They’re Making Six Figures – And You’re Not: The Stats Behind the Creator Economy Boom

The creator economy is booming like never before, and it is expected that it will reach $500 billion by 2027. Empowering individuals and promoting their content through social media and digital platforms, content creation is growing year over year giving influencers and hobbyists alike a way to monetize their vision. 

The new importance of the creator economy is reflected in how we interact and understand the Internet. Terms like “Influencer marketing” are no longer foreign to us, and brands worldwide bring newfound opportunities in the shape of collaborations. So whether you’re an influencer or an aspiring content creator, now is definitely the best time to make money online through your ideas.

Do you want to launch your career as an online creator? You’ve come to the right place! In today’s article we’ll delve deep into the hottest creator economy statistics in 2025. 

Subscribe to the Softonic newsletter and get the latest in tech, gaming, entertainment and deals right in your inbox.

Subscribe (it's FREE) ►

What is the Creator Economy?

The creator economy is a term that englobes all businesses and enterprises started by content creators. These can be influencers, social media stars, bloggers, community builders, independent artists, etc. In brief, it’s the economic landscape where creators leverage digital platforms to produce and distribute content that promotes products to their audience.

Top Creator Economy Statistics (2025)

• There are over 207 million content creators worldwide.
• 165 million Americans identify as content creators, with only over 45 million being professionals.
• The creator economy is currently worth over $191 billion.
• 46.7% of creators generate content as a full-time job.
• It takes over half a year for creators to make any earnings.
• 70% of creators spend a maximum of 10 hours per week creating content.
• 65% of content creators are women

How Big Is the Creator Economy?

Currently, the creator economy market is valued at $191.55 billion and it’s growing at a CAGR of 22.5%, reaching $528.39 by 2030. This exponential boom in the creator economy is driven by two main factors: the growing demand for user-generated content and the increasing monetization opportunities.

Here’s a detailed table showcasing the creator market size by year:

• 2023: $127.65 billion
• 2024: $$156.37 billion
• 2025: $191.55 billion
• 2026: $234.65 billion
• 2027: $287.45 billion
• 2028: $352.13 billion
• 2029: $431.36 billion
• 2030: $528.39 billion

(Source: Coherent Market Insights)

How Much is Influencer Marketing Worth in 2025?

Influencer marketing plays a pivotal role in the creator economy, boosting its results year over year. In 2025, the Influencer Marketing industry is valued at $32 billion, experiencing a 33.33% increase from its results in 2024.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the market size of Influencer Marketing from 2015 to 2025 and its changes YoY.

• 2015: $1.7 billion 
• 2016: $2.3 billion (35% increase)
• 2017: $3 billion (30,43% increase)
• 2018: $4.6 billion (53.55% increase)
• 2019: $6.5 billion (41.30% increase)
• 2020: $9.7 billion (49.23% increase)
• 2021: $13.8 billion (42.27% increase)
• 2022: $16.4 billion (18.84% increase)
• 2023: $21.1 billion (28.66% increase)
• 2024: $24 billion (13.74% increase)
• 2025: $32 billion (33.33% increase)

(Source: Statista)

How Many Content Creators Are There in 2025?

According to a recent report by LinkTree, there are over 200 million creators across all social media platforms. While not all of these are professionals or create content for a living, most of them decide (at some point) to monetize their content and turn their creations into a newfound income.

Depending on their audience and number of followers, content creators or influencers can be divided into different categories. 

Under these lines there’s a breakdown of the type of content creators depending on their audience size:

• Recreational (0-1K followers): 23 million creators.
• Semi-Pro (1K-10K followers): 139 million creators.
• Pro (10K-100K followers): 41 million creators.
• Expert (100K-1 million followers): 2 million creators.
• Expert+ (over 1 million followers): 2 million creators.

Almost Half of Creators Worldwide Are Full-Time Creators

In a recent survey made by Kit, almost half of the respondents (46%) answered that content creation is their full-time job. 42.7% replied that they create online content but that’s not their main source of income. Closing the list, only 10.6% considered content creation as a hobby and don’t expect to make a living out of it.

