It’s undeniable: we’re living in the age of the Instagram influencer. In the last decade, the social media app has become a veritable source of income for thousands of creators from the worlds of fashion, fitness, and everything in between.
If you’re tapped into the social sphere, you probably already have an idea of what some of Instagram’s highest earners make (Hint: it’s in the millions). While the mega numbers that mega-influencers like Kylie Jenner and Cristiano Ronaldo are pulling are exceptions to the rule, Instagram is still an incredibly lucrative platform for creators of all kinds — including micro-influencers — to earn a living.
You’re probably wondering, “Just how much money can I earn as an Instagram influencer?” Our Instagram Money Calculator has the answers you’re looking for. Scroll down to use our calculator and figure out your potential earnings as an Instagram creator.
Instagram influencer earnings calculator
Unlike platforms like YouTube that pay creators based on ad revenue, Instagram doesn’t — at least not yet — provide creators with a cut-and-dry method of earning money through the app. Instead, Instagram influencers rely on a variety of different sources, including brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and selling digital products, to earn their income.
This all means that it can be difficult to figure out how much money you stand to earn through Instagram, as well as how much to charge brands for sponsored posts.
That’s where our Instagram Money Calculator comes in. Simply input your follower count (or, if you like things ultra-simple, your Instagram username) and our Instagram Money Calculator will calculate your potential earnings per sponsored post, as well as your estimated monthly income in digital product sales.
It’s important to note that our calculator estimates your earnings based on average Instagram creator incomes. Use these numbers to get an idea of how much money you can earn, and how much you can charge brands per sponsored post.
How much money can you make on Instagram?
Earlier, we said there’s no cut-and-dry method for earning money on Instagram. Well, that also means there’s no simple answer to how much money you can make on the app. Instagram influencers’ incomes can vary widely, from a couple hundred dollars per month to over a million dollars per post.
So, why the wide variety? An Instagram influencer’s earnings are determined by a number of factors unique to each influencer, including follower count and engagement rates. These two metrics indicate an influencer’s reach (the number of followers they have) and how much influence they have over their following (how much their audience likes, views, and comments on their posts.) Naturally, influencers with more reach and more influence stand to make more money on Instagram.
Now, let’s get into specifics. When talking about potential Instagram earnings, it’s useful to sort influencers into different “tiers” according to the number of followers they have. The “tier” system can be broken down into:
- Mega-influencers (1,000,000+ followers)
- Macro-influencers (500,000 – 1,000,000 followers)
- Mid-tier influencers (50,000 – 500,000 followers)
- Micro-influencers (10,000 – 50,000 followers)
- Nano-influencers (1,000 – 10,000 followers)
How much does each tier make? According to a 2023 report by Later, these are the median rates that influencers can earn per Instagram post and Reel:
- Macro-influencer: $5,000 – $7,030 per Reel
- Mid-tier influencer: $175 – $625 per post; $500 – $5000 per Reel
- Micro-influencer: $150 – $155 per post; $200 – $500 per Reel
- Nano-influencer: $55 – $150 per post; $100 – $200 per Reel
How many Instagram followers do you need to start earning?
By now, you probably know that audience is key when it comes to earning money on Instagram. That being said, you don’t need to be a celebrity or macro-influencer to earn a living on the app.
As the numbers show, influencers with as few as 1,000 followers can still earn a good income on Instagram. The average nano-influencer can earn $150 per post and $200 per Reel — and, remember, that’s just a median!
In even better news: reports have shown that Instagram shows a big preference for nano- and micro-influencers when it comes to engagement rates. So, if you’re a smaller-scale influencer (or just new to the influencing game), you might want to consider making Instagram your platform of choice.
How to make money on Instagram
As mentioned, there are plenty of ways to earn money on Instagram. The key to maxing out your income on the app is to harness at least a couple of these income streams. Let’s dive in.
Brand partnerships
Brand partnerships are Instagram influencers’ bread and butter when it comes to monetization. And, today, Instagram is one of the most widely used platforms for influencer marketing.
Influencer marketing campaigns capitalize on an influencer’s, well, influence to help brands maximize profits. Through these initiatives, brands partner with influencers, paying them to promote and sell their products to their audience through Instagram posts and Reels.
Typically, brands and influencers will settle on a set rate per sponsored post. It almost goes without saying that influencers with more followers will be able to negotiate higher rates from brand deals.
So, just how high are these rates? According to a recent report by Later, macro-influencers can rake in $7,000 per sponsored Reel, while smaller-scale influencers can earn anywhere from $55 to $155 per post — or $100 to $500 per Reel. That’s a pretty penny!
If you’re interested in brand partnerships, you’ll want to scroll up and use our Instagram Money Calculator to calculate your earning potential per sponsored post.
Become an affiliate marketer
On top of brand partnerships, Instagram influencers can earn money with brands through affiliate marketing campaigns. Similar to brand partners, affiliate marketers earn money by promoting and selling a brand’s products to their following. However, instead of being paid a lump sum per sponsored post, affiliates are paid on a commission basis, earning a percentage of each sale made through affiliate links or promo codes shared through their Instagram account.
