Ever wondered if you can make money on Skillshare Teacher Program without becoming a full-time YouTuber or influencer? Good news — you can, and some teachers are earning over $100,000 per year just from their courses. Whether you’re teaching digital art, productivity hacks, or coding, Skillshare makes it possible to earn passive income from your skills.
In this guide, you’ll learn how the Skillshare Teacher Program works, what you need to get started, and exactly how much you can make. We’ll also break down proven monetization strategies, from royalties to referrals, with real-world examples and actionable steps.
By the end, you’ll have a complete roadmap to turn your skills into $200–$3,000/month in recurring income — even if you start with zero audience or experience.
Key Takeaways
- Earn Passive Income Teaching Skills You Already Have
Create short, structured courses once and keep earning monthly from student watch time and referrals. - Two Main Income Streams: Royalties and Referrals
Get paid for every premium minute watched and earn 60% of subscription fees from new member sign-ups. - Teachers Are Making $200 to $3,000+/Month
Some beginners earn $50/month, while top instructors scale to six figures per year. - Minimal Setup: Just a Laptop and Your Voice
No fancy studio required — many successful Skillshare teachers start with free tools and basic slides. - Referrals Can Outperform Royalties
With the 2025 model, sharing your referral link can bring in more revenue than views alone.
How to Make Money on Skillshare Teacher Program?
Making money on the Skillshare Teacher Program is easier than many other platforms — especially if you’re starting from scratch. That’s because Skillshare gives you immediate access to a global audience of premium learners. You don’t need to build a social media following or host your own website.
Most teachers begin earning within their first few months, and even modest results can snowball into solid passive income. Christopher Cant, a real-life teacher, made over $360 in 3 months after publishing just two beginner courses. With ongoing referrals and occasional blog traffic, he still earns $100/month with zero maintenance.
While results vary, consistency is key. Skillshare favors creators who post high-quality, valuable content and engage with students. For many, it becomes a set-it-and-forget-it revenue stream — especially when paired with strategic promotion.
What do you need to get started?
To start earning, you’ll need a Skillshare teacher account (free to join) and one polished course. Courses must be 10+ minutes long and include a class project. You can record with basic tools — a webcam, screen recorder (like Loom or OBS), and a mic. No prior audience is required, but having a blog, YouTube channel, or social media for affiliate marketing boosts exposure. Editing and design can be DIY or outsourced.
How much money you can make on Skillshare Teacher Program?
Beginner teachers generally earn $50 to $200/month. Long-term instructors often make $500 to $3,000/month, while top 1% teachers break $100,000/year. Earnings come from two sources: royalty payments for premium minutes watched, and referral commissions (60% of a new subscriber’s fee). One instructor, Christopher Cant, earned $367.45 in just 3 months from two classes — with most of it being passive income.
Other instructors report making $1,000+ monthly once they’ve uploaded multiple classes and leveraged their blog or YouTube for referrals. Royalties range between $0.05–$0.10 per minute watched, and engagement bonuses ($100–$250) reward top-performing teachers. Read more blog posts: How to Earn Passive Income with Online Courses in 2025
14 Best Ways to Make Money on Skillshare Teacher Program
Whether you’re a creative teacher growing your brand or a freelancer turning skills into income, these 14 proven strategies show exactly how to Make Money on Skillshare Teacher Program through royalties, referrals, engagement bonuses, and smart promotion.
1. Skillshare Royalties
Skillshare’s royalty system is the primary way most teachers get paid. Every month, Skillshare allocates 20% of total subscriber revenue to a royalty pool, which is then divided among all teachers based on premium minutes watched. The more your course is viewed by paying members, the more money you make.
In 2025, royalty rates typically range from $0.05 to $0.10 per minute, depending on total minutes watched across the platform. For example, if your courses receive 2,000 minutes of watch time and the pool payout is $0.07/minute, you’d earn $140 that month. This is 100% passive once your course is live. With multiple high-quality classes, it’s entirely possible to generate $500–$3,000/month in royalty payments alone.
Requirements: At least 75 paid minutes watched per month. Trailers and free viewers don’t count.
How to earn Skillshare royalties?
- Create a free Skillshare teacher account.
- Plan your course outline with 3–5 core lessons and a class project.
- Use a microphone, webcam, or screen recorder to film your course.
- Upload and publish your course on Skillshare.
- Make sure it’s at least 10 minutes long with actionable content.
- Encourage students to complete the class project and leave reviews.
