Passive Income Ideas For Big Data Engineers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a big data engineer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a big data engineer today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a big data engineer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could use your skills to create AI-based business solutions that help companies optimize their operations. AI tools can automate routine tasks like data entry and analysis, provide real-time customer insights, and forecast market trends. This could save businesses time and money while also providing them with valuable information to make better decisions.
Starting an AI-based business solution is a promising way to earn passive income, as the demand for such technologies is growing. Many companies are looking to integrate AI to stay competitive, making it a ripe market for innovative solutions. With your expertise in handling large datasets, you could develop user-friendly AI solutions that don't require a tech background, thus broadening your customer base.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
2. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your skills in data processing and machine learning to develop an AI writing tool. This tool could assist in generating high-quality content quickly and accurately, streamlining the writing process for businesses, bloggers, and students alike. By using your expertise, you could create a software that not only produces error-free content but also adapts to different writing styles and tones based on data analysis.
Monetizing this AI writing tool is another possibility. You could offer it as a subscription service or integrate it into existing platforms, providing a steady stream of passive income. By addressing the increasing demand for efficient content creation, you could create a lasting impact in the digital world while diversifying your income streams.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
3. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your expertise to create a lead generation tool that automates the process of finding new clients for businesses. This software would gather valuable data such as email addresses, phone numbers, and customer interests by integrating with various digital touchpoints like websites and social media channels.
By developing a tool that identifies and captures potential customer leads, you could help businesses streamline their marketing efforts and focus more on converting these leads into paying customers. The demand for efficient lead generation is high, making this a profitable venture for someone with your technical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $600 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Dux-Soup is a LinkedIn automation tool that helps business owners and sales & marketing professionals generate more leads, increase efficiency, and save time; with over 70,000 users and revenue of nearly $5 million, it offers automated top-of-the-funnel LinkedIn outreach activities, targeted LinkedIn campaigns and multi-touch & personalized LinkedIn drip campaigns for lead generation.
4. Make passive income with an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your expertise in data analysis to develop a highly efficient email marketing tool. You already understand how to handle large datasets and algorithms, which puts you in a perfect position to create software that helps businesses target their email campaigns more effectively. By focusing on data-driven strategies, you could offer unique features that analyze user behavior, segment audiences, and personalize emails to increase engagement and conversion rates.
Starting an email marketing tool business could also open up passive income opportunities. Once the tool is developed and launched, you could earn ongoing revenue through subscription models or one-time purchases. Considering the email marketing industry is expected to grow significantly, there's a strong potential for your tool to attract a wide range of users, from entrepreneurs to established businesses looking for innovative solutions.
How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
5. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to start a social media automation business, a venture that involves creating tools to schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data across various platforms. Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth for small businesses and influencers who pay for these services to save time and enhance their online presence.
Given the high demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, you could find a profitable niche in developing or integrating software solutions that meet specific client needs. Your background in data analysis and technology would enable you to stay ahead of social media trends and build strong relationships with clients, tailoring services to drive measurable results. For those with a knack for both technology and marketing, this could be a rewarding and lucrative side hustle.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
6. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
If you're a big data engineer, starting a mobile app could be a great way to leverage your skills and generate passive income. With your background in big data, you could create an app that offers data analytics on the go, helping businesses and individuals make smarter decisions. The data-driven insights you already work with could become the core feature of your app, offering users something valuable that they can’t find elsewhere.
Building a mobile app requires a clear vision and some coding knowledge, but as a big data engineer, you're already familiar with technical problem-solving. You could also opt to hire a skilled developer to bring your vision to life. Once your app is up and running, effective marketing is crucial to attract users and achieve downloads, turning your innovative idea into a potential goldmine.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
7. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills to identify common challenges people face with WordPress websites and develop plugins to address these issues. With your technical background, you could create innovative and efficient plugins that cater to specific needs, such as advanced data analytics, optimization, or security features.
