Last updated on November 12, 2025
I sure asked that question when I started writing, tinkering with ideas, and thinking “Maybe one day this could pay off.”
So, I dug into real numbers, mixed in my own experience, and I’m sharing what I found — what beginner bloggers often see, what mid-level bloggers make, and where the big players get to.
Why earnings vary so wildly
To be fair, blogging is not a fixed salary job. The amount you make depends on many factors: niche, traffic, monetization, consistency, and audience geography.
According to recent data, beginners might make a few hundred dollars per month — while established blogs can pull in tens of thousands.
So yeah — the range is big. But instead of getting overwhelmed, let’s break it into realistic tiers and walk through them like friends chatting over coffee.
Tier 1: The Beginner Blogger (Year 1) — $0 to ~$15,000
When I began, I was lucky to see $100 in a month. Most of my time was spent learning. Many bloggers in their first year earn between $0 and $15,000 annually.
What this looks like:
- Blog is under 1 year old.
- Traffic is small (maybe hundreds or thousands of visitors monthly).
- Earnings come mostly from small-scale ads, a few affiliate sales.
- You’re figuring it out — writing posts, learning SEO, building social media presence.
Honestly, this stage can feel frustrating. I remember the first time I got paid — it was under $20 from an affiliate sale — and I celebrated like crazy. Because it meant: this is *possible*.
Tier 2: Growing Blogger (Years 1-3) — ~$15,000 to ~$50,000+ per year
Once you’ve worked at it for a little while and traffic is growing, things start to shift. Blogs with steady growth and diversified income streams often fall into this range.
Typical signs:
- Monthly traffic in the tens of thousands.
- Income from a mix: affiliate marketing, ads, maybe sponsored posts.
- You feel more confident. You know your niche. You’re consistent.
Example: I wrote 2-3 posts a week for over a year, focussed on a niche I enjoyed, built an email list. By month 14, I earned around $1,200 in one month (not yet full-time income, but way better than year one).
Tier 3: Established Blogger — ~$50,000 to ~$100,000+ per year
At this level, your blog begins behaving more like a business. You’ve likely built authority, traffic is large, you may have hires or tools, and income streams are many. Surveys show bloggers in this bracket exist and average around this range.
What this often involves:
- Your traffic might be 100K+ visits per month.
- You’re making money from digital products, courses, memberships in addition to ads and affiliates.
- Brand collaborations, email marketing, and scaling tools are in play.
And guess what? You’re working on your blog but it also starts working for you. You’ve got workflows, content that keeps earning, and diversification.
Tier 4: Top-Tier / Full Business Blogger — $100,000+ per year
Yes, it’s real. Some bloggers make six-figures annually, and if the niche and audience are right, even more.
These examples aren’t the norm — they are the exceptions you look up to. But they show what’s possible. At this level, you’re likely offering high-ticket courses, maybe you have multiple websites, staff, and multiple income channels.
What drives higher earnings (and what you can control)
Let’s talk about the factors you can control, and which ones you can’t. Because focusing where you can move makes all the difference.
Niche and Audience
Some niches pay more. Finance, tech, health often have higher-value ads and affiliate products. Audience location matters too — traffic from the U.S. or UK often earns more than traffic from other regions.
Traffic & Content Volume
More content = more opportunities. Blogs that publish consistently tend to rank higher and get more traffic. One report says to break into higher income levels you need hundreds of posts.
Monetization Diversity
Don’t rely on just one income stream. Ads, affiliates, your own products — the best bloggers use a mix.
Time & Persistence
This one often gets overlooked. You’ll see new bloggers quit when income is tiny. I almost quit after six months. But if you keep showing up — you’ll improve.
Realistic Example Breakdown
Let’s say you blog in a niche you like, with traffic from the U.S. Here’s a rough, hypothetical annual breakdown after 2-3 years:
- Ads: $1,200/year (small site) → $12,000/year (growing site)
- Affiliate marketing: $3,000/year → $30,000/year
- Digital product/course: $500/year → $10,000/year
- Sponsorships/brand deals: $0 → $10,000/year
Add it up: you could realistically hit $20,000–$50,000/year with consistent effort and the right strategy.
What to Expect in Your First Year
A big truth: your first year may feel slow. Many bloggers make under $1,000 in months one to six.
But here’s the thing — every post you publish builds something. Every traffic visit builds credibility. You’re planting seeds.
Set modest goals:
- Publish 40–50 posts.
- Build your email list (even 100 subscribers helps).
- Experiment with one monetization method.
Why Some Bloggers Don’t Earn Much
This happens more than it should. Some reasons:
- Income strategy isn’t clear or diversified.
- Traffic is too low or from low-value regions.
- Niche is too broad or too competitive without a unique angle.
- They give up too soon. Blogging takes time and persistence.
Your Next Move
If you’re reading this and thinking “Okay — how do I get started?” here’s what I’d suggest:
- Pick a niche you genuinely like.
- Commit to at least 6–12 months of consistent writing (say one post per week).
- Learn basics of SEO and how to drive traffic.
- Experiment with one monetization method (affiliate or ads) after you have some content.
- Track your numbers — traffic, email signups, income — and learn what works.
I’m excited for you. If you stay the course, your blog can earn more than you think — maybe not next month, but in a year or two, you could be looking at significant income you never saw coming.