Passive Income Ideas For Manufacturing Engineers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a manufacturing engineer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a manufacturing 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 manufacturing engineer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog as a manufacturing engineer could allow you to share your specialized knowledge with a broader audience, positioning yourself as an expert in your field. You could explore topics such as new manufacturing technologies, industry trends, process improvement tips, and in-depth how-to guides that other engineers or enthusiasts would find valuable. By providing well-researched and useful information, you might attract a dedicated following.
Once you establish your blog, you could monetize it by including affiliate links to tools, books, or courses that are relevant to manufacturing engineers. Additionally, you could collaborate with industry brands for sponsored content or offer to speak at engineering conferences to further increase your visibility. Over time, these efforts could turn your blog into a reliable source of passive income while allowing you to grow your professional network and showcase your expertise.
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.
2. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could tap into a stock photography business and earn passive income by leveraging your unique workplace environment. Industrial settings often provide visually appealing and in-demand subjects for stock photos, such as machinery, assembly lines, and safety equipment. These images are highly sought after by businesses for marketing materials, websites, and blogs.
Starting a stock photography venture would allow you to build an impressive portfolio by taking high-quality photos during your daily work activities. Investing in some good photography gear and learning basic photography skills could set you up for success. With proper online marketing, you could sell your stock photos on various platforms and potentially generate a steady stream of extra money.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
3. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, starting an affiliate marketing business could supplement your income by leveraging your industry knowledge. You might choose to partner with manufacturers or eCommerce stores that sell tools, machinery, or software integral to manufacturing processes. By promoting these products and services online, you could earn a commission for each sale made through your referral.
This approach aligns well with your expertise, allowing you to recommend products confidently and credibly. The initial effort to set up a blog, social media channels, or a YouTube series could eventually pay off over the long term, generating passive income as your audience grows. Learning how to identify suitable products and brands to partner with is crucial for success in affiliate marketing.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 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. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could supplement your income by launching an online course sales business. Given your technical expertise, you could create courses on topics such as lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, CAD software, or process optimization. This allows you to share your knowledge with a targeted audience while creating a new revenue stream.
Creating an online course requires you to identify an area where you excel and that others want to learn. Once you've developed the content, you can upload it to e-learning platforms where users purchase your course. With the e-learning market expected to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years, this is a great opportunity to earn passive income while leveraging your existing skills.
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.
5. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
If you're a manufacturing engineer looking for a side income, starting a niche website could be a practical and fulfilling option. You could create a website focused on a specific area of manufacturing you’re passionate about, such as lean manufacturing techniques, manufacturing automation, or safety protocols. Sharing your expertise through blog posts, tutorials, and case studies can help you build a dedicated audience.
The potential to generate passive income comes from various opportunities like affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products. Once your site gains traction, these revenue streams can start to flow steadily. If you invest time in quality content and SEO, your niche website could not only supplement your income but also establish you as a thought leader in your field.
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.
6. Make passive income with a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could benefit significantly from starting a stock investing business. Your analytical and problem-solving skills are directly applicable to analyzing market trends and making informed decisions about buying and selling stocks. While it requires dedication and a willingness to learn continuously, the financial markets offer a unique avenue to supplement your income.
You could start small, using dedicated trading platforms and educational resources to build an understanding of the market's intricacies. Over time, as you develop a strategic approach and hone your risk management skills, this venture could evolve into a sustainable source of extra income. Stock investing isn’t an overnight success story, but with patience and precision—traits you likely already possess as an engineer—it can be a rewarding entrepreneurial journey.
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.
7. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could start an AI-based business solution to supplement your income and make extra money. With your strong background in manufacturing processes, you could develop AI tools that optimize various business operations, such as inventory management, production scheduling, and quality control. These tools could help companies streamline their operations, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency by automating repetitive tasks and providing valuable insights.
Moreover, the growing demand for AI solutions means that your services would be in high demand as businesses seek to gain a competitive edge. Even if you don’t have a tech background, many platform providers offer easy-to-use AI tools with extensive support, making it accessible for you to dive into this field. By focusing on areas where AI can have a significant impact, you could launch a successful business that leverages your expertise in manufacturing and taps into the expanding AI market.
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.
8. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, creating a lead generation tool could be a smart way to supplement your income. By developing software that automates the process of finding new clients, you allow other businesses to focus on converting these leads into sales. This could be particularly valuable in industries related to manufacturing where the sales cycle can be lengthy and complex.
Imagine integrating your tool with various digital touchpoints such as websites and social media channels. Your platform could collect valuable information like email addresses, phone numbers, and interests, which businesses can then use for targeted marketing campaigns. Given the high demand for efficient lead generation, your tool could become indispensable for businesses looking to streamline their marketing efforts.
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.
9. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
Starting a WordPress plugin business might be an unexpected but rewarding side hustle for a manufacturing engineer. With your knack for problem-solving and systems optimization, you could develop plugins that fix common issues or improve productivity for website owners. If you identify a need or inefficiency in the current market, you could create a plugin to address this, potentially generating consistent passive income.
Given the high demand for effective WordPress plugins, selling your creations on platforms like CodeCanyon or even on your own website could be profitable. This venture requires some initial effort in development, but the returns can come as passive income once the plugin is up and running. By leveraging your analytical skills and technical knowledge, you could carve out a niche for yourself in the WordPress ecosystem.
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.
10. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way to supplement your income. You could produce content that showcases your engineering projects, offers tutorials on manufacturing processes, or even reviews industry tools and technologies. Sharing your specialized knowledge can attract a dedicated audience, leading to potential earnings from ads, sponsorships, and even selling your own merchandise.
Creating consistent and high-quality videos might require some initial effort in terms of planning, shooting, and editing, but the rewards can be significant. In addition to providing a creative outlet, a YouTube channel allows you to establish yourself as an authority in your field and build a community around your expertise. If you are committed and ready to engage with your audience regularly, this could become a fulfilling and profitable side 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.
11. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could supplement your income by creating a mobile app that addresses specific needs in your industry. Perhaps you’ve identified a common problem on the manufacturing floor that could be solved with a mobile tool or app, such as an efficiency tracker, workflow optimizer, or machine maintenance scheduler. By leveraging your industry knowledge, you could develop an app that offers practical solutions and streamline processes in a way that only someone with firsthand experience would know.
Developing a mobile app might seem daunting, but with a clear vision and either basic coding skills or the help of a skilled developer, it becomes manageable. Key steps include planning out how the app will work, designing user-friendly interfaces, and rigorously testing to fix any issues. Once your app is polished, effective marketing will be crucial to attract users and generate downloads, opening up the potential for substantial revenue while making your work and that of your peers more efficient.
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.
12. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could utilize your technical skills to start a social media automation business. Imagine creating tools and services that schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data for businesses and influencers. Your ability to solve problems and optimize systems would be valuable in developing or integrating these automation solutions.
The demand for consistent social media presence is growing, and businesses are willing to pay for tools that can save them time and enhance their online engagement. By leveraging your engineering background, you could design efficient automation systems and provide tailored services to clients. This venture could offer a lucrative stream of passive income, allowing you to use your existing skills in a new and profitable way.
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.
13. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
As a manufacturing engineer, you could leverage your problem-solving skills and analytical mindset to develop a health and wellness app. The same methods you use to optimize production lines and improve efficiency can be applied to create a user-friendly application that helps people reach their fitness and nutritional goals. Your experience with technical processes and project management could streamline the app development, ensuring it meets user needs effectively.
Furthermore, by collaborating with health experts, you could ensure that your app offers reliable and personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises. Given the growing market demand for digital health solutions, your technical background could set you apart, making this a worthwhile entrepreneurial venture. By creating a platform that supports users' well-being and offers expert advice, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact while earning passive income.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
14. Make passive income with a real estate investment firm ($398K/month)
Starting a real estate investment firm could be an excellent way for a manufacturing engineer to supplement their income and create wealth. This venture involves buying, managing, and selling properties to generate profit, allowing you to leverage your analytical skills in scouting lucrative opportunities and negotiating deals.
Real estate offers significant profit potential, as properties can appreciate over time and rental income provides a steady cash flow. Your attention to detail and project management experience could be invaluable in handling renovations and managing properties efficiently.
While it requires diligent market research and strategic planning, your efforts could yield impressive financial returns, making real estate investment a rewarding entrepreneurial path.
How much you can make: $10,000 — $1,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 210 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
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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.
