How the Amazon Influencer Program pays you
How influencer commissions are counted, when Amazon pays them, which payment methods exist and what to set up so your first payment arrives.
Updated
You earn a percentage of qualifying purchases that come from your videos and links, and Amazon pays the total about 60 days after the end of the month in which it was earned. Payments go to the method you choose in your Associates account.
Earnings calculator
Per sale, this variant only
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A month
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Estimate — not Amazon data. Based on your inputs.
What counts as earnings
Your earnings come from qualifying purchases:
- Onsite: a shopper watches your video on a product page and buys. Since April 14, 2026, only purchases of the same variant (ASIN) as the linked page count. See onsite commissions.
- Offsite: a shopper follows your storefront or a link you shared and buys.
- Creator Connections: brand campaigns can add an extra commission on specific products for a limited time.
Purchases must ship and be paid for within the window Amazon sets (180 days under the April 2026 terms). Returned and cancelled orders are removed.
How much one sale pays
One sale pays price of the variant × category rate. A $25 item at 3% pays $0.75; at 4.5%, about $1.13. Monthly earnings are that amount times the number of attributed sales.
Most products don’t sell through one video every day. If you’re estimating, start low, around 3 attributed sales a month for a new video, and adjust with your own reports.
When the money arrives
Amazon Associates pays monthly, roughly 60 days after the end of the month in which the purchases qualified. Earnings from October are typically paid at the end of December.
To receive a payment you need:
- tax information completed in your Associates account;
- a payment method set up;
- earnings above the minimum for that method.
The common methods in the US are direct deposit to a bank account and Amazon gift card. Minimums and fees can change, so check the payment settings in your account.
Reading your earnings report
Your reports show clicks, ordered items, shipped items and earnings. Two things confuse new influencers:
- Ordered vs shipped. You’re paid on shipped (and not returned) items, so earnings can drop after the order count.
- Onsite vs offsite. Reports separate them. If onsite earnings fall while views stay steady, check which variant your videos are linked to.
Taxes, briefly
Commissions are income. In the US, Amazon issues tax forms based on the information you submit. Products you receive from brands or Creator Connections may also have tax consequences. Keep a list of products and their value; a tax professional can tell you what applies to you. This page is not tax advice.
One month, worked through
Say you have 12 product videos live in March:
- 4 of them drive no sales that month;
- 6 drive 2 sales each of products around $25 in 3% categories: 12 × $0.75 = $9.00;
- 2 drive 5 sales each of $60 products at 4.5%: 10 × $2.70 = $27.00.
March earnings would be about $36, paid around the end of May if they clear the minimum. Most of it comes from two videos. That pattern is common: a few videos earn most of the money, which is why choosing products with demand and an open slot matters more than the number of videos you upload.
These numbers are an illustration, not a forecast. Use your own earnings report to see which of your videos actually sell.
FAQ
Why is my payment lower than my earnings report?
Usually because of returns, orders that didn’t ship in time or earnings below the payment minimum, which roll over to the next month.
Can I get paid weekly?
No. Associates pays monthly on a fixed cycle.
Do I need a separate bank account?
Not required by Amazon. Many creators use one to keep program income separate for taxes.