how many hubs does someone typically need to earn money blogging on this website?

You won't make any money blogging on this site. HubPages is not a blog. You will make money if you write interesting, informative magazine-style articles.

It all depends. Some are making money with as few as 20 hubs. Others have hundreds with similar income. It has to do with the quality of hubs, and how much time to spend promoting them in other mediums. From what I have seen most start making a little bit around the 20 hub mark. It still has more to do with your quality and subjects then it does your quantity. Sorry there isn't a more direct answer, but that is how it works.

Yes, it all depends. If you are writing just for ego-boo or to rant, you will make little, if anything. What you write about attracts AdSense ads on that subject (usually). If your subject and how you write about it doesn't result in clicks on the ads, then no income.

So, here is the "secret"

1) LOTS of Hubs (100 absolute minimum, many more better).

2) Hubs are commercial (product or money making related).

3) Hubs have many links from outside HubPages so Google thinks your Hubs are important.

See my profile and look for the Courtney Tuttle link for more details.

Thank you, my father and I recently started our page to see if this works. We appreciate your thoughts.