How to Make 6 Figures As An Architect? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a architect? Good for you! Being a architect 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 architect - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a fantastic way to make six figures as an architect. In this role, you could provide personalized guidance, support, and strategy services to help clients navigate professional transitions and growth opportunities. You'll design custom sessions for resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement goals tailored to each client’s aspirations.
With the ability to offer in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a client base and empower them through specialized advice and accountability. Not only could this utilize your speaking talents and human resources expertise, but it also allows you to monetize your natural motivational abilities while setting your own schedule. Embarking on this entrepreneurial path could significantly boost your income and expand your professional reach.
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.
2. Digital products ($261K/month)
Starting a side business selling digital products could significantly boost your income as an architect. Given that digital products are easy to create and share, you could leverage your expertise to develop offerings like instructional ebooks, architectural design templates, or online courses focusing on key architectural skills and trends.
Moreover, you don’t need to hire anyone else, and you can work on these products in your spare time, reducing overhead costs. Without the hassle of physical inventory, you can sell these digital products directly from your website, reaching a broader audience and creating a passive income stream. This diversified income approach might bring you closer to that six-figure mark, all while sharing your valuable knowledge and expertise with others.
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. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Supplementing your income as an architect through a freelance writing business could be a lucrative venture that brings you closer to the six-figure mark. Leveraging your expertise in architecture, you could write for industry blogs, design magazines, and technical journals, thus establishing yourself as a thought leader while generating additional revenue. This dual role allows you to take advantage of the flexibility of freelance writing, where you can set your own schedule and work from anywhere, even in the comfort of your home.
To excel in this field, you will need strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and a keen understanding of contemporary writing tools and trends. Being a self-starter and maintaining proper communication with clients will also be crucial. If you possess these qualities, your freelance writing business could become a significant income stream, enabling you to earn substantially more alongside your primary career.
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.
4. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Becoming a social media influencer could significantly boost your income as an architect by leveraging your industry expertise to attract a large, engaged audience. By sharing valuable insights, design tips, and showcasing your projects on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or TikTok, you could establish yourself as a credible, go-to source in the architecture niche.
Brands are eager to collaborate with influencers who have a loyal following, presenting you with opportunities for sponsored content, partnerships, and affiliate marketing deals. This diversified income stream could complement your primary revenue from architecture, pushing you toward six-figure earnings.
Additionally, you could offer online courses, e-books, or webinars that cater to aspiring architects or homeowners looking to understand architectural principles, providing another revenue avenue. With the right strategy, growing a following and monetizing your expertise could become a substantial income supplement or even evolve into a full-time business.
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.
5. Create an online course ($83.3K/month)
Supplement Your Income with an Online Course
As an architect, you could leverage your expertise to create and sell digital classes that teach specialized architectural skills or knowledge. By identifying educational gaps in your field and developing engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, you could position yourself as a leading instructor in the industry.
Offering flexible, self-paced or cohort-based courses allows you to build a student base and generate passive income. This entrepreneurial venture offers a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents, with small startup costs, by serving eager lifelong learners seeking convenient access to emerging subjects in architecture.
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 podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a game-changer in your journey to make six figures as an architect. By creating a podcast focused on architecture, design trends, or industry insights, you could position yourself as an expert in your field and reach a wider audience. This could open up opportunities for sponsorships, partnerships, and even consulting gigs, all of which can significantly supplement your primary income.
Additionally, a well-received podcast could lead to monetization avenues such as listener donations, premium content subscriptions, or paid interviews. With some initial investment in basic recording equipment like a microphone and headphones, and consistent promotion through social media and online communities, your podcast could become a profitable side business. Given the growing popularity of this medium for both entertainment and information-sharing, a podcast could be an excellent way to diversify your income streams and hit that six-figure mark.
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.
7. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way for architects to supplement their income, potentially helping to achieve a six-figure salary. By sharing valuable content such as project walkthroughs, design tips, and industry insights, architects could attract a wide audience of architecture enthusiasts and other professionals. This could position you as a thought leader in the field and open doors for additional revenue streams such as sponsored content, online courses, or even direct client consultations.
Given YouTube's established monetization system, once you reach the required 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months, you could start earning from ad revenue. Furthermore, successful YouTube channels often leverage their popularity to secure partnerships and brand deals, thereby diversifying income sources. If you have a passion for content creation, this entrepreneurial venture could be a rewarding way to enhance your financial prospects in the architecture field.
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.
8. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be an effective way to supplement your income as an architect. With the vast reach of the internet and the increasing number of people turning to blogs for information, you could establish a platform where you share your expertise on architectural design, trends, and industry insights. As blogging has evolved into a lucrative profession, this side business could potentially turn into a significant income stream over time.
A blog would allow you to connect with a broader audience, potentially attracting clients or collaborations that you might not have found otherwise. Considering that 77% of internet users read blogs and some 409 million people view more than 20 billion pages monthly, there's a huge potential for exposure. By providing valuable, trustworthy content, your blog could grow in followers, leading to opportunities for advertising, sponsored posts, or premium content that could collectively help you achieve six figures as an architect.
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 social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
As an architect, starting a social media marketing agency could help you diversify your income streams and work toward making six figures. You could leverage your existing design and planning skills to create compelling visual content, and use social media marketing tools to automate much of the client engagement process. This side business requires developing a robust social media marketing strategy and creating an agency portfolio to attract potential clients, allowing you to serve them efficiently without dedicating excessive time.
You could use this additional stream of income to cover utility bills, finance continued education, or even save up for a dream vacation. By tapping into your entrepreneurial spirit, this venture could supplement your main income and offer long-term financial stability, bringing you closer to achieving your six-figure goal.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 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.
10. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be a lucrative way for you as an architect to supplement your income and achieve six-figure earnings. Capitalize on your specialized knowledge by selling architectural products such as design templates, customized blueprints, and 3D-printed models. These items can reach a broad audience of DIY homeowners, contractors, and other architects, thanks to the widespread reach of online platforms.
Given the low overhead costs and increased flexibility of ecommerce businesses, you could manage this venture alongside your regular career commitments. By leveraging the convenience and efficiency of online sales, clients worldwide can easily access your products without geographical limitations. This expanded market reach means more potential sales, pushing you closer to that six-figure mark.
Overall, establishing an ecommerce store offers a practical and scalable way for architects to diversify income streams and turn their expertise into a profitable side business or even a full-time enterprise.
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.
11. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As an architect, you could leverage your expertise and network by becoming an affiliate marketer, promoting products or services related to your field. This venture allows you to earn a commission by driving traffic and sales to other companies' offerings, without the need to create or own the products yourself. Given your deep understanding of architectural tools, software, and materials, you could effectively recommend valuable resources that resonate with your audience.
Starting an affiliate marketing business is a low-cost way to supplement your income, requiring minimal upfront investment. By signing up for affiliate programs in your chosen niche and utilizing your marketing skills, you could potentially generate substantial additional revenue. This could be a valuable side hustle or even evolve into a primary income stream, helping you achieve a six-figure salary as an architect.
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.
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.
