How to Make 6 Figures As A Geospatial Information Scientist? (11 Best Ways in 2024)

Updated: September 9th, 2024

So you want to make six figures as a geospatial information scientist? Good for you! Being a geospatial information scientist 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 geospatial information scientist - 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 significantly boost your income as a geospatial information scientist by leveraging your unique expertise and experience in the field. You could offer personalized guidance and strategic support to professionals navigating their career transitions and growth opportunities within geospatial sciences. Custom sessions could be designed to assist clients with specific needs such as resume building, interview preparation, and achieving workplace advancement goals tailored to their aspirations.

With the flexibility to offer in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a diverse client base, empowering breakthroughs through specialized advice and accountability. This entrepreneurial venture could be particularly lucrative if you have speaking talents and human resources expertise, allowing you to monetize your natural motivational abilities while setting your own schedule. By successfully scaling your coaching business, you could supplement your primary income significantly and potentially reach or exceed a six-figure salary.

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

As a geospatial information scientist, starting a freelance writing business could significantly supplement your income and help you reach the six-figure mark. You could leverage your expertise to write specialized content on geospatial technologies, data analysis, and the latest industry trends, attracting clients who value high-quality, technically accurate content.

Freelance writing offers the flexibility to work from home and set your own schedule, making it an ideal side business that can be balanced alongside your primary job. With strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and staying updated on current writing tools and trends, you could establish yourself as a sought-after writer in the geospatial field, enabling you to command competitive rates and achieve substantial 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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3. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could provide an excellent opportunity to supplement your income as a geospatial information scientist. By creating engaging content that explains complex concepts, showcases innovative GIS projects, or provides tutorials, you could attract a dedicated audience of both enthusiasts and professionals. This not only builds your personal brand but also opens up multiple streams of revenue through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing once you join the YouTube Partner Program by achieving 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours.

Consider offering specialized services or creating premium, subscription-based content to further monetize your channel. As your viewership grows, you could leverage your platform to secure consulting gigs, sell online courses, or promote related products, thereby elevating your earning potential and possibly making six figures. With YouTube's established monetization system and the vast audience it offers, you could turn your passion for geospatial information into a lucrative side business or even a main income stream.

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

Starting a blog could prove a lucrative side business or even a full-time venture for a geospatial information scientist. By sharing your specialized knowledge and insights, you could draw in a broad audience eager to learn about geospatial technology, data analysis, and industry trends. With 77% of internet users reading blogs, your expertise could position you as a trusted resource in your field.

Given that blogs have been rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, your blog could become an essential stop for professionals, students, or enthusiasts seeking geospatial insights. Monetizing your blog through ads, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing could generate significant income. Additionally, you could offer premium content, online courses, or consulting services that complement your blog, ultimately expanding your revenue streams and edging closer to a six-figure income.

By establishing a consistent posting routine and building a dedicated mailing list, your blog would not just be a creative outlet but a powerful platform to amplify your personal brand and career opportunities, all from the comfort of your chosen location.

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

One way you could supplement your income and work towards making six figures as a geospatial information scientist is by starting an affiliate marketer business. This venture involves promoting other companies' products or services and earning a commission for every sale made through your referral. As a geospatial information scientist, you could leverage your specialized knowledge to identify relevant products and services within your field, such as GIS software, satellite imagery subscriptions, or geospatial data analysis tools.

By signing up for affiliate programs related to these niche products, you'll receive unique tracking links. Using your marketing skills, you could drive traffic and generate sales to these products, therefore earning a commission on each successful referral. This business model is particularly attractive because it requires minimal upfront investment, making it accessible while allowing you to potentially earn a substantial side income.

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

Starting a social media marketing agency could greatly supplement your income as a geospatial information scientist, allowing you to clear utility bills, finance education, or save for a vacation. By leveraging your analytical skills and understanding of spatial data, you could craft compelling, data-driven marketing strategies for clients, setting your agency apart in a crowded marketplace. The beauty is that with social media marketing tools, you do not need to commit extensive time to the venture, enabling you to automate many processes.

Additionally, developing a strong social media marketing strategy and building an agency portfolio will help you attract and retain clients, steadily growing your income. This side business could eventually become a primary source of revenue, helping you reach the coveted six-figure mark while utilizing your expertise in geospatial information in a new and innovative way.

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

Starting a podcast could open up new revenue streams for you as a geospatial information scientist by allowing you to share your expert insights and connect with a broader audience. By focusing on niche aspects of geospatial science that you're passionate about, you could attract a dedicated listener base interested in your field. This engagement could lead to income opportunities through sponsorships, advertisements, and partnerships with relevant companies.

Additionally, a podcast could enhance your professional brand and establish you as a thought leader within the geospatial community. This increased visibility might result in consultancy offers, speaking engagements, or writing opportunities, all of which could supplement your primary income. By effectively leveraging podcasting, you could not only share valuable knowledge but also pave the way to reaching six figures through diversified income streams.

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

Creating and selling an online course could significantly boost your income as a geospatial information scientist by monetizing your specialized skills and expertise. You could identify educational gaps in the field, such as advanced GIS techniques or emerging technologies, and develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials to fill these needs.

By setting up a self-paced or cohort-based course, you could attract a wide student base and generate passive income. This entrepreneurial venture combines the joy of information-sharing with the convenience of small startup costs, making it an accessible and lucrative way to reach six-figure earnings while helping eager lifelong learners advance their careers.

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

Starting an ecommerce store could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a geospatial information scientist. By leveraging your expertise, you could create and sell specialized products or services, such as custom maps, GIS data sets, or geospatial analysis tools, catering to businesses and individuals who need precise geographical information. This could provide you with a unique niche in the market, offering specialized solutions that generic ecommerce stores cannot.

Moreover, the flexibility and lower overhead costs associated with running an online business mean you could manage your ecommerce store alongside your current job. With the increasing convenience and efficiency of online shopping, reaching a wider audience has never been easier. You could tap into a growing market of consumers who prefer the ease of purchasing online, thereby significantly boosting your earning potential and moving closer to achieving a six-figure 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

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

Becoming a social media influencer could be a lucrative side business for a geospatial information scientist. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, you could build a personal brand around your expertise in geospatial information systems (GIS). Creating content that demystifies GIS concepts, demonstrates applications, or showcases cutting-edge technology could attract a dedicated following and establish your credibility in the industry.

As your audience grows, brands related to technology, software, and even educational services may seek partnerships for sponsored content, paid promotions, or affiliate marketing opportunities. This could significantly supplement your income, potentially enabling you to make six figures by combining your primary job with influencer earnings.

Additionally, the visibility gained through your social media presence could open doors to speaking engagements, consulting gigs, and even project collaborations, further boosting your income and professional network.

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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11. Digital products ($261K/month)

Creating digital products could significantly boost your income as a geospatial information scientist and may even help you reach a six-figure salary. Digital products, such as specialized software tools, geospatial analysis apps, or data visualization courses, are highly valued and relatively easy to produce given your expertise. Once created, these products can be sold directly from your website, eliminating the need for inventory and reducing overhead costs.

Furthermore, the flexibility of digital products allows you to explore many avenues, from ebooks detailing advanced GIS techniques to membership sites where users can access exclusive content and community support. By leveraging your knowledge, you could cater to a niche market, sustainably supplementing your current income or even creating a full-fledged business. The scalability and low entry barriers make digital products an attractive and lucrative side 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 (?)

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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.