How to Make 6 Figures As A Ai Specialist? (11 Best Ways in 2024)

Updated: September 9th, 2024

So you want to make six figures as a ai specialist? Good for you! Being a ai specialist is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.

In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a ai specialist - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)

Starting a social media marketing agency could provide a lucrative opportunity to supplement your income as an AI specialist. By leveraging your technical skills, you could automate many aspects of social media marketing using advanced tools, allowing you to efficiently manage multiple clients without demanding a significant time commitment. This side business could help you clear your utility bills, finance further education, or save for a dream vacation.

Moreover, as an AI specialist, you are well-equipped to develop innovative social media marketing strategies that could set your agency apart from the competition. Building a strong agency portfolio showcasing your expertise could attract targeted customers and establish your reputation in the market. This additional stream of income could significantly contribute to reaching the six-figure salary mark.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week

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2. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)

Starting a social media influencer journey could significantly boost your income as an AI specialist. By leveraging your expertise in AI, you could create engaging and informative content on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. This would enable you to build credibility and a loyal following, making you an attractive partner for brands eager to connect with your audience.

As your follower base grows, you could monetize through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, and even courses or webinars. Additionally, given the rising demand for AI knowledge, you could charge premium rates for your services, thereby supplementing your regular income.

Remember, the key is to consistently produce high-quality content that resonates with your audience and establishes you as an authority in the field of AI.

How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)

How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)

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3. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way for an AI specialist to reach six figures by leveraging content creation. With an established monetization system and a vast audience, YouTube offers the chance to generate revenue through ads, sponsorships, and user subscriptions once you reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within a year.

By sharing your expertise in AI through tutorials, industry insights, and personal projects, you could attract a dedicated audience eager to learn and engage with specialized content. This could not only supplement your income but potentially grow into a separate business venture, capitalizing on YouTube's popularity to earn extra income and create your own success story.

How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How This Couple Makes $5K/Month Generating Content About Ways To Make Money Online

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4. Digital products ($261K/month)

Creating and selling digital products could provide a lucrative avenue for AI specialists to supplement their income or even build an entire business. By leveraging your expertise, you could develop software tools, AI-driven apps, or informational products like eBooks and online courses that target specific niches within the AI community. These products are highly scalable, allowing you to reach a global audience with minimal overhead costs.

The beauty of digital products lies in their ease of creation and distribution. You could design and market these products yourself, bypassing the need to hire additional staff. Additionally, with no physical inventory to manage, you could sell directly from your website, maximizing profit margins and making it simpler to scale your business to a six-figure income.

How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How We Created A $30K/Month Marketplace Of Photo Filters And Digital Assets For Creatives

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5. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)

Starting an ecommerce store could help you to make six figures as an AI specialist by leveraging your tech skills to create a highly efficient online business. With the booming popularity of eCommerce due to its convenience and efficiency, you could capitalize on this trend by automating various aspects, from inventory management to marketing strategies, using your AI expertise.

Additionally, as an AI specialist, you could analyze consumer data to optimize sales and tailor personalized shopping experiences, driving higher engagement and conversion rates. The lower overhead costs and increased flexibility of an eCommerce business make it an attractive side hustle that could potentially blossom into a full-fledged, profitable enterprise.

How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

How I Started A $20K/Month Southern Inspired Candle Business

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6. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)

Starting a career coaching business could significantly supplement your income as an AI specialist by leveraging your expertise and experience to help others advance in their careers. By offering personalized guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement, you could attract clients eager to tap into your specialized knowledge.

With the flexibility for in-person or virtual sessions, you could easily integrate this side business into your existing schedule, allowing you to scale up as demand grows. Empowering clients to achieve professional breakthroughs through your tailored advice and accountability could not only be financially rewarding but also personally fulfilling.

How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

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Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.

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7. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)

Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income as an AI specialist by allowing you to share your expertise and insights with a broad audience. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and over 20 billion pages viewed monthly, you could tap into this vast audience to build a following and monetize your content through ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing.

You could also use your blog to offer online courses, e-books, or consulting services, further diversifying your income streams. Given that blogs are rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, your insights as an AI specialist could position you as an authority, leading to more business opportunities and potentially helping you achieve that six-figure income.

How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week

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8. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)

Becoming an affiliate marketer is an excellent way for an AI specialist to supplement income and potentially make six figures. As an affiliate marketer, you would promote other companies' products or services and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral. This venture requires minimal upfront investment because you don't need to create or own the products yourself, making it a low-cost business idea.

To get started, you would sign up for affiliate programs in niches that complement your expertise, such as AI software, online courses, or tech gadgets. Your deep understanding of AI could help you craft compelling content that drives traffic and sales, utilizing your marketing skills. This additional revenue stream could significantly boost your overall earnings while allowing you to leverage your AI expertise in a different yet lucrative domain.

How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)

How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)

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9. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)

As an AI specialist, you could supplement your income and potentially make six figures by creating an online course. By identifying educational gaps in AI-related topics and developing engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could monetize your expertise while helping others advance in the field. Given the flexibility of self-paced or cohort-based course structures, building a student base could provide a steady stream of passive income.

For those who enjoy sharing knowledge, launching an online course platform presents a low-cost yet highly lucrative business opportunity. Serving eager lifelong learners looking for convenient access to cutting-edge AI subjects could turn your instructional talents into a thriving side business or even a full-time venture. By tapping into the growing demand for specialized skills, you could establish a sustainable income stream while enriching the AI community.

How much you can make: $350 — $1,000,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)

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10. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)

Starting a podcast focused on AI could significantly boost your income potential by leveraging your expertise and reaching a wider audience. You could discuss trending topics, offer deep dives into complex subjects, and even interview industry leaders, thereby positioning yourself as a thought leader in the AI space. This visibility could lead to lucrative opportunities such as sponsorships, advertising deals, and consulting gigs, further supplementing your primary income.

As your podcast gains traction, you could also introduce premium content or offer exclusive courses and workshops to your listeners, turning your podcast into a multifaceted business. Over time, your growing influence and diversified revenue streams could help you achieve a six-figure income as an AI specialist, combining your regular career earnings with your entrepreneurial endeavors.

How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week

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11. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)

Starting a freelance writing business could be a lucrative side hustle for an AI specialist aiming to make six figures. This venture offers the flexibility to define your own work schedule and work from home, allowing you to seamlessly integrate it with your primary career.

By leveraging your expertise in AI, you could write specialized content for tech blogs, industry reports, or educational materials, thereby commanding higher rates due to your niche knowledge. Strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and being well-versed in current writing trends will be crucial for earning good money in this field.

Freelance writing also offers the opportunity to work across various niches, making it a versatile and engaging way to supplement your income or even eventually build a full-fledged business.

How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)

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meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.