How to Make 6 Figures As A Teacher? ( Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a teacher? Good for you! Being a teacher 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 teacher - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could allow you to leverage your teaching skills to create a lucrative side income. By providing personalized guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and professional growth, you could help clients navigate career transitions and achieve their aspirations.
With the flexibility to offer in-person or virtual sessions, you could build a diverse client base that values your insights and accountability. This entrepreneurial endeavor not only allows you to monetize your natural motivational abilities and expertise but also provides the freedom to set your own schedule, making the path to earning six figures as a teacher much more attainable.
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 (?)
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.
2. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Turning to affiliate marketing can be an excellent way for you as a teacher to supplement your income and potentially reach a six-figure salary. By promoting products or services from other companies through affiliate programs, you could earn commissions on every sale made through your referral links without the need to create or own any products.
This low-cost venture allows you to leverage your marketing skills to drive traffic and make sales, which is perfect if you're entrepreneurial-minded. Since the initial investment is minimal, you could easily start this business on a budget, making it a viable option to explore alongside your teaching career.
With dedication and effective marketing, the additional income generated from your affiliate marketing efforts could significantly boost your earnings, helping you achieve your financial goals.
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 (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
3. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative opportunity to supplement your income as a teacher. By choosing a niche or topic related to education or a subject you're passionate about, you could attract a dedicated audience. Basic equipment like a microphone and headphones, along with an affordable hosting platform, would be your initial investments.
Promoting your podcast through social media and online communities could help you build a substantial following. With a growing listener base, you could attract sponsors and advertisers, turning your podcast into a steady source of additional income. This side business could eventually help you reach six figures while sharing your expertise and passion.
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
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
4. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course business could help you make six figures as a teacher by allowing you to monetize your specialized knowledge and skills. By identifying educational gaps and creating engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could attract a wide student base eager to learn.
With options for self-paced or cohort-based structures, an online course could provide a source of passive income, requiring minimal ongoing effort after the initial setup. Additionally, the low startup costs and the increasing demand for convenient access to quality education make this an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurial educators. By serving lifelong learners with your expertise, you could turn your passion for teaching into a financially rewarding business.
How much you can make: $275 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
5. Digital products ($242K/month)
Starting a business with digital products could be an excellent way for you to make six figures as a teacher. Because digital products are easy to create and share, you could leverage your knowledge to develop items like ebooks, courses, or even educational apps. These products can then be sold directly from your website, eliminating the need for physical inventory and allowing you to reach a global audience.
Additionally, the flexibility in the types of digital products you could create is vast. From membership sites to online communities, you have the opportunity to continually innovate and expand your offerings. By leveraging your professional skills and expertise to build a business, you could significantly supplement your income and turn your entrepreneurial ambitions into reality.
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 (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
6. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a fantastic way for you to supplement your income and potentially reach six figures as a teacher. With the boom in online shopping, you're tapping into a growing market where consumers appreciate the convenience and efficiency of purchasing products from their homes. By selling products or services online, you could significantly expand your reach beyond your local area, engaging customers nationwide or even globally.
One of the key advantages you could benefit from is the lower overhead costs compared to a brick-and-mortar business. This increased flexibility allows you to manage your ecommerce store alongside your teaching duties. To get started, you would need to set up a website, payment processing, and inventory tracking systems, but once established, this side business could become a lucrative endeavor contributing substantially to your income.
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
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
7. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Supplement Your Income with a YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel could provide a viable way to supplement your income as a teacher, ultimately helping you reach six figures. By leveraging your expertise and love for content creation, you could produce educational videos or tutorials, which might attract a large audience. YouTube has an established monetization system that allows you to earn through ad revenue once you reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months.
Moreover, you could use YouTube's incredible popularity to promote your channel through social media, collaborations, and consistent high-quality content. Many teachers have turned their teaching experiences and unique classroom tips into successful YouTube channels, providing both inspiration and practical strategies. If you are entrepreneurial-minded, this platform offers a promising opportunity for creating an additional income stream while sharing your passion for teaching with a broader audience.
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
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
8. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a highly effective way for you, as a teacher, to supplement your income and even make six figures. With the trustworthiness of blogs as a source of information and the sheer volume of readership—77% of internet users read blogs, and 409 million people view over 20 billion pages monthly—you have the opportunity to reach a broad audience.
By sharing your expertise in education, teaching tips, lesson plans, or even personal experiences, you could attract a loyal following. Over time, as your blog gains traction, you could monetize it through ads, sponsored content, or selling educational resources. If blogging becomes your full-time endeavor, choosing a niche you are passionate about and maintaining a consistent content strategy will be crucial to keeping your audience engaged and growing your 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
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
9. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Diving into the realm of social media influencing could be a game-changer, enabling you to supplement your income and possibly earn six figures as a teacher. By establishing yourself as a credible influencer in areas such as educational resources, classroom hacks, or even lifestyle tips for busy teachers, you could attract a significant following on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok.
Brands are keen to collaborate with influencers who have access to a vast and engaged audience, meaning your unique perspective as a teacher could be highly marketable. With the right strategy, compelling content, and consistent engagement, you could turn your social media presence into a lucrative side business or even a main income stream, tapping into both sponsorship deals and direct revenue options like affiliate marketing or paid subscriptions.
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 (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could provide you with a flexible and lucrative way to supplement your teaching income. You could develop and execute marketing strategies for businesses, using tools to automate and streamline the process, minimizing the time commitment required. Whether you're aiming to clear your utility bills, finance higher education, or save for a memorable vacation, this entrepreneurial venture offers the potential to boost your earnings significantly.
By creating and promoting an agency portfolio, you could attract a diverse range of clients who are eager for your expertise. Your skills as a teacher, such as organizing information and communicating effectively, could translate well into this field. With dedication and the right marketing approach, you might find yourself generating substantial additional income, putting the six-figure salary within reach.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
11. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a teacher and potentially make six figures. The flexibility of freelance writing allows you to define your own schedule and work from home, making it easier to balance with your teaching responsibilities.
You could leverage your strong writing skills and subject matter expertise to write articles, create educational content, or even ghostwrite for various clients. With the ability to work across different niches and stay updated with current writing tools and trends, you could open avenues to new opportunities and higher-paying gigs.
Freelance writing requires strong communication skills and the ability to meet deadlines, qualities that you, as a teacher, likely already possess. By being a self-starter and continuously honing your craft, you could gradually build a high-income freelance writing business that supplements or even surpasses your teaching salary.
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 (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