- Promote your course on social media or blog to boost paid views.
- Track minutes watched via your Skillshare dashboard monthly.
Quick tip: Longer courses tend to earn more royalty minutes — aim for at least 30–45 minutes per class.
2. Referral Commissions
Skillshare teachers can earn 60% of the first payment when they refer a new premium member. This referral commission is highly lucrative — and often more profitable than royalties — especially for those with a blog, newsletter, or YouTube channel.
For example, if a new user signs up for a $99/year plan through your referral link, you’ll receive $59.40 instantly. Some instructors focus almost entirely on referrals by creating free content that funnels traffic to their Skillshare classes. Unlike royalties, referral income doesn’t depend on course watch time — just the sign-up.
Requirements: Use your unique Skillshare referral link and follow their affiliate guidelines.
How to make referral income on Skillshare?
- Log in to your Skillshare teacher dashboard.
- Copy your unique referral link from the referrals tab.
- Add this link in your blog, YouTube descriptions, or social posts.
- Create content (like reviews or tutorials) related to your course topic.
- Offer bonuses or lead magnets in exchange for using your referral.
- Consider using paid ads to drive traffic if you have a marketing budget.
- Promote seasonal Skillshare discounts to boost conversions.
- Monitor referral signups in your dashboard.
Quick tip: Create a free tutorial on YouTube, then link to your full Skillshare class with your referral URL.
3. Bonus Engagement Payments
Skillshare offers $100 to $250/month in bonus payments to instructors who receive excellent student feedback and maintain high engagement. These are part of the Top Teacher and Rising Teacher programs — invite-only perks that reward quality teaching.
To qualify, you need at least one well-rated course and a pattern of student interaction — including reviews, projects submitted, and discussion replies. These bonuses can add a significant boost to your income, especially if you’re already earning royalties or referrals.
Requirements: Must be invited to Skillshare’s Top or Rising Teacher program.
How to qualify for engagement bonuses on Skillshare?
- Focus on teaching value-packed, project-based lessons.
- Ask students to complete the class project and leave a review.
- Respond to questions in the course discussion tab regularly.
- Avoid uploading low-effort or “filler” content — prioritize usefulness.
- Promote your class to drive traffic and increase project submissions.
- Apply to the Top Teacher program if you meet the criteria.
- Follow Skillshare’s best practices for course formatting and tone.
- Maintain at least one new course every 3–6 months.
Quick tip: Directly ask your students to submit projects and reviews — it boosts your engagement score fast.
4. YouTube to Skillshare Funnel
YouTube is a powerful tool for driving traffic to your Skillshare classes — especially when used as a referral funnel. Many instructors upload short versions of their courses on YouTube, then invite viewers to watch the full version on Skillshare using their referral link.
This method allows you to build both brand trust and passive income. Best of all, Skillshare handles payments, course access, and hosting — you just focus on content and marketing.
Requirements: A YouTube channel with niche-relevant content and referral links in descriptions.
How to set up a Skillshare YouTube funnel?
- Choose a niche topic that matches your Skillshare course.
- Script and record a 5–10 minute free teaser lesson.
- Mention that the full course is available on Skillshare.
- Add your referral link in the video description and pinned comment.
- Include a clear call-to-action (“Watch the full class on Skillshare”).
- Use tags and keywords that attract the right audience.
- Upload consistently to build trust and traffic.
- Check which videos bring the most referrals in your dashboard.
Quick tip: Tease value in the YouTube video, then gate the “how-to” or in-depth content behind your Skillshare class.
5. Blogging & SEO for Referrals
If you run a blog, you can build a long-term referral engine by embedding Skillshare links into educational articles. For example, a productivity blogger might write “Best Notion Tips for Creatives” and link to their full Skillshare class on Notion workflows.
With the right keywords and affiliate disclosures, this becomes an evergreen traffic and revenue source. One teacher, Christopher Cant, still earns $100/month passively thanks to a blog post he wrote over a year ago.
Requirements: A content-focused blog with educational or course-relevant traffic.
How to monetize Skillshare with a blog?
- Write SEO-optimized posts around your course topics.
- Use tools like Ahrefs or Ubersuggest to find long-tail keywords.
- Embed your referral links naturally into blog content.
- Create a “Courses” page listing all your Skillshare classes.
- Share your blog posts on Pinterest or Medium for more reach.
- Use calls-to-action like “Take the full course here.”
- Update posts every 3–6 months to keep rankings high.