WordPress plugins are widely used to improve website functionality, making them a valuable and marketable product. By selling your plugins on platforms like CodeCanyon or even your own blog, you could generate a steady stream of passive income. This could be a lucrative side hustle that utilizes your programming skills and deep understanding of data.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
8. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
If you're a big data engineer with a passion for a specific topic, starting a niche blog could be a promising way to supplement your income. You could share your knowledge and insights on an underserved niche like data analytics trends, the latest big data tools, or beginner tutorials for new data engineers. By creating unique and informative content such as how-to guides, product reviews, and news updates, you could attract a dedicated audience who are eager to learn more about big data.
Once your blog gains visibility, you could monetize it through affiliate links, brand collaborations, or even by launching a YouTube channel for more interactive content. Engaging with your followers and consistently providing valuable information will help you build a loyal community, which can open up additional income streams like speaking at industry events. Passion and dedication to your chosen niche are key to making your blog a successful venture.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
9. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
If you have a knack for creating compelling video content, starting a YouTube channel might be your next big move as a big data engineer. You could share your expertise through tutorials, educational videos, or discussions on the latest trends and tools in big data. This way, you’re not only helping others learn but also potentially earning revenue from ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.
Building a successful YouTube channel requires consistency and quality. Plan your content, shoot and edit videos, and engage regularly with your audience. Knowing a bit about SEO for videos and social media marketing can help you attract more viewers and grow your channel faster.
While it does involve hard work, the financial rewards and the flexibility to share your unique insights are significant. If you're ready to put in the time and effort, starting a YouTube channel could be a fulfilling and profitable venture.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
10. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your expertise to create and sell online courses focused on data analysis, data visualization, or big data tools like Hadoop and Spark. With your in-depth knowledge, you could help others understand complex concepts, making it easier for them to enter the field or enhance their current skills.
By targeting a specific audience, such as aspiring data engineers or data scientists, you could tap into a growing market where professionals are eager to learn these valuable skills. With e-learning expected to be worth over $645 billion in the coming years, there’s significant potential to earn passive income from creating and selling your online courses.
This venture could not only diversify your income but also establish you as an authority in your field, opening up more opportunities for professional growth and networking.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
11. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your expertise to create a niche website focused on data-related topics. Sharing your knowledge on subjects like data analytics, machine learning, or industry trends could attract a dedicated audience of like-minded professionals and enthusiasts. This website could serve both as a creative outlet and a means to establish yourself as an authority in your field.
To start, you could select a niche within the broad data engineering scope, such as data visualization techniques or the best tools for big data processing. Investing time in creating informative articles, tutorials, or case studies, and optimizing your content for search engines, would help drive traffic to your site. Over time, you could monetize your traffic through affiliate marketing, selling eBooks or courses, and placing ads, making your website a potential source of passive income.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
12. Make passive income with a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
As a big data engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills and attention to detail to excel in the stock investing business. Your ability to interpret complex datasets and identify patterns could give you a significant edge in analyzing market trends and making informed investment decisions.
Starting a stock investing business would allow you to transform your passion for numbers and data into a potentially profitable side venture. With the availability of educational resources and trading platforms, you could gain the necessary knowledge to navigate financial markets effectively. While it requires commitment and continuous learning, the result could be a rewarding and profitable supplemental income stream.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Ticker Nerd is a monthly subscription service for investors that surfaces and analyzes trending stocks before the hype train arrives, and now has $4.5k in monthly recurring revenue from its newsletter without spending a single dollar on advertising, having validated the business via subreddits and organic Product Hunt launch strategy.
13. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a savvy way for you, as a big data engineer, to supplement your income and share your expertise with a wider audience. You could focus on topics you're passionate about, such as the latest trends in data science, tips for managing large datasets, or even case studies of engineering projects. This niche content could attract other data professionals, students, and industry enthusiasts eager to learn from your experiences and insights.
You could start on a budget by purchasing basic recording equipment like a microphone and headphones, and using a free or affordable hosting platform to publish your episodes. As you grow your audience through social media, online communities, and word of mouth, you may attract sponsors or advertisers, turning your podcast into a potential source of passive income. Sharing your knowledge in a podcast not only helps others but also positions you as an authority in your field, opening up even more opportunities down the line.
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.
