How to Make 6 Figures As A Systems Engineer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a systems engineer? Good for you! Being a systems 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 systems 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 be a great way for you to supplement your income as a systems engineer and ultimately achieve a six-figure salary. With an eCommerce business, you could leverage your technical skills to create a seamless shopping experience for customers, from setting up an intuitive website to ensuring smooth payment processing with advanced software solutions. The relatively low overhead costs and the ability to reach a global audience could make this an attractive side business or even a full-time venture.
Given the current boom in the eCommerce industry, consumers are more inclined than ever to shop online due to the convenience and efficiency it offers. As a systems engineer, you could use your analytical skills to optimize inventory tracking and personalize the shopping experience, thus driving customer satisfaction and repeat business. This could significantly increase your revenue streams, enabling you to reach six figures through a combination of your primary and supplementary income.
By capitalizing on your technical expertise and the ever-growing trend of online shopping, an eCommerce store could provide a scalable and flexible path to financial growth. This entrepreneurial endeavor might not only supplement your existing salary but also offer the potential for substantial long-term gains.
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. Digital products ($242K/month)
Starting a digital products business is an excellent way to reach a six-figure income as a systems engineer. You could leverage your technical expertise to create software applications or tools that cater to specific industry needs. Alternatively, you could share your knowledge through ebooks or online courses, teaching critical systems engineering skills to a broader audience.
Digital products are easy to create and distribute, making them an attractive business venture. Since there’s no need for physical inventory, you could manage and scale your business efficiently. With the demand for digital solutions constantly growing, the possibilities for generating additional income are virtually limitless.
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)
As a systems engineer, supplementing your income by becoming a social media influencer is a viable path to six-figure earnings. By leveraging your expertise in systems engineering, you could establish credibility in a niche and attract a dedicated audience on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Sharing insights, tutorials, and industry trends could engage fellow engineers and tech enthusiasts, making your content highly valuable to brands targeting this demographic.
Creating high-quality, relevant content could lead to partnerships with tech companies eager to tap into your expert audience. This could open doors to sponsored posts, product reviews, and collaborations, providing additional revenue streams. With a strategic approach, your social media influencer endeavor could complement your primary income, effectively pushing you toward six-figure earnings.
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 podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a strategic move to make six figures as a systems engineer by leveraging your expertise to build an engaged audience. By choosing a niche or topic within the systems engineering field that you’re passionate about, you could differentiate yourself in the crowded podcast space and attract listeners who value your insights on the latest industry trends, best practices, and technical challenges.
With basic recording equipment and an affordable hosting platform, you could produce high-quality content and release episodes regularly, growing your listener base over time. As your podcast gains popularity, you could monetize it through sponsorships, advertisements, and exclusive premium content, thereby generating additional income. Additionally, a successful podcast could enhance your personal brand, opening up further opportunities for consulting gigs, speaking engagements, or even launching a related side business.
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.
5. Create an online course ($82.8K/month)
Starting an online course could be a game-changer in your journey to making six figures as a systems engineer. By identifying educational gaps in your field and creating compelling video lessons and supplementary materials, you could tap into a growing market of lifelong learners seeking your specialized knowledge. This business model offers flexibility around self-paced or cohort-based structures, which can attract a diverse student base.
Moreover, the low startup costs make it a practical venture to supplement your income and create passive revenue streams. For those who enjoy sharing information and teaching others, this entrepreneurial path provides a rewarding way to leverage your expertise while building financial independence. Launching an online course platform not only capitalizes on your instructional talents but also establishes you as a thought leader within the industry.
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 a social media marketing agency ($386K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative side business for systems engineers looking to supplement their income and achieve a six-figure salary. With minimal time commitment, you could automate many aspects using social media marketing tools while developing efficient strategies to serve your clients. This allows you the flexibility to manage your full-time job and your side business simultaneously.
Creating an appealing agency portfolio could attract a range of clients, helping you finance your college education, clear utility bills, or save for vacations. Given your technical background, you could leverage your analytical skills to measure and improve campaign performance for better results, thus increasing your value to clients and boosting your revenue potential.
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.
7. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could significantly bolster your income as a systems engineer. Working as a freelancer offers the flexibility to define your own schedule, allowing you to work from home at any time that fits within your engineering commitments. With strong writing skills and the ability to meet deadlines, you could seize the opportunity to write across various niches, including technical articles, which align well with your professional background.
Additionally, being a self-starter and staying up-to-date with the latest writing tools and trends sets the stage for lucrative projects. Proper communication skills will enable you to collaborate effectively with clients, ensuring their requirements are met. This side business not only supplements your income but could also evolve into a substantial revenue stream, helping you move closer to the 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. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a highly effective way to supplement your income as a systems engineer. By leveraging your expertise, you could provide valuable insights, tutorials, and industry news, attracting a dedicated audience and establishing yourself as a thought leader in the field. This content can draw significant traffic, as blogs are rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, and 77% of internet users read blogs.
With a strong content strategy, you could eventually monetize your blog through ads, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing, potentially turning it into a meaningful income stream. Considering that approximately 409 million people view over 20 billion pages each month, the possibilities for scaling your blogging efforts are substantial. Over time, if managed well, your blog could become a profitable side business or even a full-time venture, making six figures attainable.
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 youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could significantly supplement your income as a systems engineer, thanks to the platform's established monetization system and incredible popularity. By sharing your expertise through tutorials, project walkthroughs, and industry insights, you could attract a niche audience that values your specialized knowledge. As your channel gains traction and reaches the minimum threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within 12 months, you could join the YouTube Partner Program to start generating ad revenue.
Additionally, successful YouTube channels often open doors to other income streams, such as sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and even creating paid courses. With persistence and smart promotion, your YouTube channel could evolve into a substantial side business, offering a pathway to achieving a six-figure 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.
10. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could significantly supplement your income as a systems engineer. By offering services such as personalized guidance, resume building, and interview preparation, you could establish yourself as a go-to expert for professionals looking to advance in their careers. This can be particularly lucrative if you have experience in human resources or possess natural speaking talents.
With the flexibility for both in-person and virtual coaching sessions, you could reach a broader client base, allowing for scalable income streams. Empowering clients with specialized advice and accountability not only helps them achieve their professional goals, but also enables you to monetize your motivational abilities and set your own schedule. If successfully executed, a career coaching practice could very well propel you into the six-figure income bracket alongside your primary role as a systems engineer.
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. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketer business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a systems engineer, potentially helping you reach six-figure earnings. By promoting other companies' products or services and earning a commission on each sale made through your referral, you leverage your marketing skills without the need to create or own the products yourself.
Given the low upfront investment, this venture is accessible and cost-effective, allowing you to build an additional revenue stream with minimal risk. You can sign up for affiliate programs in your niche, receive unique tracking links, and use your problem-solving and analytical skills to drive traffic and optimize conversions. The potential to earn significant commissions while maintaining your primary job makes affiliate marketing a viable option for entrepreneurial-minded systems engineers.
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.
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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.
