How much do reel makers earn in 2025: market analysis, platforms, and formats

The growing popularity of vertical video content on social media has increased the demand for specialists who can quickly and efficiently create clips for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Inquiring about how much Reels makers earn has become particularly relevant: the market has shifted from the experimental phase to stable demand. Companies, bloggers, and educational platforms are willing to pay for short videos that increase engagement, expand reach, and strengthen their brand.

How much do Reels makers earn: income structure and approaches

Several factors influence the income level: the specialist’s experience, video theme, editing complexity, and duration of client interaction. On average, a Reels maker’s monthly income ranges from 40,000 to 180,000 rubles with part-time or full-time employment.

Experienced editors working with experts and businesses can earn up to 250,000 rubles. Beginners who are just starting out in the profession may begin at 500–1000 rubles per video.

Formats and channels for receiving orders

Working with Reels involves various employment models. Some specialists earn income online without investment by taking one-time tasks through freelance marketplaces.

Another category includes fixed contractors who work with bloggers or production teams creating series of videos. This format allows for building stable partnerships and gaining experience through long-term projects. It is important to consider how much Reels makers earn — income depends on skill level, niche, and the number of regular clients, making individual specialization particularly valuable.

Responsibilities of a Reels maker

Despite its apparent simplicity, the profession requires discipline, creativity, and technical proficiency. Specialists daily tackle tasks related to content and deadlines. Below is a list of basic functions that are part of the standard workflow:

• selecting visual references and analyzing the brief;
• writing a simple script based on the initial theme;
• editing in mobile or desktop editors;
• choosing music and synchronizing sound;
• adding subtitles and graphic accents;
• exporting in the required format optimized for the platform;
• communicating with the client and coordinating stages;
• tracking metrics (if requested by the client);
• meeting deadlines without additional supervision.

This structure helps the client achieve predictable results and enables the Reels maker to establish efficient and stable remote work.

How much do Reels makers get paid for videos in 2025?

The most common payment model is a fixed price for editing one Reels video. On average in 2025, it ranges from 800 to 3000 rubles. Beginners may work for 400–700 rubles, while experienced specialists can earn from 1500 rubles and above.

When considering how much Reels makers earn, it is important to take into account the collaboration format. For subscription-based work, such as creating 20 Reels per month, the cost per video may decrease, but the overall income remains stable due to volume.

In the premium segment, especially when creating branded content, payment increases: the cost of one video can reach 5000 rubles and higher. Thus, a Reels maker’s earnings level directly depends on the work format, quality of execution, and target audience.

Where to find initial orders for inexperienced Reels makers?

Beginners often start with individual projects, gradually building a portfolio. Below is a list of channels where it is possible to find initial orders for editing short videos without a formed portfolio:

• freelance marketplaces — Kwork, Freelancehunt, Work-Zilla;
• directly contacting bloggers through Instagram, Telegram;
• platforms with requests from experts — Quarkly, YTJobs;
• online schools and courses regularly posting job vacancies;
• thematic Telegram chats;
• Discord communities related to visual content;
• job exchanges with a “no experience” filter;
• personal offers in Stories and TikTok (format “looking for first orders”);
• internships in small SMM agencies;
• micro-projects for feedback at the initial stage;
• internal tasks from educational platforms.

These sources allow for quickly immersing oneself in the profession, understanding the market’s real demands, and starting remote work as a Reels maker without the need for investments.

Factors influencing price: structure, style, theme

When discussing how much Reels makers earn, it is necessary to consider the variety of formats and requirements. The service cost largely depends on the type of content: videos for bloggers with personal involvement, emphasis on sound and emotions require one type of preparation, while materials for a B2B audience imply a strict structure, business style, and different visual accents. The difference in approaches directly affects pricing and determines how much Reels makers earn in different market segments.

The number of hours spent on one video depends on several factors. Some Reels makers additionally assess individual work stages — scriptwriting, graphic creation, precise synchronization, and music selection. All of this increases the total number of hours required to produce a quality video and affects the final service cost.

Reels maker as a side job and main occupation

The ability to combine the profession with primary activities makes being a Reels maker as a side job an attractive model for students, freelancers, and aspiring Reels editors.

The market allows transitioning to full-time work — with an average pace of 4–6 videos per day, an experienced professional can reach an income of 120,000 rubles. The main criteria for transitioning are speed, consistent quality, and the ability to build communication with clients.

Estimated workload and actual income

When analyzing how much Reels makers earn, it is important to consider the time spent on each video. On average, creating one Reels video takes between 30 to 120 minutes depending on the task’s complexity. The full cycle — from editing from scratch to synchronization, effects, and voiceover — rarely exceeds two hours. Monthly workload can range from 40 to 100 videos, directly impacting income.

With this level of activity, a Reels maker’s monthly income can range from 70,000 to 180,000 rubles, and when working with multiple brands, it can exceed that amount. Remote work as a Reels maker allows for independently managing schedules and choosing formats, including international orders.

So, how much do Reels makers earn?

The answer depends on the task volume, experience, and order level. At the beginning, it is possible to work with minimal rates and gradually increase the pace, moving towards full-time engagement.

In 2025, earnings can compete with those of specialists in other digital fields. The flexibility of formats, the growing demand for social media videos, and content development make the profession promising for both beginners and experienced professionals.