Here’s a breakdown of the results:

• Full-time content creator: 46.7%
• Part-time content creator: 42.7%
• Hobby: 10.6%

Generational Differences in the Creator Economy

Age plays a decisive role in the creator economy, both in the amount of time spent in this activity as well as the income generated by it.

According to a recent study made by Kit, 42% of content creators are Millenials and 39% pertain to Gen-X. On the lower end of the scale we find Boomers (10%) and Gen-Z (8%), with both generations using this activity just as an extra source of income.

Here’s a detailed list of the rate of creators by generation:

• Millennials: 42.3%
• Gen-X: 39.2%
• Boomers: 10.3%
• Gen-Z: 8.2%

Regarding how much money they earn, Millennials are clear winners. Kit’s State of the creator economy 2024 report shows how 41% of creators born between 1982 and 1994 earn over $10,000 per year. But that’s not all, since over half of those reach $100,000 per year through their content.

Under these lines you can find the generational income split for creators in the US.

• Gen-X: Over $100,000 (19%), $10,000-$100,000 (24%), Under $10,000 (57%)
• Millennials: Over $100,000 (23%), $10,000-$100,000 (18%), Under $10,000 (59%)
• Boomers: Over $100,000 (10%), $10,000-$100,000 (24%), Under $10,000 (66%)
• Gen-Z: Over $100,000 (7%), $10,000-$100,000 (6%), Under $10,000 (87%)

Over 60% of Content Creators are Women

A recent survey made by Kit shows how 65% of the content creators worldwide are women. 

• Female: 65%
• Male: 33%
• Non-binary/other: 2%

These don’t just outnumber their male counterparts by number, but also by earnings. As shown by the results, females are more likely to earn over $10,000 with their content than men.

Here’s a breakdown of the results:

Female: Over $100,000 (18%), $10,000-$100,000 (22%), Under $10,000 (60%)

Male: Over $100,000 (18%), $10,000-$100,000 (18%), Under $10,000 (64%)

Non-Binary/Other: Over $100,000 (20%), $10,000-$100,000 (10%), Under $10,000 (70%)

How Much Do Content Creators Make in 2025?

Content creators’ income heavily depends on the platform they use to share their creations. On YouTube, creators earn an average of $3-$5 per 1,000 video views through the platform’s AdSense program. TikTok influencers earn about $0.02-$0.04 per 1,000 views, which makes viral videos generate an average of $20-$40. Instagram micro-influencers (10,000-50,000 followers) earn $100-$500 per post. Other platforms such as Patreon, Twitch or Substack rely on subscriptions, donations and premium content.

However, there are other ways that creators use to monetize their content, such as partnering with brands promoting sales through affiliate links, creating sponsored posts paid by said brands or selling exclusive merchandise. The possibilities are endless.

According to Hubspot, content creators make an average of $44K per year, which translates into a salary range from $36,000 to $58,500.

Which Social Media Platform Pays the Most in 2025?

A recent study made by Epidemic Sound shows that YouTube is the top platform for generating income in 2025. From the 1,500 surveyed creators, 28.6% of the respondents agreed on that. TikTok followed closely, with 18.3% stating it is their platform of choice to generate revenue. Following the list we find Facebook at 16.5%, Instagram at 11.8% and X/Twitter at 6.3%.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the results:

• YouTube: 28.6%
• TikTok: 18.3%
• Facebook: 16.5%
• Instagram: 11.8%
• Twitter: 6.3%
• Other: 18.5%

Conclusion

While there’s no guarantee of success, the creator economy is currently booming, largely fueled by the rising demand of user-generated content. While years ago earning six-figures or more with online content seemed like a feat that only a few could reach, now millions of people are making a life out of it.

With an industry projected to sear beyond %528 billion by 2030, it’s safe to say that the creator economy will keep on thriving in the years to come.