Passive Income Ideas For Site Engineers [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a site engineer in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a site 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 site engineer.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
As a site engineer, starting a niche blog could be a great way for you to share your unique knowledge and experiences with a dedicated audience. You could write about specific challenges and solutions in site engineering, offer how-to guides, review essential tools and equipment, or even provide advice for people looking to get into the field. Your expertise can help others while also establishing you as an authority in your profession.
By creating engaging and informative content, you could attract a steady stream of visitors to your blog. This could open up opportunities to monetize your site through affiliate links, sponsored posts, or collaborations with brands that cater to the engineering industry. Additionally, you could expand your reach by creating related videos and growing a YouTube channel, potentially generating another stream of passive income.
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 an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a site engineer, you have a unique skill set that others might find valuable. By creating and selling online courses, you could help people learn about project management, construction techniques, safety protocols, or even how to use specific software like AutoCAD. Your day-to-day experience makes you an ideal teacher for aspiring engineers or those looking to advance their skills.
Turning your knowledge into an online course is a straightforward way to earn extra money and create passive income. Once you've created the course, you only need to update it occasionally, and the sales could keep coming in without much additional effort. With the e-learning market growing rapidly, this could be a great opportunity to supplement your income while sharing what you know.
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.
3. Make passive income with a niche website ($107K/month)
As a site engineer, you could start a niche website that focuses on topics specific to your field, like construction management, site safety tips, or the latest engineering tools and technologies. Leveraging your existing knowledge and experience, you could create valuable content that attracts a dedicated audience, such as blog posts, video tutorials, and downloadable guides.
Over time, as your website gains traffic, you could monetize it through affiliate marketing, ad placements, and even selling your own digital products, like e-books or online courses. This means that once you establish a steady stream of visitors, your site could generate passive income, making your expertise work for you even while you’re busy with your main job.
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.
4. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a site engineer, you could start a YouTube channel to share your expertise and experiences in the field. Your videos could range from practical how-to guides and tutorials on construction techniques to insights on managing projects and navigating challenges on-site. You could also create content showcasing interesting projects you’re working on, which could attract viewers interested in the behind-the-scenes of engineering.
Beyond being a creative outlet, a YouTube channel offers the potential to earn passive income through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. By consistently producing helpful and engaging content, you could build a loyal audience and increase your channel’s visibility. While it requires dedication to create and maintain high-quality videos, the financial rewards and the ability to share your knowledge make it a worthwhile pursuit for entrepreneurial-minded site engineers.
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.
5. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a site engineer, you could explore the possibility of starting an AI-based business solution to supplement your income. Leveraging artificial intelligence, you could offer services that help businesses optimize operations, such as automating repetitive tasks, improving customer service, or providing insightful data analysis. This could be especially valuable in sectors where efficiency and cost reduction are crucial.
You don’t need to have a deep tech background to get started. Many platform providers offer user-friendly tools and support systems to help you implement AI solutions effectively. By focusing on high-impact areas and tailoring AI tools to specific business needs, you could quickly establish a competitive edge and create a steady stream of passive income.
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.
6. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a site engineer, you could leverage your technical skills and experience to develop an AI writing tool that automates content creation. This tool could help a wide range of users, from businesses to bloggers, by producing accurate and engaging writing quickly and efficiently. By embedding artificial intelligence into content creation, you could offer a solution that eliminates errors and saves time for writers.
One possibility is to focus on creating an AI tool that generates reports, project documentation, or safety guidelines, which are essential in construction and engineering. This specialized tool could streamline your own work processes and become a valuable resource for other engineers and industry professionals. As demand for quality content continues to grow, an AI writing tool could place you at the forefront of a technological innovation, opening up a new revenue stream while enhancing productivity in your own field.
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.
7. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a site engineer, you could create a mobile app that addresses specific challenges in your field. Think about the issues you or your colleagues face daily, such as project management, equipment tracking, or safety compliance. An app tailored to these needs could not only make your own job easier but also provide a valuable tool to other engineers.
Developing a mobile app doesn't require extensive technical skills; you could hire a skilled developer to bring your vision to life. Planning and designing the app with a user-friendly interface is essential. Proper marketing will ensure that your app reaches the users it’s designed for, creating a potential stream of passive income as it gains popularity among other professionals.
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.
