Highest Paying YouTube Niches in 2026 (Ranked by CPM)
📋 Table of Contents
The highest paying YouTube niches in 2026 are Finance ($15-$35 CPM), Insurance ($20-$40 CPM), and Business/Entrepreneurship ($12-$28 CPM). Entertainment and gaming remain the lowest at $2-$6 CPM.
Use our free YouTube Money Calculator to calculate your exact earnings based on views, country, and niche.
Earnings Breakdown
| Niche | Avg CPM (US) | Difficulty | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance & Investing | $15 – $35 | High | Very High |
| Insurance | $20 – $40 | Very High | High |
| Business | $12 – $28 | High | High |
| Technology | $8 – $18 | Medium | High |
| Education | $6 – $14 | Medium | Medium |
| Health & Fitness | $5 – $12 | Medium | High |
| Gaming | $2 – $6 | Low | Very High |
| Entertainment | $2 – $5 | Low | Very High |
Should You Pick a High CPM Niche?
Not necessarily. While finance has the highest CPMs, it also has the most competition and requires genuine expertise. A gaming creator with 1 million views per month can out-earn a finance creator with 50,000 views despite the CPM difference.
Our Analysis
The sweet spot is mid-tier niches like technology and education. These niches offer solid CPMs ($8-$18) with moderate competition, making them ideal for new creators focused on sustainable growth.
Calculate Your Own Earnings
These are general estimates based on average CPM data. Your actual earnings depend on your specific audience, content niche, and engagement rates. For a personalized estimate, try our YouTube Money Calculator with real CPM data adjusted by country and niche.
Try Our YouTube Calculator
Want to see exactly how much you could earn? Use our free YouTube Money Calculator with real CPM data adjusted by country, niche, and content type.
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Written by The Creator Paycheck Team
Our research team analyzes creator earnings data across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and OnlyFans. We aggregate publicly available CPM data, creator earnings reports, and industry benchmarks to provide accurate, transparent income estimates for content creators worldwide.