How to Make 6 Figures As A Junior Developer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a Junior developer? Good for you! Being a Junior developer 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 Junior developer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be an excellent way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as a Junior Developer. With your technical skills, you could effortlessly set up a website, manage shopping cart software, and handle payment processing, giving you a significant edge in the ecommerce market. By leveraging the current boom in online shopping, you have the opportunity to reach a vast audience without the high overhead costs associated with brick-and-mortar stores.
Moreover, the flexibility of running an ecommerce business allows you to manage your time effectively while continuing to work in your primary role as a developer. You could select a niche that aligns with your interests or expertise, making the venture not only profitable but also enjoyable. By automating processes like inventory tracking and customer management, you can focus on growing your business and potentially achieve the six-figure mark.
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.
2. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
One way you could supplement your income as a junior developer is by becoming a social media influencer. Given the significant role social media plays in daily life, brands are eager to work with influencers who can promote their products to a dedicated audience. As a developer, you could leverage your tech skills to create engaging content that attracts a following on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok.
Once you have established credibility in your chosen niche, you could collaborate with brands to create sponsored content, generating a substantial income stream. Additionally, your technical expertise can set you apart, allowing you to offer unique insights that resonate with your audience. Building a robust social media presence not only offers the potential for a six-figure income but also enhances your professional network and personal brand in the tech industry.
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 blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a powerful avenue to supplement your income as a junior developer. By sharing your unique insights, coding tutorials, or your journey in the tech industry, you could attract a large readership eager to learn from your experiences. Given that blogs have been rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information and that 77% of internet users read blogs, your content could quickly gain traction.
Additionally, with around 409 million people viewing more than 20 billion pages each month, the potential audience for your blog is vast. Monetizing your blog through channels like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and online courses could help you create a significant additional income stream. In the long run, if your blog becomes highly successful, it might even transition into a full-time lucrative business, propelling you towards making six figures.
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.
4. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could help you make six figures as a Junior Developer by leveraging your technical skills and experience to guide others in similar transitions. By providing personalized guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and professional advancement, you could offer unique insights that cater specifically to individuals aspiring to enter or advance within the tech industry.
With flexible options for in-person or virtual coaching sessions, you could build a diverse client base while maintaining your own work schedule. This entrepreneurial venture allows you to monetize your natural motivational abilities and human resources expertise, making it a rewarding way to supplement your current income or eventually transition into a full-time business.
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.
5. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a junior developer, bringing you closer to a six-figure salary. By leveraging your existing knowledge of technology, programming, and software development, you could create compelling content for blogs, technical documentation, and even eBooks. This targeted writing often commands higher rates, especially as businesses continually seek quality content to bolster their online presence.
The flexibility of freelancing allows you to work on your own schedule, fitting writing assignments around your primary job responsibilities. Your strong writing skills, ability to meet deadlines, and self-starter attitude are crucial assets that could ensure your success in this side venture. Staying updated with current writing tools and trends could help you enjoy a steady stream of clients and projects, positioning you well to achieve your financial goals.
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.
6. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business could significantly supplement your income as a Junior Developer, enabling you to move closer to a six-figure salary. By promoting other companies' products or services and earning commissions on each sale, you could strategically use your marketing skills to drive traffic and generate sales without the need for significant upfront investment.
This venture is ideal for entrepreneurial-minded individuals as it requires minimal initial costs. By signing up for affiliate programs in a niche relevant to your interests or expertise and leveraging your unique tracking links, you could build a profitable side business that complements your main income, potentially turning it into a substantial revenue stream.
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.
7. Digital products ($242K/month)
As a Junior Developer, starting a digital products business could be a lucrative avenue to supplement your income and potentially make six figures. Digital products, such as apps, games, ebooks, or online courses, are incredibly popular and simple to create due to your existing technical skills. You could leverage your software development knowledge to create unique and valuable digital products that can be sold directly from your website, eliminating the need for physical inventory or additional logistics.
Furthermore, the possibilities with digital products are virtually endless, allowing you to explore various niches and ideas that align with your passions and expertise. For example, you might develop a productivity app, write an instructional ebook, or even launch a membership site for exclusive coding tutorials. By tapping into these opportunities, you could build an additional revenue stream that could substantially boost your overall earnings, making six figures an achievable goal.
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.
8. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as a Junior Developer. By creating engaging and informative content about coding, software development, and tech tutorials, you could attract a significant audience. Sharing your journey and expertise can build your personal brand and establish you as a credible figure within the tech community.
YouTube's established monetization system allows you to earn from ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing. Once you reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months, you could join the YouTube Partner Program and start monetizing your content. With dedication and creativity, your channel could evolve into a substantial revenue stream and even launch additional opportunities like paid courses or consulting services.
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 podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could significantly boost your income as a Junior developer by allowing you to share your passion and knowledge about coding, tech trends, and career advice. By creating and producing audio content, you can position yourself as a thought leader in the developer community, which could attract a substantial following.
With a growing audience, you could monetize your podcast through sponsorships, advertisements, or even by offering premium content. Combine that with your developer skills to create unique, tech-focused episodes, and you'll open up additional income streams that could propel you to a six-figure salary.
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.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be an effective way to make six figures as a Junior Developer. The demand for social media marketing is high, and with the skills you already possess in tech, you could create innovative and automated social media marketing strategies for clients. By leveraging social media marketing tools to automate tasks, you will still have time to focus on personal development and your primary job.
To succeed, you could develop a robust social media marketing strategy to efficiently serve customers and create a compelling agency portfolio to attract potential clients. This side hustle could not only help you clear your utility bills or finance your college education but potentially turn into a full-time business, increasing your earning possibilities significantly.
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. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could help you make six figures as a junior developer by leveraging your knowledge to fill educational gaps in the tech industry. By identifying specialized skills that are in high demand, you could create engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, offering both self-paced and cohort-based structures that cater to various learning preferences.
With low startup costs and the potential for passive income, an online course provides a lucrative platform to monetize your instructional talents. This entrepreneurial venture not only amplifies your expertise but also attracts lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging tech subjects, thus diversifying your income streams.
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.
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.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
