He’s only been part of American Idol history for less than two years, but Scotty McCreery is already one of the Fox reality singing competition’s top-earners.

The 19-year-old part-Puerto Rican country crooner, the season 10 winner, claimed the No. 3 spot on Forbes’ list of Top-Earning American Idols for 2012 with $4 million.

McCreery, who ranks behind Kelly Clarkson with $8 million and Carrie Underwood with $5 million during the scoring period (May 2011 through May 2012), has been on a roll since receiving a $250,000 record deal as part of his Idol victory in May 2011.

The CMT Award-winner and Academy of Country Music Awards’ New Artist of the Year surpassed expectations with his debut album, Clear As Day, which sold more than 1 million copies. And the North Carolina native took advantage by hitting the road last year, opening for Brad Paisley.

So what’s next for McCreery? A solo tour and a new album later this year, all while continuing his college education.

“It’s meant everything,” says McCreery of the show. “I didn’t have a career before, so it was the starting point for my career and it got me going. … They reach like 16 million fans on a bad night.”