Passive Income Ideas For Network Engineers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a network engineer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a network 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 network engineer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a network engineer, creating a mobile app could be a smart way to supplement your income. With your technical background, you already have an edge in understanding the architecture and infrastructure that support app functionality. Your experience could also help you identify gaps and inefficiencies in existing apps, which you can then improve upon with your own creation.
You might start by brainstorming app ideas that cater to your industry or solve common problems you encounter in your field. Whether it’s a productivity tool, a network diagnostic app, or something entirely different, your unique insights can guide the development process. If coding isn’t your strong suit, you could collaborate with a skilled developer to bring your vision to life.
Creating a mobile app involves a lot more than just development; it includes planning user experience, designing interfaces, and rigorous testing. But with dedication and a good strategy, your app could achieve significant traction and generate a steady stream of passive income. Ready to take the leap? The world of app development is waiting for your innovative solutions.
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.
2. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a network engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to start an AI-based business solution aimed at streamlining business operations. By using your understanding of network infrastructure, you could create AI tools that optimize data flow, automate repetitive tasks, and provide deep insights into system performance and customer behavior. This could help businesses enhance their efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Implementing AI solutions doesn't require deep AI expertise, as many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and strong support systems. Since the demand for AI-driven efficiencies is growing rapidly, you could position yourself ahead of the curve by offering tailored solutions that address unique business challenges. Starting an AI-based business solution could be your entry into a lucrative and innovative 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.
3. Make passive income with a lead generation tool ($108K/month)
Starting a lead generation tool as a network engineer could make sense because you already possess technical skills and an understanding of online infrastructures. This tool would help businesses find potential customers by automating the collection of contact information and interests from various digital touchpoints like websites and social media channels.
As companies constantly seek efficient ways to grow their customer base, your tool could become essential in streamlining their marketing efforts. With your background, you could build and optimize this software, reducing manual labor for businesses while generating passive income for yourself. By addressing the high demand for lead generation, you could turn your technical expertise into a profitable venture.
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 network engineer, you could leverage your technical skills to develop and maintain an email marketing tool. This software application helps people create, manage, and automate their email campaigns, enabling them to send bulk emails efficiently. Given your background, setting up the necessary servers, ensuring reliable uptime, and implementing robust security measures would make you well-suited for this venture.
By entering the email marketing industry, you could tap into a rapidly growing market that is projected to reach $2.53 billion by 2028. This could be a lucrative side hustle, allowing you to diversify your income streams. Plus, with your expertise, you could offer unique features and optimizations that set your tool apart from competitors, catering to other entrepreneurs, startups, and even real estate agents.
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 network engineer, you could leverage your technical expertise to develop or integrate tools that automate social media processes for clients. Imagine creating software that schedules posts, automates interactions, and analyzes data, saving time for small businesses and influencers while enhancing their social media presence.
Given your background, you could easily stay updated on the latest trends and technical requirements in social media, making it possible to offer cutting-edge automation solutions. This business could be particularly rewarding because it combines your technical skills with the growing need for consistent social media engagement, offering a lucrative and fulfilling side hustle opportunity.
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 wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a network engineer, starting a WordPress plugin business could be a smart way to supplement your income by leveraging your technical skills. With your background, you might identify specific problems related to website performance, security, or networking that other developers might overlook. By creating a plugin that solves these issues, you could generate passive income through sales on platforms like CodeCanyon or even your own website.
A key advantage is that once you've developed a plugin that meets a specific need, it can continuously generate revenue with little ongoing work. You'd only need to update it periodically to keep up with WordPress updates, which would be manageable alongside your regular job. This way, you’re turning your technical expertise into a profitable side hustle that runs largely on autopilot.
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.
7. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a network engineer, you could leverage your analytical skills and attention to detail to thrive in stock photography. This side hustle involves creating and selling high-quality photos that businesses use for marketing purposes. By capturing images in various sizes, resolutions, and file formats, you could cater to a wide range of needs in the market.
