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

Updated: September 9th, 2024

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

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

Starting a social media marketing agency could enable you to earn extra income alongside your role as a NOC engineer, paving the way to achieving a six-figure salary. This entrepreneurial venture offers the flexiblity to automate various tasks using social media marketing tools, allowing you to manage your time efficiently without interfering with your primary job responsibilities.

By crafting a solid social media marketing strategy, you could serve clients effectively, potentially clearing your utility bills, financing college education, or saving for a vacation. Building a well-rounded agency portfolio could help you attract target customers, showcasing your skills and increasing your revenue streams.

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 I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

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.

Read by 24,760 founders

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

Starting a YouTube channel could significantly supplement your income as a NOC engineer, leveraging your specialized knowledge to reach a broader audience. By sharing tutorials, insights, and problem-solving techniques unique to Network Operations Center tasks, you could quickly amass a following, capitalizing on YouTube’s established monetization system.

With dedication and strategic promotion, reaching the milestone of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past year is feasible, enabling you to join the YouTube Partner Program. The popularity of YouTube allows you to not only earn from ads but also explore sponsorship deals, affiliate marketing, and even merchandise, potentially pushing your annual income into the six-figure range.

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

How This Couple Makes $5K/Month Generating Content About Ways To Make Money Online

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.

Read by 14,418 founders

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

Supplementing your income as a NOC engineer by starting an ecommerce store could be a highly lucrative venture. With lower overhead costs and increased flexibility, you could run your online business alongside your day job, leveraging your technical skills to set up and optimize your store and inventory management systems. The booming nature of ecommerce, driven by the convenience and efficiency it offers consumers, means you'll have a wider audience at your fingertips, increasing the potential for higher sales.

As people increasingly prefer shopping online, you could cater to niche markets or even sell tech-related products that align with your expertise, thereby differentiating your store. By harnessing the power of a well-designed website and efficient payment processing software, you could streamline operations and focus on scaling your business. Ultimately, diversifying your income streams through ecommerce could significantly boost your journey towards making 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

How I Started A $20K/Month Southern Inspired Candle Business

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.

Read by 72,192 founders

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

Starting a career coaching business could significantly boost your income as a NOC engineer by leveraging your professional expertise to help others navigate their career paths. You could offer personalized guidance on resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement goals, tailored to each client’s unique aspirations. By conducting both in-person and virtual sessions, you could reach a broader client base, making it possible to work with individuals across different geographies and time zones.

For entrepreneurial-minded NOC engineers, this side business provides an opportunity to monetize your motivational abilities and HR expertise while setting your own schedule. The flexibility of working as a career coach allows you to maximize your income potential without sacrificing your primary job responsibilities. By consistently delivering high-quality, results-driven coaching, you could cultivate a steady stream of clients, pushing you closer to that six-figure income target.

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 (?)

From Getting Fired At 24 To Growing A $140K/Month Online Community

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.

Read by 22,369 founders

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

Starting a blog could be an excellent way for a NOC engineer to supplement your income and even reach six figures. In recent years, blogging has evolved into a highly sought-after and lucrative business. With 77% of internet users reading blogs, and approximately 409 million people viewing over 20 billion pages each month, the audience potential is massive.

As a NOC engineer, you could leverage your expertise to produce valuable content on network operations, troubleshooting tips, and industry trends. This approach would not only establish you as a thought leader but also attract sponsorships, advertisements, or affiliate marketing opportunities. By generating consistent, quality content and engaging with your audience through a strong mailing list, you could turn this side hustle into a substantial income stream.

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

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

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.

Read by 28,707 founders

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

Starting a freelance writing business could significantly boost your income as a NOC engineer, providing you with the flexibility to work from anywhere and at any time. Given your technical background, you could specialize in writing technical content, IT-related articles, or product reviews, leveraging your expertise to command higher rates.

Freelance writing requires strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and an entrepreneurial mindset. These qualities, combined with your existing technical knowledge, make you well-suited to generate additional income, potentially allowing you to reach a six-figure salary when combined with your NOC engineer role. Stay on top of writing tools and trends to ensure your content remains relevant and engaging.