It may seem like affiliate marketing isn’t as popular as brand partnerships, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less profitable. Today, many influencers earn a full-time living through affiliate marketing alone. For example, Vi Lai, a beauty influencer with 180,000 followers, earns $5,000 per month in affiliate commissions. Nano-influencers can also leverage affiliates to earn a nice slice of pie: Bethany Everett-Ratliffe, who has 16,000 followers, earned $500 in just one month from affiliate links.
Sell digital products
With the digital media market set to hit $560 billion in 2024, selling digital products is becoming one of the most lucrative ways for creators to make money online — and that includes through Instagram. Selling digital products is also a fairly low-effort way to earn money as a creator. Why? Let’s dive in.
From templates to ebooks and beyond, a digital product is anything you can sell online as a downloadable file. Since these kinds of products only need to be produced once before they can be downloaded ad infinitum, they’re a powerful source of passive income. In other words, digital products will earn you money while you focus energy doing the things you love, like taking some well-deserved R & R.
If you have digital products to sell, you can leverage your Instagram account and audience to start earning money. Once you’ve uploaded your digital product to your online storefront, promote your products through your Feed posts, Reels, and Live videos. Remember to add a link to your store and products to your captions and Instagram bio. Then, just sit back and watch the money make itself.
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Instagram Subscriptions
Recently, Instagram has jumped on the subscription bandwagon, allowing creators the opportunity to earn through paid subscriptions. Through Instagram Subscriptions, subscribers pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive content from their favorite influencers, including posts, Reels, Lives, and more.
If you’re interested in a steady pay cheque, subscriptions are a great way to monetize on Instagram because they provide you with a recurring monthly revenue. To put it simply, they’re a consistent stream of income, which isn’t easy to come by in the creator economy!
Want to get in on this reliable source of income? Instagram Subscriptions are available to all U.S.-based users with a Creator or Business Account who meet the following criteria:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Meet Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies and Content Monetization Policies
Live badges
Did you know you can earn money simply by going Live? Instagram’s Live badges feature allows influencers to engage their audience while monetizing their Live sessions.
Once you’ve enabled this feature, your Live viewers will be able to buy badges to support you and earn extra recognition. These badges can be purchased multiple times during your Live in increments of $0.99, $1.99, and $4.99. Afterwards, you can deposit your badges revenue directly into your PayPal or bank account.
When it comes to badges, a little recognition goes a long way. Remember to thank your followers for their support — and watch the revenue add up.
Live badges are available to eligible users in the U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, and Mexico. Head over to Instagram to find out whether you’re eligible and to turn on Live badges.
Instagram Gifts (on Reels)
Instagram has recently added a tipping feature to its popular short-form video format Reels, allowing viewers to send virtual gifts and show appreciation to their favorite creators, while lettering creators earn a passive income.
With Instagram Gifts, viewers can purchase “stars” and use them to send influencers Gifts on Reels. Instagram then pays creators a revenue share from your gifts on a monthly basis, with every star received equal to $0.01.
The Instagram Gifts feature is available to eligible users in select regions. Learn more about whether you’re eligible and how to sign up for Gifts.
Sell merch or physical products
Selling merch is another way to earn money while engaging your fans. In other words, it’s a win-win for everyone.
From T-shirts to water bottles, merch is anything that can be printed with your logo or slogan. Like sports jerseys, these pieces of physical merchandise can be purchased by followers as a show of support.
Today, online print-on-demand (POD) services take care of printing, shipping, and logistics, make it easier than ever for creators to sell merch. Instagram creators can also take advantage of Instagram Shopping. This feature allows creators to set up their own in-app storefront, and sell their merch through posts and Reels across Instagram.
Free guide on making your first $100 as a creator
There’s really no limit to how much money you can make as an Instagram influencer. It all depends on how much effort you want to put into building your following, engaging your audience, and diversifying your income streams.
Our tip: don’t be afraid to start small and build it up. Soon enough, your revenue streams will turn into income rivers — or something like that!
In the meantime, use our handy Instagram Money Calculator to see how much you can start earning today.
Want more tips for earning money online? Get our free guide on 12 ways to make your first $100 online to get inspiration from a dozen creators.
Instagram Money Calculator FAQ
Can you make money with only 1,000 followers on Instagram?
Yes! According to a 2023 report from Later, influencers with 1,000 Instagram followers can make anywhere from $55 to $150 per post or $100 to $200 per Reel.
How much money can you make with 10,000 Instagram followers?
According to a report by Later, influencers with 10,000 Instagram followers can make anywhere from $150 t0 $155 per post or $200 to $500 per Reel.
Who are the highest paid creators on Instagram?
According to a 2024 analysis by Influencer Marketing Hub, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is Instagram’s highest paid creator, making around $3,234,000 per post. The second top-earning celebrity on Instagram is Leo Messi, who makes around $2,597,000 per post, followed by Selena Gomez who makes around $2,558,000 per post.
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Further reading
- How To Make Money on Instagram: 6 Ways To Start Earning
- Instagram Subscriptions: How to Launch Your Own and Get Paid Monthly
- Instagram Gifts: How To Earn Money From Reels
- TikTok vs. YouTube Shorts vs. Instagram Reels: Which Platform Makes You Money?
- How To Sell Digital Products Online: A 6-Step Launch Checklist
This article was originally published in May 2023, and updated in April 2024 with additional information.
