How to Make 6 Figures As A Programmer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a programmer? Good for you! Being a programmer 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 programmer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a programmer, starting an affiliate marketing business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and potentially make six figures. By promoting other companies' products or services and earning a commission for each sale made through your referral, you could leverage your tech skills to create sophisticated marketing strategies and tools to drive traffic effectively.
With minimal upfront investment required, you could dive into this venture without needing to develop your own products. By signing up for affiliate programs in niches you are passionate about, you could utilize your unique tracking links to generate income based on the sales you facilitate.
Overall, the low-cost entry and the potential to earn commissions from multiple sources make affiliate marketing an ideal side business for entrepreneurial-minded programmers.
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.
2. Digital products ($242K/month)
Digital products are top-rated and provide an ideal avenue for programmers to supplement their income or even start a side business. By leveraging your programming skills, you could create software-based products like apps or games, or delve into information-based products such as ebooks or courses. Digital products are relatively easy to create, requiring no additional hires and minimal overhead.
Moreover, the versatility and low maintenance of digital products make them attractive business ventures. Since there’s no need to manage physical inventory, you can sell your products directly from your website, streamlining the entire process. This ease of distribution and scalability significantly enhances your potential to make six figures in your career as a programmer.
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.
3. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
To augment your income and pave the way to six figures, consider becoming a social media influencer. As a programmer, you could create a niche by sharing valuable coding tips, tutorials, and industry insights on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok. Brands looking to connect with tech-savvy audiences regularly collaborate with influencers to promote their products and services.
By leveraging your expertise, you could quickly establish credibility and build a substantial following, which could lead to sponsored posts, affiliate marketing opportunities, and even paid advertisements. This entrepreneurial path not only supplements your income but also gives you a platform to showcase your skills, potentially attracting further consulting or freelance 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.
4. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could help you make six figures as a programmer by leveraging your expertise to create valuable and engaging content. You could produce tutorials, coding challenges, and project walkthroughs that appeal to a wide audience of both novice and experienced programmers. By consistently delivering quality content, you could grow your subscriber base and reach the minimum requirements of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to join the YouTube Partner Program, enabling you to monetize your channel.
Additionally, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and offering paid courses could serve as additional revenue streams. With YouTube's established monetization system and incredible popularity, the potential for significant income is high if you remain dedicated and entrepreneurial in your approach.
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.
5. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could significantly boost your income as a programmer by allowing you to monetize your specialized knowledge and skills. By identifying educational gaps and creating engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could attract a broad audience eager to learn from your expertise.
With the structure flexibility—whether self-paced or cohort-based—you could build a substantial student base that generates passive income over time. This approach not only presents a lucrative way to earn extra money but also aligns with the low startup costs and high potential for scaling, making it a practical side business or even a primary income stream. Offering courses on emerging subjects could place you at the forefront of educational trends, meeting the demands of lifelong learners.
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.
6. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a lucrative way for programmers to supplement their income and potentially scale up to a six-figure business over time. The low overhead costs and the ability to reach a global audience make eCommerce an attractive option, particularly when compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. With your coding skills, you could easily set up and customize a website, implement secure payment processing, and optimize inventory management systems to create a seamless shopping experience for your customers.
Given the booming state of eCommerce, you could take advantage of the ever-increasing consumer demand for convenience and efficiency in online shopping. By leveraging your technical expertise, you could differentiate your online store from competitors, ensuring a smooth user experience that keeps customers coming back. Whether you choose to sell physical products, digital goods, or even offer services online, starting an ecommerce business could pave the way to substantial financial growth and entrepreneurial success.
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. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could significantly supplement your income as a programmer and help you reach six figures. With flexible work hours, you have the freedom to manage writing gigs alongside your primary programming job, allowing you to maximize your earnings without committing to a rigid schedule. You could leverage your industry knowledge to write technical articles, tutorials, or blog posts, which often command higher rates due to the specialized content.
Freelance writing also presents the opportunity to expand your professional network and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. By aligning your writing projects with tech-focused niches, you could stay up-to-date with industry trends and tools, enhancing both your programming and writing skills. If you possess strong writing capabilities, meet deadlines reliably, and communicate effectively, freelance writing could be a lucrative and fulfilling side business.
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.
8. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a powerful way to supplement your income or even develop it into a full-time business as a programmer. By sharing your insights and expertise, you could reach a broader audience and establish yourself as a credible source in the tech community. In fact, with 77% of internet users reading blogs, the potential for driving significant traffic to your site is substantial.
Additionally, blogging offers location independence, allowing you to work from anywhere and on your own schedule, making it a flexible and scalable option. Leveraging ad revenue, affiliate marketing, or even creating premium content like e-books or online courses could turn your blog into a highly profitable venture. With dedication and a solid content strategy, your blog could bring you closer to earning a six-figure income.
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.
9. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a programmer by leveraging your industry expertise and motivational skills. As a career coach, you could offer personalized guidance, support, and strategic sessions to help clients with resume building, interview preparation, and achieving workplace advancement goals. This not only allows you to empower others but also creates an additional revenue stream through flexible in-person or virtual meetings.
With the ability to tailor your coaching services to each client's unique aspirations, you could build a loyal client base that values your specific insights and accountability structure. Your background in programming could give you a competitive edge, as you could offer specialized advice in navigating technical career paths. Plus, setting your own schedule makes it an ideal side business or potential full-time venture, monetizing your natural motivational abilities and HR-related 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.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a programmer and potentially help you reach a six-figure salary. With tools available to automate a lot of the work, you could efficiently manage this alongside your main duties. Developing a good social media marketing strategy enables you to serve clients effectively without needing to commit excessive time.
You could leverage your programming skills to create bespoke solutions for clients, making you even more valuable in the marketplace. Building an agency portfolio to market your services will help attract customers and could lead to substantial side income, helping you clear utility bills, finance education, or save for a vacation. This entrepreneurial route not only provides additional financial security but also diversifies your income streams.
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. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast as a programmer could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and possibly even build a thriving side business. You could share your expertise on cutting-edge technologies, interview industry leaders, or offer practical coding tips and problem-solving methods. By creating valuable content that resonates with an audience, you could attract sponsorships and advertisers, which could translate into significant income.
With minimal upfront investment in basic recording equipment and leveraging free or affordable hosting platforms, you could keep startup costs low and focus on growing your audience. As your podcast gains traction, social media promotion and community engagement could boost your listener base, making it easier to monetize your content. If executed effectively, this entrepreneurial venture could bring you closer to making six figures.
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.
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.
