It's 2025 and influencers have more hype than ever. Whether on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, influencers are the highlight of every social media platform. In fact, influencers are the reason why these apps have such popularity! It's quite tough to talk about these influencers and not mention the platform that gave birth to the concept of influencers - Instagrammers. Nobody knew what influencers were before Instagram made its advent back in 2010. Of course, there were some YouTubers performing influencer duties but their influence range was not that great, especially among grownups. When Instagram came onto the market, it instantly became the most used social media app on the phones of every person - teenagers or adults! A few people soon realized the power of Instagram, and that’s how the whole trend of influencers, or Instagrammers began!
From daily blogs to niche-specific content, every Instagrammer has their own unique domain. You can think of a niche, literally anything, and you will find an influencer leading it. Especially in the new age of 2025, influencers have become so common that for every small exposure niche, like crochet or violin, you will find at least a dozen influencers. The charisma of these influencers is no secret and the money they make via influencing is solid proof of it. But is it true that these influencers are really making enough cash to become a millionaires? The answer is YES! Instagram is the home of multiple millionaires, some of whom started their careers from scratch, and others who are already considered renowned personalities. One way or another, influencing via Instagram was a life changer for them!
The best thing about influencers is that anyone can be one! The stories of how some millionaire influencers started off their journey as regular unemployed people and now drive around in Bentleys is the perfect source of inspiration for anyone who’s even thinking about Instagramming for a career. Of course, it's not a piece of cake and no one can make heaps of cash overnight, it is a constant struggle, but it’s so worth it! We might warn you that the journey is rough and you pass through multiple barren fields but if you stick to the course, the oasis at the end is heavenly. This article is specifically written for you to serve as a beacon of light to motivate you on your Instagramming path.
In this article, we will be diving into some numbers and figures of how much Instagrammers are making in the year 2025. We will evaluate the earnings of these influencers and divide them categorically on the number of followers. Moreover, we will take a hint at some ways through which Instagram influencers make money. So let’s get started right away!
Categories of Earning Instagrammers
The prime factor that qualifies an Instagrammer to make some cash on the platform is the number of followers they have. The greater the circumference of influence of an Instagrammer, the more money they make. The number of followers an Instagrammer has determines their influence. When brands seek out influencers to hire them for promotional campaigns, the key factor they look for is the followers' number. This helps the brand to know the capacity of influence or the reach their product will get once promoted via the specific Instagrammer. As the following of an Instagrammer is a crucial determinant of their earrings, hence Instagrammers are categorized based on their following number, and correspondingly, the money they make.
A generic categorization of Instagrammers is provided below:
- Nano Influencers
- Micro-Influencers
- Mid-Tier Influencers
- Macro Influencers
- Mega Influencers
Let’s get into a little more detail and see how much different influencers with varying followers are making.
1. Nano Influencers
Instagrammers in the nano influencers category have followers below 1000. These are the Instagrammers who are just starting off their Instagramming career and are looking for more followers to grow their reach. These Instagram influencers are on the brink of their journey and keep their accounts highly active to attract more followers. Although to step into the earning league, a total of 1000 followers is the benchmark. But some Instagrammers might get lucky due to the activity on their accounts and attract a few deals. Nonetheless, the earnings of nano influencers are not that flashy as they make less than $10 per Instagram post. But it's a start! It's the first step in the millionaire journey! Nano influencers make around $360 per year from consistent posting.
2. Micro Influencers
Micro Influencers have a following in the range of 1000 to 10,000 followers. These Instagrammers have the required following to be recognized by brands and companies. Brands can sign them up for promotional campaigns or even send them some packages for a shoutout. Either way, these influencers earn a hefty sum of money. The earning range for these influencers on per per-post basis is within the range of $10 to $100, depending upon their niche and exposure. Micro Instagrammers are on the first step of the ladder to climb their way up to six-figure earnings. These Instagrammers make around $36,000 per year from consistent posting.
3. Mid-Tier Influencers
When it comes to the mid-tier category of Instagrammers, these influencers have a following in the range of 10,000 to 100,000. These Instagrammers are the real deals as they are in tightly close affiliation with local brands and are on the edge of being recognized by global international brands as well. These influencers have a very versatile wavelength of followers with many local, niche-specific, and global followers. Due to the versatility of their followers, mid-tier Instagrammers are the ideal choice for local brands and they qualify as the top candidates for international brands as well. The earnings for these Instagrammers vary depending on the total number of their followers. But to take a generic overview, the revenue for these Instagrammers is somewhere between the range of $100 to $500 per Instagram post. These rates may differ on the basis of engagement rates, niches, and brand deals. Mid-tier Instagrammers make about $180,000 per year, entering into 6-figure earnings.