- Track performance with Google Analytics and affiliate reports.
Quick tip: Add a sticky sidebar or banner with your referral link to boost clicks site-wide.
6. Email Marketing for Referrals
Email remains one of the highest-converting marketing channels. If you have a newsletter or email list, you can promote your Skillshare classes directly using your referral link.
This works especially well for creators who already share value-based content. You can offer early access to new classes, class bundles, or exclusive bonus lessons for subscribers who enroll via Skillshare.
Requirements: An active email list and a platform like ConvertKit, MailerLite, or Beehiiv.
How to use email to earn Skillshare income?
- Create a free lead magnet related to your course topic.
- Use it to grow your email list with interested learners.
- Write an automated email sequence introducing your course.
- Include your Skillshare referral link multiple times.
- Offer exclusive perks to email subscribers (e.g., behind-the-scenes content).
- Segment your list by interest or topic for better targeting.
- Promote new Skillshare classes with each launch.
- Analyze open/click rates to improve future campaigns.
Quick tip: Keep Skillshare links early in the email — many readers won’t scroll past the fold.
7. Free Mini Courses That Upsell to Skillshare
Offering a free mini-course outside of Skillshare is a great way to build trust and convert warm leads into referrals. You could host a short workshop on Teachable, Gumroad, or even Zoom, and at the end, invite attendees to join the full class on Skillshare.
This strategy is powerful because people who already invested 20 minutes into your free lesson are much more likely to follow you onto a paid platform.
Requirements: Free hosting platform and a landing page or email list.
How to upsell using a free mini-course on Skillshare?
- Choose a topic that introduces but doesn’t fully teach your class.
- Record a 10–15 minute lesson using free tools.
- Host it on your website, Teachable, or Gumroad.
- At the end of the lesson, plug your full Skillshare class.
- Add your referral link in the video and description.
- Promote the mini-course via social media or your list.
- Offer limited-time bonuses for sign-ups through Skillshare.
- Track conversions using UTM links.
Quick tip: Give away 80% of the “what,” and gate the “how” behind your Skillshare referral link.
8. Social Media for Affiliate Promotion
Social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter can drive traffic to your Skillshare classes when used with strategy. Many instructors use short educational reels or tweet threads to demonstrate expertise, then drop their Skillshare referral link in the bio or caption.
This approach works well for visual or fast-paced topics (design, writing, marketing). You don’t need a huge audience — even 1,000 followers can convert well with the right niche.
Requirements: Social media account(s) with consistent niche content.
How to promote Skillshare on social media?
- Create short, snappy content around your course topic.
- Link your Skillshare referral in your bio or Linktree.
- Use calls-to-action like “Want to learn more? Watch the full class.”
- Run giveaways or challenges tied to your class.
- Use hashtags and trends to increase reach.
- Reshare testimonials or student project highlights.
- Engage with DMs and comments to build trust.
- Track which platforms drive the most clicks.
Quick tip: Use Instagram Stories + link stickers to boost direct click-throughs to your class.
9. Host Private 1:1 Lessons via Skillshare’s Superpeer
Skillshare now offers the option to host private lessons through its integration with Superpeer. Teachers can create 1:1 coaching or mentoring sessions and set their own rates. As of 2025, Skillshare lets you keep 100% of your earnings, though a 10% platform fee may be introduced later.
This method is great if you want to offer personalized feedback, portfolio reviews, or advanced guidance outside your core class. It works especially well for creative skills, career coaching, and business topics.
Quick tip: Promote your 1:1 session at the end of your course as an upsell for serious learners.
10. Repurpose Skillshare Classes into Paid Products
Once you’ve created a full Skillshare course, you can turn that same material into other paid products. This includes eBooks, downloadable workbooks, paid Notion templates, or even selling your course independently on platforms like Gumroad or Podia.
Just make sure you’re not violating Skillshare’s exclusivity terms — remove any Skillshare branding or re-edit the material into a different format. This gives your content a second life and creates a new revenue stream with little extra effort.
Quick tip: Bundle your slides, project files, or templates as digital downloads and link them in your course description.
11. Offer Consulting or Done-for-You Services
Your Skillshare course can position you as an expert in your niche. Once students see your teaching style and skills, some may want to hire you directly for services. This could include branding, editing, productivity setup, or social media strategy — depending on what your class teaches.
You can add a short “Work with me” slide at the end of your course with a Calendly link or website info. A single client could pay hundreds, if not thousands, for your expertise.
