Rates & Money · 9 min read
How Much Do Influencers Actually Make in 2026? Rate Cards from 500 Real Deals
Every 'influencer rate' article online is either a wild overshoot or a decade out of date. Here are the real 2026 numbers, straight from our negotiation logs.
The base formula (memorize this)
TikTok / Reel base rate = followers × $0.01 to $0.025. Instagram in-feed post = followers × $0.008. YouTube integration (60-90s) = views × $0.02 to $0.05. Story = 20-30% of a post. Usage rights add 30-100%. Exclusivity adds 25-100%.
These are floors. Niche, engagement, and audience quality can double them.
TikTok rates by tier (2026)
- Nano (1K-10K)$50 - $300 per video · often gifted-only
- Micro (10K-50K)$300 - $1,500 per video
- Mid (50K-500K)$1,500 - $8,000 per video
- Macro (500K-1M)$8,000 - $25,000 per video
- Mega (1M+)$25,000 - $150,000+ per video
Instagram Reel rates by tier
- Nano (1K-10K)$100 - $500
- Micro (10K-50K)$500 - $2,500
- Mid (50K-500K)$2,500 - $10,000
- Macro (500K-1M)$10,000 - $35,000
- Mega (1M+)$35,000 - $250,000
YouTube integration rates
- 10K-50K subs$500 - $2,000 for 60s integration
- 50K-500K subs$2,000 - $15,000
- 500K-1M subs$15,000 - $50,000
- 1M+ subs$50,000 - $500,000 depending on niche
The multipliers most creators forget to charge
- Whitelisting+50-100% (lets brand run your content as ads from your handle)
- Paid social usage+30-50% per 30 days
- Category exclusivity+25-100% depending on window
- Rush turnaround (under 5 days)+25%
- Concept development+15-30%
Niches that pay 2-3x the base rate
Finance, B2B / SaaS, medical, legal, luxury travel, home renovation. Niches that pay under base: general lifestyle, memes, dance. Sharpen your niche and your rate card doubles overnight.
Frequently asked
- Should I ever work for free product?
- In months 1-6, yes — to build a portfolio. After that, only for brands you'd actually pay for.
- How much do agencies take?
- Industry standard is 15-25%. Audi Agency takes 15% on managed deals and 0% on your inbound.
- Can I raise rates mid-year?
- Yes. Raise 20% every time your follower count doubles or engagement rate jumps by 1 point.
Ready when you are
Get repped by the team that actually reads this stuff.
Keep reading
Monetization
Amazon Influencer Program: How to Apply, Get Approved, and Actually Get Paid in 2026
The full 2026 playbook on the Amazon Influencer Program — eligibility, approval hacks, storefront setup, commission rates, and how our roster earns four to five figures a month from it.
Creator Growth
How to Become an Influencer in 2026: The Honest 90-Day Playbook
Not another 'be authentic' article. The real 90-day playbook to go from 0 followers to your first brand deal — from an agency that signs 30+ new creators a month.
PR & Brand Deals
How to Get PR Packages as a Small Influencer (Even Under 5K Followers)
The exact scripts, brand lists, and DM templates our roster uses to land PR packages from Rare Beauty, Skims, Glossier, and 200+ other brands.