4. Macro Influencers
Instagrammers in the category of macro influencers have their following typically in the range of 100,000 to one million. These Instagrammers are the officially verified ones as well who have an influence worldwide. These Instagrammers are also the hot ones who act as the face of multiple brands, each with its own specific niche. As these are internationally acclaimed Instagrammers, so they have a very massive earning stream in the range of $1000 to $5000 per sponsored post on Instagram. The revenue of these Instagrammers majorly depends on the rates of these influencers. But all in all, the lowest rate that macro Instagrammers demand is $1000. Macro influencers also earn in 6-figures.
5. Mega Influencers
As the name itself suggests, mega influencers are the kings and queens of their respective target niches. The starting range of followers for these Instagrammers begins at one million and exceeds no limits. So any Instagrammer who has more than 1 million followers qualifies to be a mega influencer. As these Instagrammers are the leaders in their domains, they have high-earning streams as well. A typical mega influencer charges about $10,000 to $20,000 per Instagram post. Most of the celebrities who are on Instagram and already have a high ratio of following owing to their celebrity status qualify as mega Instagrammers as well. So, we can easily state that mega influencers are the true millionaires! These influencers can even earn up to 7 figures per year!
How do Instagrammers Make Money?
By now you must be wondering - with so many cash flows coming into the accounts of Instagrammers, what exactly are they doing? Well, wonder no more because we are breaking down the real deal for you in this article! There are multiple ways through which Instagrammers make money on the platform but the prime requirement remains. You need to be an influencer with at least 1000 followers or nearing 1000 followers to qualify yourself for making Instagram money. Once you get the recognition, there are multiple streams that Instagram itself has to offer you to assist you on your millionaire road. Below are just a few of them:
1. Sponsored Posts
Sponsored posts are the fundamental method through which Instagrammers can make money. Brands and companies reach out to potential influencers whom they want to hire for their promotional campaigns. These influencers in return promote the brand’s products via stories or Instagram posts depending upon their mutual agreement. They even use unique hashtags to get the product rolling among the target audience. Based on the number of followers an influencer has or their engagement rates, they then charge the brands. Influencers can even add a ‘sponsored’ tag on their posts, making it reach a wider audience.
2. Selling Services
Another great way for influencers to make money is by selling their services and products. Instagrammers can sell products and services of their respective niche. They can sell online courses, digital products, or even tangible products to their followers. Their followers can then purchase these products or services, in return adding to the monetary funds. One example of such a domain can be of a fitness trainer who is selling fitness programs on their Instagram profile. Another one can be an entrepreneur selling digital courses to motivate people and teach them life lessons.
3. Affiliate Marketing
One of the most common ways for Instagrammers to make money is through affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing is the process through which influencers promote products and in return receive a commission for every sale they make. They promote the products and offer their followers to use a promo code to purchase the product and also get a discount. Affiliate marketing is a great way for Instagrammers to earn a passive stream of income. Moreover, it keeps the accounts of Instagrammers nice and fat as every sale results in money for their account.
4. Partnership with Brands
The prime way for Instagrammers to make money is to partner up with brands and lead their promotional campaigns. Brands simply reach out to potential Instagrammers with whom their target audience resonates. Then based on the shared target audience and niche, along with the number of followers the influencer has, brands craft out partnership deals with these Instagrammers and then launch their promotional campaign. As a part of their campaign, the Instagram influencer then makes multiple Instagram posts and stories promoting the products and leading the campaigns.
5. Instagram Subscription Revenue
Another special feature that Instagram offers to its influencers is the Instagram Subscription package. The Instagram Subscription feature allows Instagrammers to deeply connect with their followers. Through the Instagram Subscription package, your most loyal followers can pay to get access to some of their most exclusive content. Such type of content appears in the form of a purple ring so your loyal followers can know that their loyalty is getting rewarded. The Instagram Subscription helps to get you a nice little revenue stream that not only fills your pocket but also keeps you in close touch with your followers. The Instagram Subscription package works best for mega influencers and also macro influencers.
6. Advertising Websites
Some Instagrammers also prefer to earn money via promoting websites on their Instagram profile. They can simply insert the URL in their Instagram bios and once the followers get directed to that website and engage with it, this can result in money for the Instagrammer through website ads. This is a great way for Instagram influencers to generate an additional income stream via Instagram.
So that’s all we have got folks! We hope this article will serve as an inspiration source for all those young Instagrammers out there looking forward to grow their profile. Stay tuned for more money-making articles on Socialbook.com to assist you in generating various income streams!
