What is a good YouTube RPM in 2026?
Short answer
A 'good' YouTube RPM depends entirely on niche. The all-niche median is ~$3.50, but finance/B2B creators should expect $12–$40, tech $6–$18, education $4–$10, lifestyle $2–$6, and gaming $1–$3.50. If your RPM sits above your niche's median with a US-heavy audience, you're doing well.
YouTube RPM benchmarks by niche
| Niche | Median RPM | Top decile |
|---|---|---|
| Finance / investing | $18.00 | $40+ |
| Tech / software | $9.00 | $22 |
| Education | $6.50 | $14 |
| Lifestyle / vlogs | $3.50 | $8 |
| Gaming | $1.80 | $4 |
| Kids content | $1.20 | $3 |
Context
RPM is what actually lands in your bank account per 1,000 monetized views. It's a function of your niche's advertiser competition, your audience geography (US views pay 5–20× LatAm/India), and your Shorts share.
Methodology
Medians pulled from RevenueLab's live benchmarks (anonymous submissions, N > 800) cross-referenced against public creator disclosures. Top decile means the 90th percentile — top 10% of channels in that niche.
Model your own numbers
Related reading
More answers in this category
- How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views in 2026?
- How much does YouTube pay for 1 million views?
- Do YouTube Shorts pay less than long-form videos?
- How many YouTube subscribers do you need to make $1,000 per month?
Last updated 2026-07-10.