How to Make 6 Figures As A Data Engineer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a data engineer? Good for you! Being a data 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 data engineer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
Starting an online course could help you make six figures as a data engineer by allowing you to monetize your specialized skills and knowledge. Identifying educational gaps in areas you excel in, such as data structures, cloud technologies, or database management, could enable you to create engaging video lessons and supplementary materials that appeal to avid learners.
With flexible options for self-paced or cohort-based courses, you could build a steady student base, generating passive income over time. For those who enjoy sharing information, launching such a platform involves relatively low startup costs and allows you to serve a growing market of individuals eager to gain convenient access to emerging subjects in data engineering.
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 (?)
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. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Supplementing your income as a data engineer by becoming a social media influencer is a viable pathway to making six figures. By leveraging your technical expertise and knowledge in data engineering, you could create content on platforms like YouTube or LinkedIn that resonates with your professional peers and aspiring engineers. This could include tutorials, industry insights, or highlighting real-world applications of data engineering principles.
As your audience grows, brands will seek out collaborations for product placements, sponsored content, and partnerships, providing an additional revenue stream. Building credibility in your niche with consistent, high-quality content could open doors to lucrative speaking engagements, consultancy offers, and exclusive brand deals. Engaging with your audience and offering unique value could transform your social media presence into a profitable side business or even a full-fledged 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.
3. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative side business that complements your data engineering career and helps you reach six figures. By choosing a niche related to data engineering, you could share valuable insights, tips, and industry trends, attracting an audience of fellow professionals and aspiring data engineers. This established audience could draw potential sponsors and advertisers looking to reach this specific demographic, offering you additional revenue streams.
Furthermore, your podcast could serve as a platform to sell premium content such as specialized courses, consulting services, or workshops, which would appeal to your listeners seeking deeper knowledge. Leveraging your expertise and industry connections, you could invite guest speakers to share their experiences, further enhancing the credibility and reach of your podcast. By strategically promoting your podcast and building a loyal following, you could significantly boost your income while turning your passion for data engineering into a thriving side 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
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. Digital products ($261K/month)
Starting a digital product business could be a lucrative way for a data engineer to make six figures. By creating software tools, data courses, or membership sites focused on data engineering skills, you could leverage your expertise to generate additional income streams. These digital products are highly popular because they are easy to create and share with a broad audience.
As a data engineer, you could develop niche tools or applications that solve specific industry problems, which could attract a dedicated customer base willing to pay for practical solutions. Additionally, educational products like ebooks and courses can help others break into the field, and membership sites could provide ongoing revenue through subscriptions. The potential for passive income means that once your product is launched, it could continue to generate sales with minimal ongoing effort.
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.
5. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
As a data engineer with entrepreneurial aspirations, you could supplement your income and potentially reach six figures by starting a social media marketing agency. Given your analytical and technical skills, you could automate many processes using social media marketing tools, which means minimal additional time commitment. This could allow you to efficiently manage clients and drive results using data-driven strategies.
By developing a robust social media marketing strategy and creating a compelling agency portfolio, you could attract and retain clients, helping you grow the business. Whether your goal is to cover utility bills, finance further education, or save for a vacation, this side venture could significantly boost your income. The flexibility and scalability of running a social media marketing agency provide a lucrative avenue for financial growth alongside your primary career as a data engineer.
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
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.
6. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a lucrative side business for a data engineer looking to make six figures. The lower overhead costs and increased flexibility of an online business mean you could supplement your main income without a significant upfront investment. As a data engineer, your analytical skills could be advantageous in optimizing inventory, managing logistics, and leveraging data to understand consumer behavior.
With ecommerce booming due to its convenience and efficiency, the potential to reach a broader audience is higher now than ever. You could create a streamlined platform where consumers can easily browse and purchase products from their favorite brands, increasing your revenue while working from anywhere. This venture would allow you to harness your technical skills while exploring entrepreneurial opportunities, ultimately paving the way to reach or exceed six figures.
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. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a data engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills and technical expertise to start an affiliate marketing business, thus supplementing your income and working towards a six-figure salary. By promoting products relevant to technology or data engineering, such as software tools, educational courses, or cloud services, you could generate a steady stream of passive income through referral commissions.
This venture requires minimal upfront investment, as you don't need to create or own the products yourself—you simply use your marketing skills to drive traffic and sales. By strategically signing up for affiliate programs and utilizing your unique tracking links, you could efficiently monetize your online presence, making it a viable and cost-effective side hustle for boosting your overall earnings.
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.
8. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way for a data engineer to supplement their income and edge closer to making six figures. You could leverage your expertise to create engaging content on various data engineering topics, such as tutorials, industry insights, or case studies. This content could attract a dedicated audience of budding data engineers and tech enthusiasts, earning you ad revenue through YouTube's established monetization system.
Beyond ad revenue, you could also explore additional income streams such as sponsored content, affiliate marketing, or even selling your own courses and consulting services. With strategic marketing and consistent high-quality content, you could achieve the threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours required to join the YouTube Partner Program, setting the stage for significant earnings potential. By sharing your knowledge and passion, your YouTube channel could become a lucrative side business that complements your primary career as a data engineer.
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.
9. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be a viable way for you to supplement your income as a data engineer and potentially reach a six-figure salary. With strong writing skills, you could craft compelling content related to data engineering, technology trends, or even detailed technical guides that are in high demand. This niche expertise can command higher rates and attract a steady stream of clients.
As a freelancer, you could enjoy the flexibility to define your work schedule, allowing you to work from home and balance your primary job with your writing business. This side hustle requires a high level of self-discipline, the ability to meet deadlines, and excellent communication skills, all of which are qualities you likely already possess as a successful data engineer. By keeping up-to-date with the latest writing tools and trends, you could position yourself as a sought-after expert in technical writing and significantly boost your overall income.
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.
10. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could greatly supplement your income as a data engineer, potentially putting you on the path to a six-figure salary. By sharing your industry knowledge, insights, and experiences, you could attract a broad audience interested in data engineering topics. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and approximately 409 million people viewing more than 20 billion pages each month, the potential reach is substantial.
Monetization opportunities, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling digital products or online courses, could transform your blog into a lucrative side business. Over time, the blog could become a full-time profession, creating an additional revenue stream that leverages your expertise and passion for data engineering.
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.
11. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a data engineer. By leveraging your industry expertise, you could offer personalized guidance to clients navigating professional transitions and growth opportunities, from resume building and interview prep to workplace advancement strategies.
With the flexibility to conduct coaching sessions either in-person or virtually, you could build a diverse client base that you empower through specialized advice and accountability. Given your background, particularly if you have a knack for speaking and human resources, you could monetize your motivational skills while setting your own schedule.
This side business not only diversifies your income streams but could also elevate your professional brand, positioning you as a go-to expert in both data engineering and career development.
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.
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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.
