How to Make 6 Figures As A Librarian? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a Librarian? Good for you! Being a Librarian 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 Librarian - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be an effective way to supplement your income as a librarian and even help you reach a six-figure earnings milestone. With the increasing popularity and profitability of blogging, this location-independent business offers you a creative outlet to engage a broad audience on a global scale. Given that 77% of internet users read blogs, there's a substantial potential audience for content related to your field.
By focusing on a niche you are passionate about and utilizing a well-planned content strategy, you could attract a consistent following, which in turn can open doors to monetization opportunities like affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and even digital product sales. Blogging is not only a reliable way to share your expertise but also to build a community of engaged readers who view your content as a trustworthy source of information.
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.
2. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be the key to making six figures as a librarian. By leveraging your existing expertise and interpersonal skills, you could offer personalized guidance to individuals looking to advance in their careers, make professional transitions, or achieve workplace success. This entrepreneurial venture allows you to create and lead customized sessions focused on resume building, interview preparation, and strategic career planning.
The flexibility of offering both in-person and virtual coaching gives you the opportunity to reach a broader client base, extending your impact beyond just your local community. As you build your reputation for delivering specialized advice and accountability, you could grow your client list and significantly supplement your librarian income. Launching a coaching practice not only provides financial benefits but also allows you to set your own schedule and monetize your motivational talents.
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. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could propel you toward earning six figures by leveraging your unique library expertise to fill educational gaps in areas such as information literacy, digital archiving, or effective research methods. By creating engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could cater to lifelong learners eager to gain specialized knowledge conveniently from their own homes.
With minimal startup costs and the potential for both self-paced and cohort-based structures, your online course platform could generate passive income while providing value to a broad audience. If you possess a passion for sharing information and enjoy the entrepreneurial side of business, an online course offers a lucrative opportunity to turn your instructional talents into a substantial revenue stream.
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.
4. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
One promising way to supplement your librarian income and work towards making six figures is by becoming a social media influencer. Social media has become indispensable in many lives, and brands are eager to connect with audiences on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. As an influencer, you could leverage your expertise and credibility in the literary world to attract a vast audience, providing recommendations and insights on books, library services, and educational resources.
Your background as a librarian gives you a unique angle in the vast social media landscape. By creating relevant content in a popular niche such as book reviews, library hacks, or literary discussions, you could build a dedicated following. With the right strategy, brands in the educational, publishing, and technology sectors might collaborate with you, offering lucrative partnerships for sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and other monetization opportunities.
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.
5. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a librarian and move closer to making six figures. By choosing a niche related to your expertise, such as book reviews, library management tips, or literary history, you could attract a dedicated audience who values your knowledge and insights.
With basic recording equipment and affordable hosting platforms, you could produce high-quality content on a budget. As your listener base grows, you could potentially attract sponsors and advertisers, transforming your podcast into a viable side business or even a primary revenue stream. Engaging with your audience through social media and online communities could further amplify your reach and income potential.
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.
6. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a Librarian, potentially helping you reach six figures. Given your strong research skills and literary background, you could easily branch out into writing articles, blog posts, or even ebooks on topics you’re passionate about.
Freelance writing offers you the flexibility to work from home and set your own schedule, making it an ideal side hustle. By honing your writing skills, meeting deadlines, and staying updated on writing tools and trends, you could attract higher-paying clients and turn this side business into a significant income stream.
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.
7. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an eCommerce store could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as a librarian. With lower overhead costs and increased flexibility compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, you could reach a wider audience without significant upfront investment. Leveraging your expertise, you could sell niche products related to your field, such as rare books, library supplies, or educational materials.
In today's digital age, consumers appreciate the convenience and efficiency of online shopping. You could capitalize on this trend by setting up a user-friendly website and utilizing reliable payment processing, shopping cart, and inventory tracking software. This side business could not only boost your income but also fulfill an entrepreneurial passion while allowing you to maintain your main career as a librarian.
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.
8. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your income as a librarian. You could create educational content, review books, or share library-related tips and tricks, appealing to a wide audience interested in literature and education. By tapping into YouTube's established monetization system and its immense popularity, you could potentially generate significant revenue.
Inspiration can be drawn from numerous YouTube success stories, proving that with dedication and creativity, it's possible to build a channel that resonates with viewers. Reaching the criteria for the YouTube Partner Program—1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year—might seem daunting, but it's attainable with consistent, engaging content. By growing your viewer base and subscribers, you could turn your passion for librarianship into a substantial side income.
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. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your librarian income and potentially reach the six-figure mark. As an affiliate marketer, you would promote other companies' products or services and earn a commission for every sale made through your referral. This allows you to leverage your marketing skills without the need for creating or owning the products yourself.
Given the minimal upfront investment required, this business model is accessible and low-risk. To get started, you would sign up for affiliate programs in niches that interest you, receive unique tracking links, and employ various strategies to drive traffic and sales. This could provide you with a flexible and scalable income stream alongside your duties as a librarian, helping you to achieve your financial goals.
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.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
You could supplement your income as a librarian by starting a social media marketing agency, helping you potentially reach six figures. Whether you want to clear your utility bills, finance your college education, or save for a vacation, this side business offers significant financial opportunities.
One of the main advantages is that you do not need to commit an extensive amount of time, as automation tools can handle much of the workload. By developing a robust social media marketing strategy and creating a compelling agency portfolio, you could efficiently serve customers and market your services to target clients, thereby boosting your income considerably.
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. Digital products ($242K/month)
Creating and selling digital products could be a lucrative avenue for supplementing your income as a librarian. Given the rising popularity of digital products like ebooks, courses, and membership sites, there's considerable potential to share your expertise and passion in creative ways. Imagine developing specialized courses on research techniques or creating a robust community platform for librarians to share resources and best practices.
Digital products offer the advantage of requiring no physical inventory, meaning you could manage everything from the comfort of your own home. You could also repurpose your day-to-day skills in organizing and sharing information into profitable ventures, such as creating an app that helps others improve their cataloging systems. The entrepreneurial possibilities are endless, paving a clear path towards achieving a six-figure 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 (?)
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.
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.
