How to Make 6 Figures As A Sales Engineer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a sales engineer? Good for you! Being a sales 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 sales engineer - 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 provide sales engineers with a dynamic avenue to supplement their income and potentially reach a six-figure salary. An eCommerce business, which sells products or services online, typically offers lower overhead costs, increased flexibility, and the ability to reach a global audience—making it an attractive side gig or even a full-time venture.
Given the booming state of eCommerce and the convenience it offers consumers, as a sales engineer, you could leverage your technical and sales skills to create a profitable online store. With the flexibility to manage an eCommerce business around your primary job, you could maximize your income by tapping into the growing online marketplace, offering specialized products or services that cater to a niche audience.
By utilizing platforms that streamline website creation, payment processing, and inventory management, you could efficiently run an eCommerce store without significantly impacting your main career. This side business could serve as a lucrative supplement to your income, making six figures more attainable.
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. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could provide a lucrative opportunity to supplement your income as a sales engineer. With blogs rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information and 77% of internet users reading blogs, you have a substantial audience to tap into. By sharing your expertise in sales engineering, you could attract a dedicated readership interested in your niche.
Moreover, blogging is a flexible, location-independent business that allows you to work on your own schedule. With a strategic approach—such as a well-defined content plan and regular posting schedule—you could build an engaged community. Leveraging this audience for monetization opportunities, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored content, or offering specialized consulting services, could help you achieve the six-figure mark while maintaining your current career.
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.
3. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketer business could help you make six figures as a sales engineer by leveraging your existing marketing skills and technical expertise. This venture involves promoting other companies' products or services and earning commissions on successful referrals, allowing you to generate additional income without the need for a significant upfront investment.
By signing up for affiliate programs in your niche, you could receive unique tracking links that enable companies to identify sales made through your efforts. This business model is particularly appealing due to its low startup costs and the ability to work alongside your current role, providing a flexible yet lucrative opportunity to supplement your income and potentially reach the six-figure mark.
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.
4. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Supplementing your income by becoming a social media influencer could be a lucrative path to making six figures as a sales engineer. As brands increasingly turn to platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to connect with their target audiences, there is a growing demand for influencers with established credibility. By tapping into a niche that resonates with your interests and expertise, you could build a loyal following and attract lucrative brand partnerships.
Starting a social media influencer career involves creating relevant and engaging content in your chosen niche. As a sales engineer, you could share insights, tutorials, and tips related to your industry on platforms favored by your audience. With the right strategy, you could not only boost your income through sponsorship deals and brand collaborations but also position yourself as an industry thought leader.
The potential for earning as a social media influencer extends beyond direct brand deals; you could explore additional revenue streams such as affiliate marketing, product reviews, and even launching your own digital products or courses. This entrepreneurial approach could lead to significant financial rewards and long-term career growth.
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 youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a highly lucrative way for a sales engineer to supplement their income or even build a full-fledged business. By sharing insights, tutorials, and industry knowledge, you could attract an audience passionate about sales engineering or related technical fields. You could capitalize on YouTube's popularity and established monetization system, especially if you enjoy content creation.
Once you reach the minimum requirements of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months, you could join the YouTube Partner Program to start earning ad revenue. Additionally, you could explore sponsorship deals, affiliate marketing, and even selling your own products or services to maximize your income. With dedication and the right strategy, your YouTube channel could evolve into a significant revenue stream, contributing substantially toward making six figures.
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.
6. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could supplement your income and help you make six figures as a sales engineer by leveraging your expertise in the field to attract a dedicated audience. By choosing a niche topic related to sales engineering, you could create valuable content that resonates with peers and professionals seeking industry insights, practical advice, and thought leadership. This can position you as an authority, opening up opportunities for sponsorships, advertisements, or even premium content subscriptions.
With basic recording equipment and an affordable hosting platform, you could produce and publish episodes on a budget. Consistently promoting your podcast through social media and online communities could grow your audience, increasing the potential for monetization. Additionally, the podcast could serve as a networking tool, allowing you to connect with industry leaders, potential clients, and other opportunities to enhance your career and income.
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.
7. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could significantly boost your potential to make six figures as a sales engineer. By creating digital classes that teach specialized skills, you could address educational gaps in your field, sharing your unique insights and methodologies. This entrepreneurial endeavor allows you to develop video lessons and supplementary materials that can engage eager learners.
With flexible self-paced or cohort-based course structures, you could build a loyal student base and tap into passive income streams. The low startup costs make it an accessible venture, and the potential for high returns is strong if you effectively market to lifelong learners. For sales engineers passionate about sharing knowledge, an online course can be a lucrative side business or even a primary income source, enabling you to monetize your instructional talents effectively.
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.
8. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Launching a freelance writing business could be a lucrative way to boost your income as a sales engineer. Given your strong communication skills and ability to explain complex concepts clearly, you could translate your technical know-how into paid writing assignments. This could range from writing technical guides to creating blog posts for tech companies.
Freelance writing offers great flexibility, allowing you to supplement your income around your primary job schedule. You could leverage your engineering background to carve out a niche in technical writing, which often commands higher rates due to the specialized knowledge required. By staying committed to deadlines and continuously improving your writing techniques, it's feasible to build a profitable side business that could help you achieve six-figure 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 (?)
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.
9. Digital products ($242K/month)
Starting a side business with digital products could significantly supplement your income as a sales engineer, propelling you toward making six figures. Leveraging your industry knowledge, you could create information-based products like eBooks or online courses that address pain points or skillsets in your field. These products are effortless to create and can be sold directly through your website, eliminating the need for inventory and logistics complexities.
Additionally, you might develop software-based solutions, such as specialized apps or tools, that cater to other sales engineers or businesses. The leading advantage of digital products lies in their scalability; once created, they can be sold repeatedly with minimal additional effort. Embracing this entrepreneurial avenue not only diversifies your income streams but also enhances your professional brand within the industry.
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.
10. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative sideline venture for a sales engineer, providing a pathway to earn six figures. By leveraging your sales expertise, you could offer customized coaching sessions that focus on resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement, all of which are highly valuable to professionals seeking career growth.
Through virtual or in-person meetings, you could build a diverse client base and deliver tailored advice that helps individuals achieve their career goals. This entrepreneurial endeavor allows you to monetize your motivational skills and human resources knowledge while maintaining the flexibility to set your own schedule.
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.
11. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your income as a sales engineer. By leveraging your problem-solving skills and analytical mindset, you could easily develop effective social media strategies for clients, addressing their specific needs and generating tangible results.
You could harness various social media marketing tools to automate tasks, saving you time and allowing you to manage this side venture alongside your primary career. Building an impressive agency portfolio will be crucial in attracting clients, thereby potentially helping you clear utility bills, finance education, or save for a dream vacation, inching you closer to that six-figure income mark.
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.
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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.