Quick tip: Let students message you directly on Skillshare — then move interested clients to email or your website.
12. Collaborate with Other Skillshare Instructors
Co-creating a class with another instructor helps you reach each other’s audiences and produce better content. For example, a designer could team up with a copywriter to teach “Designing High-Converting Sales Pages.”
You can split royalties and referral income, and Skillshare allows shared ownership through its team upload feature. It’s also a great way to learn new presentation styles and cross-promote courses on both referral links.
Quick tip: Reach out to instructors in your niche via Skillshare forums or LinkedIn for collaboration ideas.
13. Build a Patreon or Membership Around Your Classes
Many teachers use their Skillshare classes to build interest in a paid community or Patreon. For example, you can offer Q&A calls, behind-the-scenes content, or advanced modules through your Patreon.
Mention it briefly in your class conclusion slide and invite viewers to join. This lets you monetize your top fans outside the platform and adds recurring income beyond Skillshare’s built-in payouts.
Quick tip: Offer early access to your upcoming Skillshare classes as a perk for Patreon subscribers.
14. Add Affiliate Links to Course Resources
While Skillshare doesn’t allow affiliate links within your video content, you can include them in your class project description or linked resources. For example, if you teach a class on podcasting, you could include affiliate links for mics, software, or templates. Students often want to buy the exact tools you recommend, so this is a perfect passive upsell opportunity.
Quick tip: Use Amazon Associates or bold and underline your best affiliate platforms for Skillshare instructors in class downloads.
Step-by-Step Guide to Make Money on Skillshare Teacher Program
Step 1: Create a Free Skillshare Teacher Account
Start by visiting teach and signing up as a teacher. The process is free and takes just a few minutes. Once you’re approved, you’ll gain access to your teacher dashboard where you can manage classes, track views, and get your referral link. No teaching certification or formal experience is required.
Step 2: Choose a Niche Topic You Can Teach Confidently
Focus on a subject you know well — ideally something creative, practical, or skill-based. Popular categories in 2025 include productivity tools, digital design, AI tools, video editing, business skills, and freelancing. Skillshare students prefer project-based classes, so choose a topic with a tangible outcome. Teaching something you’re passionate about makes the process smoother and more authentic.
Step 3: Plan Your Course and Class Project
Before recording, outline your course. Break it down into 3–5 core lessons, totaling at least 10 minutes. You’ll also need a class project — something students can do to apply what they’ve learned. This is critical for boosting engagement and unlocking bonus payments. Include downloadable materials or templates if relevant.
Step 4: Record and Edit Your Course
Use free tools like OBS Studio, Loom, or Zoom to record. A USB microphone and screen recording setup is enough to get started — no need for fancy equipment. Edit using CapCut or iMovie to add polish. Keep the tone clear and encouraging. Upload your final files to Skillshare, add a thumbnail, class title, and publish.
Step 5: Promote with Referral Links
Once your class is live, go to your dashboard and copy your referral link. Share this on your blog, YouTube channel, social media, and newsletter. You’ll earn 60% of the first subscription payment for every student who signs up. Some teachers earn more from referrals than from royalty views.
Step 6: Track Royalties and Student Engagement
Check your Skillshare dashboard regularly to monitor views, minutes watched, and class reviews. You must hit 75 premium minutes watched per month to receive royalty payments. Encourage students to submit projects and reviews to qualify for Top Teacher or Rising Teacher bonuses.
Step 7: Scale by Creating More Classes
Once you’ve published your first course, repeat the process. More classes = more opportunities for royalties, referrals, and reviews. Many successful instructors have 5–10 courses. Repurpose your lessons into templates or product bundles to sell externally.
Step 8: Expand with Affiliate Tools and Paid Services
As your audience grows, you can add services like coaching, consulting, or 1:1 reviews. Link to these in your course outro or Skillshare profile. You can also include affiliate links in your class resources to earn from recommended tools. This is where best AI tools for making money on Skillshare can give you a long-term edge.
Tips to Increase Revenue on Skillshare
To increase your earnings on Skillshare, focus on maximizing both minutes watched and referrals. Longer, well-structured courses with high engagement (projects, reviews) tend to earn more in royalties. Aim for courses that are 30–60 minutes long and broken into digestible lessons with clear outcomes.
Consistency is key. Publish new courses every 2–3 months to stay relevant in Skillshare’s algorithm and qualify for engagement bonuses. Keep students coming back by creating course series (e.g., Beginner → Advanced). Mention your other courses at the end of each class to boost internal views.
