Last reviewed: April 23, 2026 by Mike Holp
YouTube Creator Benchmarks (2026)
This benchmark table summarizes observed range bands for CPM, RPM, and retention across common creator niches. Use these values for directional planning, not as guarantees.
| Niche | Typical CPM | Typical RPM | Retention (avg view) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance | $18 - $35 | $7 - $15 | 38% - 52% |
| Business / SaaS | $14 - $28 | $5 - $12 | 35% - 48% |
| Education | $10 - $22 | $4 - $10 | 40% - 55% |
| Tech | $9 - $20 | $3 - $9 | 34% - 47% |
| Gaming | $4 - $12 | $1.5 - $5 | 32% - 44% |
| Entertainment | $3 - $10 | $1 - $4 | 30% - 42% |
Methodology
- Ranges represent anonymized percentile bands, not individual channel snapshots.
- Only channels with stable upload cadence and monetization history are included.
- Values are refreshed monthly with seasonality adjustments.
- Outliers and one-off viral spikes are trimmed before aggregation.
Full definitions and caveats: Methodology page.