Study finds average streamer made above $1K in the last year

It’s not all fun and games — a new survey has revealed seven in 10 gamers stream their content, and about half ever actually make money from it.

The poll of 2,000 US video game players, split by generation, found making a career out of live streaming, though, can be a daunting task. Fifty-one percent have made money from it, and of them, the average person has only made $1,264 within the past 12 months.

Still, it’s enough for 10% to consider quitting their job to stream full-time. Sixty-nine percent even claimed streaming should be considered a serious job industry all on its own.

Four in five millennials surveyed especially consider streaming a real job industry, closely followed by Gen Z (79%). Perhaps unsurprisingly, baby boomers were found to be the least likely to consider it a “real job” (46%).

Commissioned by the free to play game World of Warships and conducted by OnePoll, respondents from the study showed what it takes in order to have a “successful” career in streaming.

In order to be considered a successful streamer, you need to collaborate with other streamers or creators (56%), earn money from streaming (53%), stream on a regular basis (48%) and score a sponsorship or brand deal (48%).

Respondents also defined a successful streaming career by maintaining an average of 3,277 regular viewers per month and making an average of $29,172, annually. You should also be streaming for an average of 22 hours per week.

And to look the part, respondents said you need good equipment (a computer, chair, headphones, etc.) (61%), fast internet connection (50%), a good camera set up (48%) and a high-quality mic (45%).

Even with all these conditions, 59% believe becoming a “successful” streamer is an easy task; only 21% said it’s difficult.

Three-quarters (76%) in the Gen Z generation believe it to be easy, while baby boomers were on the opposite side of the argument — 38% of them believe it’s difficult.

“Even though there’s a perception that the bar for ‘success’ is lower than most careers, it carries with it some new challenges that we should consider,” said Ross Falk, marketing lead at World of Warships Americas. “Many would likely be surprised to learn just how seriously professional streamers take their jobs — treating it just as seriously as they would any other profession.”

The survey also revealed America’s livestream-loving habits. Over half (59%) watch streams at least once a week and 12% watch them every single day.

Millennials were found to watch daily more than any other generation (18%, compared to 10% for Gen Z, 15% for Gen X and 4% for baby boomers).

The most popular kinds of streaming content: cooking (33%), esports (33%), multiplayer/battle royale games (32%) and reviews (30%). Seven in 10 (73%) said they especially follow esports closely.

Respondents were also asked if they believed streaming was more or less culturally relevant than other, more traditional forms of entertainment; and if it was more or less important for communities than other, more traditional forms of society.

Many put streamers as more culturally important than comedians (65%), athletes (64%) and writers (62%). They were also found to be less culturally important than actors (16%) and music artists (12%).

Similarly, streamers were found to be more important to communities than educators (50%) and healthcare workers (46%), and just as important as lawmakers (47%), clothing brands (52%), retail companies (48%), tech startups (44%), charities (43%) and librarians (45%).

A fifth believe streaming could replace traditional televised entertainment within five years, yet eight percent said it already has.

“We’re clearly only in the beginning stages of streaming taking off as a career path,” continued Ross. “What’s really exciting is watching what’s going to happen in the near future and how younger people are preparing themselves for careers that are forever changing the definition of entertainment.”

TOP 6 FACTORS OF A “SUCCESSFUL” CAREER IN STREAMING

Collaborating with other streamers or content creators - 56%

Earning money from streaming - 53%

Streaming on a regular schedule - 48%

Picking up sponsorships/brand deals - 48%

Having a specific number of regular viewers - 41%

Working for a company that offers a role streaming - 31%