Getting started might involve investing in some good photography gear and learning the basics of stock photography. With an excellent online presence, you could build an impressive portfolio and potentially earn a steady stream of passive income by uploading your photos to popular stock photography websites. This venture offers a creative outlet and a flexible way to supplement your income without deviating from your primary career.
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.
8. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a great way for you as a network engineer to supplement your income or even start generating passive income. You could create content that shares your technical knowledge, troubleshooting tips, and industry insights, which could be valuable to both beginners and seasoned professionals. Your channel could feature how-to guides, network setup tutorials, or reviews of the latest networking tools and software.
Over time, as your subscriber base grows, you could earn money through ads, sponsorships, and possibly even selling your own merchandise. Additionally, sharing your expertise online could open doors to speaking engagements, consulting gigs, or authoring opportunities. While it requires dedication and consistent effort, the potential rewards could make it a fulfilling side hustle.
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.
9. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way for you, as a network engineer, to supplement your income and even start earning passive income. You could create episodes about topics you are already knowledgeable and passionate about, such as tips for managing network security, understanding new networking technologies, or explanations of complex protocols in simple terms. This could attract an audience of tech enthusiasts, fellow network engineers, and IT professionals who are eager to learn from your expertise.
You’d need some basic recording equipment like a microphone and headphones, and you could use affordable or even free hosting platforms to publish your episodes. By promoting your podcast through social media, online communities, and word of mouth, you could build a loyal audience over time. With enough listeners, you could attract sponsors or advertisers, turning your podcast into a viable source of passive 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.
10. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a network engineer, you have a wealth of specialized knowledge that many would find valuable. You could create online courses to teach others about networking, cybersecurity, or even the basics of setting up home and business networks. This way, you can earn passive income by selling these courses online, reaching a global audience.
The process is quite straightforward: select a target audience, develop your course content, and choose an online platform to host and sell your course. Given the projected growth of the e-learning market to over $645 billion in the next few years, there's significant potential to supplement your income by sharing your expertise.
Starting an online course business allows you to monetize your skills and experience while helping others learn. Plus, once your course is created, it can continue to generate income with minimal ongoing effort.
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 blog ($31.5K/month)
As a network engineer, starting a niche blog could be an excellent opportunity to share your in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with a larger audience. Your blog could focus on topics that you deal with every day, such as troubleshooting common network issues, setting up secure networks, or reviewing the latest networking tools and technologies.
By creating informative and unique content, like how-to guides, product reviews, and industry news, you could attract readers who are looking for expert advice. To monetize your blog, you could include affiliate links for networking hardware and software, collaborate with relevant brands, and even expand your reach through a YouTube channel focused on network engineering tutorials and tips.
Moreover, as your blog grows, you could also consider speaking at tech events or hosting webinars, further establishing yourself as a thought leader in the field.
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.
12. Make passive income with a real estate investment firm ($398K/month)
Starting a real estate investment firm could be an excellent way for network engineers to supplement their income and build wealth. By leveraging your problem-solving skills and attention to detail, you could successfully navigate the process of buying, managing, and selling properties. This venture would involve tasks such as scouting out valuable properties, renovating them to increase their worth, and then either renting them out or selling them for a profit.
Given that the real estate market offers substantial profit potential, your investment in homes, commercial buildings, or vacant land could appreciate significantly over time. Additionally, rental properties could provide a steady stream of passive income, which aligns well with the financial goals of many entrepreneurial-minded individuals. Through diligent market research and strategic planning, your efforts could yield impressive financial returns, making real estate investment a rewarding and profitable side endeavor.
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.
13. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a network engineer, you could consider starting a niche website centered around your field of expertise. This website could offer articles, tutorials, and resources about network engineering topics, such as configuration tips, troubleshooting guides, or the latest technology trends. With your specialized knowledge, you'd be able to create valuable content that speaks directly to others in the industry.
Building a niche website involves choosing a specific topic within network engineering that you're passionate about, creating informative content, and attracting visitors to your site. Over time, you could monetize your website through methods like affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products such as eBooks or online courses. This project could eventually provide you with a steady stream of passive income, allowing you to supplement your current earnings and share your expertise with a wider audience.
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.
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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.
