How to Make 6 Figures As A Computer Vision Engineer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)

Updated: November 29th, 2024

So you want to make six figures as a computer vision engineer? Good for you! Being a computer vision 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 vision engineer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)

Creating an online course could significantly boost your income as a computer vision engineer by allowing you to monetize your specialized skills and knowledge. By identifying educational gaps and developing engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could attract a wide range of students eager to learn about emerging topics in computer vision.

Building a student base for your course offers passive income potential, as you could choose between self-paced or cohort-based structures to suit different learning styles. Launching an online course platform also presents a low-cost, scalable business model, enabling you to serve lifelong learners conveniently and effectively, thus paving the way to earning six figures.

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 (?)

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

Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way for a computer vision engineer to supplement their income and even strive towards making six figures. With YouTube’s established monetization system, you could capitalize on the platform’s immense popularity and potentially attract a large audience by sharing your expertise, detailed tutorials, and breakthrough projects in computer vision.

To grow your channel, you might focus on actionable content that appeals to both budding and experienced engineers, such as coding tutorials, AI model deployment guides, and reviews of the latest computer vision tools. By reaching the YouTube Partner Program’s threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within a year, you could start earning from ad revenue, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing. For entrepreneurial-minded individuals, this avenue not only offers extra income but also the possibility of a fully-fledged business.

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

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

As a computer vision engineer, starting an affiliate marketing business could serve as a lucrative side venture to supplement your income and potentially help you reach six figures. By promoting products or services related to your industry, such as specialized computer vision software, hardware, online courses, or even AI cloud services, you can leverage your technical expertise to effectively drive sales.

An affiliate marketing business requires minimal upfront investment, meaning you don’t need to create or own the products yourself. Instead, you can utilize your marketing skills to generate traffic and earn commissions on sales. The flexibility of this model allows you to focus on affiliate marketing during your spare time, enabling you to build a substantial additional income stream without sacrificing your primary career.

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

Starting a podcast could significantly supplement your income as a computer vision engineer and even help you reach the six-figure mark. By creating a series focused on computer vision topics, you could attract a niche audience eager for insights and expertise in this field. This, in turn, could open up opportunities to monetize your content through sponsorships, advertisements, and premium content offerings.

Furthermore, sharing your knowledge and experiences via a podcast would allow you to build a personal brand and establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry. As your audience grows, you could use this platform to promote your own consulting services, online courses, or even sell exclusive access to webinars and workshops. By leveraging these diverse revenue streams, your podcast has the potential to not only supplement your primary income but also evolve into a lucrative standalone business.

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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5. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)

Starting a social media marketing agency could be a practical way to supplement your income as a computer vision engineer. This venture allows you to leverage your technical skills and understanding of digital platforms to develop effective social media strategies for clients. You could automate various tasks using social media marketing tools, minimizing the time commitment and making it feasible to balance with your full-time job.

By creating a strong agency portfolio to showcase your capabilities, you could attract a steady stream of clients, serving needs from clearing utility bills to saving for a vacation. Additionally, your expertise in computer vision could help customize and optimize marketing tactics, further differentiating your agency in a competitive market. This side business could gradually grow, potentially reaching six figures while you continue to advance in your primary career.

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

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6. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)

Starting a freelance writing business could help you make six figures as a computer vision engineer by leveraging your advanced technical knowledge to produce high-quality, specialized content. Given the growing demand for detailed write-ups on emerging technologies, you could capitalize on this niche by writing articles, tutorials, and research papers related to computer vision and machine learning. This expertise would allow you to command higher fees compared to general freelance writers, potentially enabling you to supplement your income significantly.

Moreover, freelancing offers the flexibility to arrange your writing projects around your primary job, allowing you to work at your convenience. Being a technical professional with strong writing and communication skills, you'll be well-positioned to meet deadlines and stay ahead of writing trends, ensuring consistent and lucrative work. Over time, your freelance writing could even evolve into a full-fledged side business, providing a substantial boost to your annual earnings.

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

Starting an ecommerce store could significantly supplement your income as a computer vision engineer by leveraging your technical skills to build a sophisticated online platform. By selling niche products or offering specialized services online, you could reach a global audience with lower overhead costs compared to a traditional brick-and-mortar business. The current boom in ecommerce highlights the potential for high profitability due to the convenience and efficiency that online shopping offers to consumers.

You could capitalize on your expertise in AI and machine learning to create personalized recommendations, enhance user experience, and optimize inventory management through advanced analytics. With tools and platforms readily available, setting up a website and integrating payment processing software has never been easier. This side venture could eventually evolve into a full-fledged business, enabling you to achieve six figures by tapping into the ever-growing online market.

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

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

Starting a social media influencer journey could significantly boost your income as a computer vision engineer. By leveraging your expertise and establishing credibility in this rapidly-evolving field, you could attract a dedicated following on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Your unique insights and tutorials on cutting-edge computer vision technologies and projects would resonate with both industry peers and aspirant engineers, enhancing your visibility and influence.

As your follower base grows, brands eager to reach tech-savvy audiences may approach you for collaborations, sponsorships, or advertisements, creating multiple revenue streams. Additionally, you could monetize your content through affiliate marketing, online courses, or exclusive webinars, further supplementing your main income. This entrepreneurial approach not only provides financial benefits but also elevates your professional standing in the tech community.

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

Starting a career coaching business could provide an excellent opportunity for you to supplement your income as a computer vision engineer. By leveraging your industry expertise, you could offer tailored guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and professional development specific to the computer vision field. Given your technical background, you might attract clients who are eager to break into the industry or advance within it, creating a steady stream of clients seeking your specialized knowledge.

With the flexibility to conduct coaching sessions either in-person or virtually, you could easily manage this business alongside your engineering job. This setup allows you to set your own schedule, giving you the freedom to balance both roles efficiently. By monetizing your motivational abilities and human resources insights, you could create a lucrative side business, opening pathways to potentially earn six figures through diversified income streams.

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

Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income as a computer vision engineer by allowing you to share your expertise with a broader audience. Given that 77% of internet users read blogs and blogs rank as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, your insights into computer vision could attract a dedicated readership. This could translate into monetization opportunities through ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing.

Moreover, as blogging has evolved into a lucrative and location-independent business, it offers the flexibility to work on your own terms. With approximately 409 million people viewing over 20 billion pages each month, a well-executed blog could lead to a substantial side income or even a full-time career. To maximize success, focus on creating high-quality content that engages your audience, build an email list, and maintain a consistent posting schedule.

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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11. Digital products ($242K/month)

Starting a side business with digital products could significantly supplement your income as a computer vision engineer and help you reach that six-figure mark. Digital products are highly rated because they are easy to create and distribute. You could leverage your expertise to develop software-based products like computer vision apps, or information-based assets like e-books and online courses mastering the intricacies of computer vision.

Beyond these, you could also create subscription-based membership sites or online communities focused on emerging technologies within computer vision. This approach requires minimal investment, avoiding issues like unsold inventory and storage. The endless possibilities in digital products offer a scalable and efficient means to build a business, accelerating your path to substantial additional 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 (?)

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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.