How to Make 6 Figures As A Computer Engineer? (5 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a computer engineer? Good for you! Being a computer engineer 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 computer engineer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could help you make six figures as a computer engineer by leveraging your specialized knowledge to fill educational gaps in the industry. You could create engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, targeting topics where demand for expertise outstrips supply. This not only allows you to share valuable insights with eager learners but also taps into the growing market for convenient, accessible education.
As an entrepreneurial-minded individual, you could build a student base that generates passive income with self-paced or cohort-based course structures. The low startup costs make this venture particularly appealing, enabling you to monetize your instructional talents effectively. Ultimately, creating an online course platform presents a lucrative opportunity to supplement your income or even transform it into a thriving standalone 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.
2. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to make six figures as a computer engineer by leveraging your industry expertise and communication skills. As a coach, you could offer personalized guidance on resume building, interview prep, and career advancement, tailored to each client's unique aspirations. This allows you to take advantage of your deep understanding of the tech industry while commanding high hourly rates.
Offering both in-person and virtual sessions could expand your reach, allowing you to build a diverse client base and generate steady income streams. If you have strong speaking talents and human resources expertise, you could monetize these skills while enjoying the flexibility to set your own schedule. By empowering others to achieve their professional goals, you not only generate additional income, but also pave your way to possibly earning six figures annually.
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.
3. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
By starting a freelance writing business, you could significantly supplement your income as a computer engineer and even reach six figures. Combining your technical expertise with strong writing skills will allow you to create high-value content for tech blogs, industry publications, and corporate clients who seek specialized knowledge.
This flexible, online job enables you to define your own work schedule, allowing you to work from home at times that fit seamlessly with your primary engineering job. Being a successful freelance writer requires meeting deadlines, staying updated with current writing tools and trends, and possessing strong communication skills—all qualities that can enhance your primary role and lead to a lucrative side business.
Moreover, freelance writing across various niches not only diversifies your income streams but also continually enhances your own knowledge base, keeping you at the cutting edge of both fields. If you have an entrepreneurial mindset and are a self-starter, this venture could lead to substantial financial rewards and further career opportunities.
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.
4. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could offer a lucrative path to supplement your income as a computer engineer and potentially climb towards a six-figure annual earning. Given your technical skills, you could efficiently utilize social media marketing tools to automate many of the processes and manage your time effectively. This allows you to juggle both your main job and your side business without feeling overwhelmed.
With a well-thought-out social media marketing strategy, you could attract and efficiently serve a variety of clients, from small businesses to larger enterprises. Building an agency portfolio could also help you market your services and establish a steady stream of income. Thus, venturing into social media marketing could not only diversify your income sources but also pave the way for financial independence and greater career flexibility.
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.
5. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an eCommerce store could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and even help you make six figures as a computer engineer. Leveraging your technical skills, you could create a robust online platform to sell products or services, benefiting from the lower overhead costs and increased flexibility compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Additionally, with the eCommerce sector booming due to its convenience and efficiency for consumers, your store could reach a wider, global audience from the comfort of your home.
Setting up an eCommerce business involves designing a user-friendly website for customers to browse your inventory, along with implementing secure payment processing and shopping cart software. By managing these technical aspects efficiently, you could maximize your store’s potential and generate significant revenue streams. Entrepreneurial computer engineers could find this to be a fulfilling side business or even a full-fledged venture, providing a steady path to reaching the six-figure milestone.
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.
6. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could open new avenues for supplementing your income as a computer engineer, leveraging your unique skills and knowledge in topics like software development, coding tutorials, or tech reviews. You could find inspiration from numerous success stories on YouTube, which highlight how others have turned their passion for content creation into substantial revenue streams.
Given YouTube's established monetization system and massive user base, you could easily reach a wider audience and attract diverse income sources, including ad revenue, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. While achieving success requires dedication and consistent effort, aiming to meet the requirements of the YouTube Partner Program—1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months—could set you on the path to six-figure earnings.
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.
7. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income and help you make six figures as a computer engineer. By sharing your expertise in coding, software development, and industry trends, you could attract a substantial readership. Blogging allows you to position yourself as an authority in your field, opening opportunities for monetization through advertising, sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and even selling your own products or services.
With 77% of internet users reading blogs and approximately 409 million people viewing more than 20 billion pages monthly, the potential audience is vast. This location-independent business lets you work flexibly, integrating it with your full-time job seamlessly. As your blog gains traction, you may even choose to transition to blogging full-time, turning your side hustle into a highly profitable career.
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.
8. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a computer engineer. By creating a niche podcast that delves into topics you're passionate about within your field, such as software development, cybersecurity, or emerging technologies, you could attract a dedicated audience eager for in-depth, expert insights. Sharing your specialized knowledge and experiences can establish you as a thought leader, enhancing your professional reputation.
With relatively low startup costs, including basic recording equipment and an affordable hosting platform, you could launch your podcast on a budget. As your listener base grows, the opportunity to monetize through sponsorships and advertisements becomes more viable, potentially generating significant income. Leveraging social media and online communities for promotion can help you build a loyal following, turning your podcast into a profitable side business or even a primary revenue stream.
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.
9. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
As a computer engineer, supplementing your income by becoming a social media influencer could offer lucrative opportunities. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, you could share your expertise, insights, and experiences related to the tech industry, coding tutorials, software reviews, and career advice. Establishing credibility in the tech niche could attract a significant audience, increasing your chances of engaging with brands seeking to reach that demographic.
Engaged followers could trust your recommendations, making you a valuable partner for tech companies and educational institutions looking to promote their products or services. This engagement not only opens up possibilities for brand partnerships and sponsored posts but also enables you to monetize content through ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and product promotions. With a well-executed strategy, the income you generate from your influence on social media could help you reach or exceed the six-figure mark, all while building a personal brand that enhances your primary career.
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. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a computer engineer, you could significantly supplement your income by starting an affiliate marketing business. Affiliate marketing allows you to promote other companies' products or services and earn a commission for each sale you generate, leveraging your existing technical knowledge and online presence.
Notably, this venture requires minimal upfront investment since you don't need to create or own the products yourself. By signing up for affiliate programs in your niche, you receive unique tracking links to drive traffic and sales, earning commissions with each successful referral. This side business could exponentially grow your earnings, pushing you closer to making six figures.
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.
11. Digital products ($242K/month)
As a computer engineer, launching digital products could significantly bolster your income, creating a pathway to reaching six figures. Given your technical expertise, you could develop software-based products such as innovative apps or engaging games. Alternatively, you could leverage your knowledge to create information-based products like ebooks or online courses that teach others the intricacies of coding, algorithms, or software development.
Digital products are not only popular but also relatively easy to create, requiring minimal overhead. The absence of inventory and the possibility to sell directly from your website removes common business obstacles. The flexibility and convenience of digital products offer endless possibilities for entrepreneurial-minded engineers looking to supplement their income or even establish an entirely new business.
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.
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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.