Promotions matter too. Use your social media for affiliate marketing to drive traffic using your referral link. Embed links in blog posts, email newsletters, and YouTube descriptions. Finally, respond to every student project and review to boost your ranking in Skillshare’s teacher system.
Quick tip: Add a “What’s next?” slide to every course that suggests your other Skillshare classes.
Best AI Tools for Making Money on Skillshare
AI can streamline your entire Skillshare teaching workflow — from idea generation to course delivery. Tools like ChatGPT help outline lessons, write scripts, and even generate project ideas. AI video editors like Descript and Wisecut can automate captions, edit filler words, and clean up audio fast.
For presentations, Canva’s AI-powered slide tools or Gamma.app can help you build clean visuals in minutes. Voiceover tools like Murf AI or ElevenLabs are great if you’re shy on camera. These tools reduce production time and raise the quality of your content — which leads to better reviews and more watch time.
Some instructors even use AI to build lead magnets or eBooks that support their classes. This makes AI an essential tool for serious Skillshare creators.
Quick tip: Use ChatGPT to instantly generate quiz questions or class prompts to increase student interaction.
Best Affiliate Platforms for Skillshare Instructors
Instructors can earn extra income by recommending products in their course resources. Amazon Associates is the most popular, especially for gear and software links. You can include links to your mic, camera, editing software, or templates students can use in the class project.
Other good platforms include Impact, ShareASale, and Creative Market’s affiliate program. These work well for creators in the design, productivity, and marketing niches. Just make sure to include affiliate disclosures when sharing links.
Use a tool like Bitly or Pretty Links to track clicks, and consider building a resources PDF to include in each class. Over time, these affiliate links can become a solid stream of passive income — especially if your course gets consistent watch time.
Quick tip: Use best affiliate platforms for Skillshare to maximize earnings with minimal effort.
Best Marketing Tools for Monetizing on Skillshare
Marketing plays a huge role in growing your Skillshare income. First, build a basic content funnel using ConvertKit or Beehiiv to collect emails from students. Offer them a freebie (like a checklist or template) in exchange for joining your list.
To boost visibility, use Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to find low-competition keywords and write blog posts that link back to your class with your referral URL. Canva is perfect for designing promo graphics, and Buffer or Later can automate your social posts.
YouTube and TikTok also work well for organic reach. Create short tips-based content that teases your Skillshare class, and direct people to your referral link in bio. For paid strategies, Facebook and Pinterest ads targeting creatives or small business owners can convert well.
Quick tip: Focus on just one traffic source first before trying to master multiple platforms. Best marketing tools for monetizing on Skillshare help automate the rest.
Conclusion
Skillshare remains one of the most beginner-friendly platforms for earning passive income by teaching what you know. With a simple setup and powerful royalty + referral structure, instructors can realistically earn $200–$3,000/month, with top performers exceeding six figures annually.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale, this guide has given you the roadmap to do both. Now it’s time to launch your first course, start earning, and grow your audience with every new lesson you teach.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much can beginner Skillshare teachers expect to make?
Most new teachers earn between $50–$200/month in their first few months. As you publish more courses and promote effectively, income can grow to $500–$1,000/month and beyond.
How do Skillshare royalties work in 2025?
Skillshare allocates 20% of membership revenue to a royalty pool. You earn a portion based on how many premium minutes your classes are watched. The average rate is around $0.05–$0.10/minute.
Do I need a large audience to make money on Skillshare?
No! Many successful teachers have no social media presence. However, using YouTube, blogging, or email helps boost referral income significantly.
Can I repurpose my Skillshare course elsewhere?
Yes, but only if you remove all Skillshare branding and re-edit the content into a different format. Many teachers turn their courses into ebooks, templates, or Gumroad products.
What’s the best way to drive traffic to my Skillshare class?
Using your referral link in blog posts, YouTube videos, and email lists works best. Some teachers earn more from referrals than from royalties.
What are Skillshare’s requirements for getting paid?
You need at least 75 premium minutes watched per month to qualify for royalties. Referral payments require users to become paying subscribers through your link.
Do engagement bonuses still exist in 2025?
Yes. Skillshare offers $100 (Rising Teacher) and $250 (Top Teacher) bonuses to instructors with high engagement and positive reviews.
Can I teach more than one course?
Absolutely! In fact, publishing multiple courses is the fastest way to grow your income and build momentum on the platform.
