How to Make 6 Figures As A Software Architect? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a software architect? Good for you! Being a software architect 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 software architect - 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 a powerful way to supplement your income or even create a full-time business as a software architect. Blogging allows you to share your expertise, insights, and innovative ideas with a broader audience, establishing yourself as a thought leader in your field. With blogs rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information and 77% of internet users reading blogs, there's a substantial audience ready to consume valuable content.
Additionally, a blog provides a location-independent platform to generate multiple revenue streams, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and digital product sales like eBooks or online courses. Considering that approximately 409 million people view over 20 billion pages each month, a well-established blog can significantly boost your visibility and income potential. By choosing a niche you enjoy and implementing a solid content strategy, you could turn your blog into a highly profitable venture.
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 youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could serve as an excellent supplementary income source for a software architect. By sharing your expertise and insights through tutorials, project walkthroughs, and industry trends, you could attract a significant following interested in learning from your professional experience. Once you achieve the required 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you could join the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your channel through ads, memberships, and merchandise.
Moreover, you could leverage your channel to create sponsored content and collaborations with tech companies, providing additional revenue streams. If you love content creation, the growth potential on YouTube is immense, and many successful instances show how channels can evolve into lucrative business ventures. As you grow your viewership, this side hustle could bring you closer to making six figures and establishing an influential online presence in your industry.
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.
3. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could help you make six figures as a software architect by leveraging your industry expertise to provide personalized guidance and strategic support to clients navigating their professional growth. You could design custom sessions focusing on resume building, interview preparation, and workplace advancement, using your deep knowledge of the tech industry to offer tailored advice and accountability.
With the flexibility to offer either in-person or virtual coaching, you could build a diverse client base and create additional income streams. This venture allows you to monetize your motivational and speaking talents while setting your own schedule, ultimately empowering others and boosting your own financial success.
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.
4. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could be an excellent way for you to supplement your income as a software architect. By identifying educational gaps in the software architecture field and creating engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could provide valuable insights that many professionals seek.
With the flexibility of self-paced or cohort-based structures, you could build a student base that provides passive income potential. This venture not only leverages your instructional talents but also caters to lifelong learners looking for convenient and emerging knowledge, all with relatively small startup costs. Launching such a platform could be a lucrative opportunity to share your expertise while achieving financial goals.
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.
5. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a software architect, you could significantly boost your income by venturing into affiliate marketing. By leveraging your analytical skills and expertise in technology, you can effectively promote tech products and services, earning a commission for each sale driven through your referrals. This low-cost business model requires minimal upfront investment, making it an attractive supplemental income stream.
You could start by signing up for affiliate programs within your niche, such as software tools, cloud services, or development platforms. Once approved, you'll receive unique tracking links to share within your network, tech blogs, or even social media. Through strategic marketing and content creation, you could drive substantial traffic and sales, potentially making six figures annually alongside your primary income as a software architect.
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.
6. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Leveraging a podcast could be a strategic way to supplement your income and move towards earning six figures as a software architect. By discussing industry trends, sharing your expertise, and interviewing other thought leaders in the field, you could attract a dedicated audience. This listenership could open doors for sponsorship and advertising revenue, as well as potential consulting gigs.
Starting a podcast on a budget is also very manageable: all you need is a topic you're passionate about, a microphone, and headphones. Once your podcast gains traction, you could use social media and online communities to promote your episodes. The increased visibility could not only elevate your personal brand but also create new income streams, guiding you toward that six-figure milestone.
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. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could provide a lucrative side income and the flexibility to diversify your revenue streams as a software architect. Leveraging your technical expertise, you could write high-paying specialized content such as technical documentation, blog posts for tech companies, or white papers on emerging technologies.
Freelance writing offers you the freedom to set your own schedule, allowing you to balance it with your primary job seamlessly. By staying current with writing tools and trends, and maintaining strong communication skills, you could build a reputable writing business that significantly supplements your primary income, possibly tipping you over that six-figure mark.
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. Digital products ($242K/month)
As a software architect, you could significantly augment your income by creating and selling digital products. Given your technical expertise, you might consider developing software-based products like apps or games, or even crafting information-based resources such as eBooks or online courses. These digital products are highly scalable and can be effectively marketed to a global audience without the hassle of managing physical inventory.
Additionally, starting a membership site or an online community tailored to fellow software professionals could open up recurrent revenue streams. The low overhead costs and the ease of distribution make digital products an excellent venture to supplement your income or even establish a standalone business. By leveraging your skills in software architecture, the potential to achieve six figures through digital entrepreneurship is vast and within reach.
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.
9. Start a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative side business for a software architect aiming to make six figures. With your strong analytical and strategic skills, you could develop effective social media marketing strategies that attract clients and generate revenue. The automation capabilities of social media marketing tools mean that you could manage this venture with minimal time commitment, allowing you to balance it alongside your primary job.
Additionally, building a comprehensive agency portfolio would showcase your expertise to potential clients, making it easier to secure contracts. Whether you aim to clear your utility bills, finance your education, or save for a vacation, this venture offers a flexible and profitable way to supplement your income. If successful, it could even turn into a full-fledged business, offering you financial freedom and the joy of entrepreneurial success.
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.
10. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store can be an excellent way for a software architect to supplement your income and potentially reach a six-figure salary. Leveraging your technical expertise, you could create a robust, user-friendly online platform to sell products or services, benefiting from the low overhead costs and broad reach that online businesses offer. The booming eCommerce industry, driven by consumer preference for convenient, efficient online shopping, presents a ripe opportunity for entrepreneurial-minded individuals like yourself.
You could set up a website where customers can browse and purchase from your inventory, utilizing payment processing and shopping cart software to ensure seamless transactions. As a software architect, your technical skills would give you an edge in managing and optimizing these systems, improving customer experience and operational efficiency. Whether as a side business or a full-time endeavor, an ecommerce store presents a scalable venture that aligns well with your technical background.
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.
11. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Becoming a social media influencer could significantly supplement your income and help you make six figures as a software architect. Given the current digital landscape, brands are keen to collaborate with influencers on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to reach their target audiences. By leveraging your industry expertise, you could establish credibility and amass a following, making your recommendations valuable to brands.
Start by selecting a niche that aligns with your interests and skills in software architecture, and then create engaging, relevant content to attract and retain followers. As your audience grows, brands will be willing to pay for sponsored posts, endorsements, and collaborations. This not only provides an additional revenue stream but also enhances your professional brand, potentially leading to even greater career 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.
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.
