the products you already use every day, that’s the perfect place to start.
This is the most powerful way, since this is how you build real financial freedom. Instead of promoting someone else’s stuff, you build your own brand. This could be anything, digital products like guides and presets, physical merch, online courses, or even one-on-one coaching. And with new tools like Instagram Subscriptions, you can offer exclusive content to your biggest fans for a monthly fee, which creates a stable and predictable income stream.
The idea that you need a huge following to make money on Instagram is officially dead. The creator economy is a real profession now, and in 2025, there are opportunities for everyone, at every level. Whether you have 2,000 followers or 200,000, there’s a clear path to making an income. It all comes down to providing real value, building a community that trusts you, and using all the different ways to earn that are available. So it’s time to stop just scrolling and start building.
If you want to find out more about Instagram, please check out our guide on how to master Instagram monetization posts.
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