8. Make passive income with an online survey tool ($304K/month)
As a site engineer, you could supplement your income by developing an online survey tool. Businesses are increasingly relying on customer feedback to improve their services and products, creating a strong demand for data collection tools. You could leverage your analytical skills to build a user-friendly survey platform that helps companies gather the insights they need.
This business idea is growing in popularity, and with more companies turning to online surveys, there's considerable potential for success. Take Typeform, for example, which saw its annual recurring revenue surpass $70 million in 2021. By creating a similar tool, you could tap into a lucrative market, diversify your income, and potentially achieve financial stability.
How much you can make: $40 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
GreenRope, a self-funded CRM and marketing automation platform with over 1,000 customers in 20 countries, was built organically and focused on creating a positive, customer-centric culture without outside investment, with an all-in-one interface solving challenges in managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations.
9. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a site engineer, you could supplement your income by starting a stock photography business. The construction sites and various engineering projects you work on offer a wealth of unique and visually engaging subjects. Capturing high-quality photos of construction processes, equipment, and completed projects could appeal to businesses needing marketing images, bloggers, and website owners.
To begin, you could invest in a good camera and learn basic photography skills. Uploading your images to stock photo websites allows you to build an impressive portfolio and earn passive income. Simply taking pictures of the environment you are already in could turn into a profitable side hustle.
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.
10. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
As a site engineer, you might think about starting a health and wellness app to supplement your income. Site engineering can be physically demanding and stressful, and you could use your personal insight into the importance of health to create an app that offers personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, and mental well-being exercises. This app could serve as a one-stop digital tool for individuals looking to improve their health, combining aspects like reminders to drink water, guided yoga practices, and customized meal plans.
Additionally, building this app would involve skills such as market research, collaboration with health experts, and app development—skills that could be familiar if you’ve ever coordinated multidisciplinary projects. You could make a positive impact on users' lives and tap into a growing market by offering a virtual coach that provides expert advice. If health and technology interest you, this could be a fulfilling way to create extra income while leveraging your project management and technical skills.
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.
11. Make passive income with a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
As a site engineer, you could leverage your problem-solving skills to create valuable WordPress plugins. Think about the daily challenges you encounter in your work—whether it's project management, team collaboration, or on-site data collection—and consider developing a plugin that addresses these needs. By tapping into your unique industry expertise, you could design a solution that not only benefits other engineers but also establishes a profitable side income.
Selling WordPress plugins is a straightforward way to earn money online, especially if your plugin solves a specific problem. You could list your plugin on popular marketplaces like CodeCanyon or even sell it through your own blog or website. With continuous updates and customer support, your plugin business could generate a steady stream of passive income over time.
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.
12. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($139K/month)
As a site engineer, you could supplement your income through a social media automation business by leveraging your analytical skills and attention to detail. You would create tools and services to help clients manage their social media accounts by scheduling posts, automating interactions, and analyzing data. This could be particularly useful for small businesses and influencers looking to save time and enhance their online presence.
The technical aspect of developing or integrating software solutions fits well with your problem-solving abilities. With a growing demand for consistent and strategic social media engagement, diving into this business could become a reliable source of passive income. By staying updated on social media trends and building strong client relationships, you could achieve ongoing success in this field.
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 cold email service business ($170K/month)
As a site engineer, you could consider starting a cold email service business to supplement your income. By leveraging your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, you could craft effective email campaigns tailored to help businesses reach new clients. This service revolves around understanding client needs, researching target audiences, and using email marketing tools to track important metrics like open rates and conversions.
While this might require developing a knack for writing compelling emails, the technical and analytical skills you already possess can be a great asset. Taking on small businesses initially could make it easier to manage while you build your expertise and customer base. As your portfolio grows, you could scale your business, benefiting from the steady demand for marketing services. This entrepreneurial venture allows you to diversify your skills and potentially create a reliable stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
14. Make passive income with a stock investing business ($30.3K/month)
As a site engineer, you could supplement your income or make extra money by starting a stock investing business. This venture could allow you to use your analytical skills to analyze stock market trends and make informed decisions. Navigating the world of stock investing involves buying and selling stocks to generate profit, which could be both an exciting and profitable side project.
You could explore educational resources and trading platforms to build the necessary knowledge and tools. This endeavor requires continuous learning and an eye for market movements, but it offers the potential for significant returns. While not a get-rich-quick scheme, with a well-thought-out strategy and risk management, you could find stock investing to be a rewarding addition to your financial pursuits.
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.
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.