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 I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

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.

Read by 24,760 founders

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

One way you could make six figures as a NOC engineer is by becoming a social media influencer, leveraging your expertise to build a dedicated audience. Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok are teeming with potential for content creators who can provide valuable insights and knowledge. By developing a niche based on your interests and technical knowledge, you can attract a significant following and become a credible voice in your industry.

Brands are increasingly looking to engage with social media influencers who have the ability to connect with their target audiences. As you grow your follower base, opportunities for sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and partnerships with relevant technology brands could follow. This supplementary income stream, coupled with your primary job, has the potential to boost your earnings significantly.

In essence, by strategically using social media to share your expertise, you could turn your passion for technology into a lucrative side business or even a full-fledged career, putting you on the path to making six figures.

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 I Started A $2.5K/Month Blog About Motherhood, Life And Travel

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.

Read by 7,446 founders

8. Digital products ($261K/month)

Creating digital products can be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a NOC engineer and even help you achieve a six-figure salary. Possibilities are endless, ranging from software-based solutions like network monitoring tools, automation scripts, or mobile apps, to information-based products like eBooks, online courses, and membership sites dedicated to specialized networking topics. Given the high demand and ease of distribution, diving into the digital products market offers a flexible and scalable business opportunity.

One significant advantage is that digital products are easy to create and distribute; you could leverage your existing skills and expertise to build solutions that solve real-world problems in the NOC field. Unlike physical products, digital offerings don't require inventory space or significant upfront investment, making them an ideal side business. With the right strategy, your digital products could generate passive income, allowing you to focus on your primary job while your online presence continues to grow.

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 (?)

How We Created A $30K/Month Marketplace Of Photo Filters And Digital Assets For Creatives

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.

Read by 11,020 founders

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

As a NOC engineer, you could significantly supplement your income by venturing into affiliate marketing. This business model allows you to leverage your technical skills and online presence to promote other companies' products or services, earning a commission for each sale made through your referrals. Given that affiliate marketing is a low-cost business idea, you can start with minimal upfront investment, making it an accessible option even while handling your current job responsibilities.

You'll need to sign up for relevant affiliate programs and use your marketing skills to drive traffic and sales to these products. By carefully selecting your niche and leveraging your existing network, you could build a steady stream of passive income. Over time, as your affiliate marketing efforts scale, you might find that it contributes substantially to reaching that six-figure income goal.

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 (?)

My Affiliate Marketing Business Earns $500K/Year Profit [No Employees]

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.

Read by 24,529 founders

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

As a NOC engineer, you could leverage your specialized knowledge and experience by creating and selling online courses. By identifying educational gaps in the field and developing engaging video lessons along with supplementary materials, you could cater to a growing number of students eager to learn. This can provide a significant stream of passive income, supplementing your existing salary and facilitating the path to making six figures.

The flexibility of self-paced or cohort-based structures allows you to fit course creation into your schedule without compromising your current job. With minimal startup costs, you could turn your passion for information-sharing into a lucrative side business, empowering other professionals while boosting your own career earnings. For entrepreneurial NOC engineers, this approach presents an attractive way to monetize instructional talents and serve a community of lifelong learners.

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 (?)

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

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.

Read by 28,707 founders

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

Starting a podcast could be a lucrative side business to help you make six figures as a NOC engineer. By leveraging your technical expertise, you could create a niche podcast that dives deep into network operations, troubleshooting tips, and industry trends, attracting a dedicated audience of fellow engineers and tech enthusiasts.

With just basic recording equipment, like a microphone and headphones, and an affordable hosting platform, you could produce high-quality episodes on a budget. As your audience grows, you could monetize your podcast through sponsorships, advertisements, and even premium content, significantly supplementing your income.

Promoting your podcast via social media, online tech communities, and word of mouth will further boost your listener count, increasing the potential for financial gains. By combining your passion for network operations with entrepreneurial efforts, you could create a successful podcast that contributes to reaching six-figure earnings.

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

How I Started A Successful Podcast Production Company

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.

Read by 19,154 founders

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.