How to Make 6 Figures As A ? (11 Best Ways in 2024)

Updated: July 1st, 2024

So you want to make six figures as a ? Good for you! Being a 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 - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)

Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative way for a DevOps engineer to supplement their income and potentially make six figures. Whether you want to clear your utility bills, finance your college education, or save for a vacation, this side business could provide the financial flexibility you desire.

You wouldn't need to commit a significant amount of time to manage this venture, as the automation tools available in social media marketing can handle much of the workload. With a solid social media marketing strategy, you could efficiently serve customers and build a strong agency portfolio to attract new clients. This entrepreneurial endeavor could not only diversify your income stream but also leverage your existing technical skills for greater financial gain.

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 I Started A $80K/Month Content Writing Business

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2. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)

Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income as a DevOps engineer by leveraging your technical expertise to reach a broader audience. By writing about industry insights, best practices, and how-to guides, you could attract a substantial number of readers—77% of internet users read blogs, making it a compelling opportunity. The credibility and trustworthiness of blogs also enhance your chances of building a loyal audience and potentially monetizing through ads, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing.

Given that blogs are now one of the most trustworthy sources of online information, you could establish yourself as an authority in the DevOps field. This could open additional revenue streams, such as offering consulting services or selling digital products like eBooks and courses. Furthermore, the location-independent nature of blogging allows you to manage and grow this side business on your terms, irrespective of your primary work schedule.

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

How This 28-Year-Old Couple Quit Their Jobs And Make $20K/Month Running A Blog

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3. Digital products ($261K/month)

Supplementing your income by selling digital products could be an excellent way to make six figures as a DevOps engineer. Digital products are incredibly popular, easy to create, and can generate a passive income stream. You could develop a software tool, create an online course on DevOps best practices, or even write an ebook about your experiences and insights in the field.

The great news is that you don't need to hire anyone else; you have the skills to create these products yourself. Without the need for physical inventory, you could sell these digital items directly from your website, leveraging your technical know-how to automate the process. This flexibility allows you to experiment with different product ideas and find what resonates most with your audience.

By capitalizing on your specialized knowledge and the growing demand for digital products, you could easily create a side business or even a primary business that significantly boosts your income.

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 (?)

How We Created A $30K/Month Marketplace Of Photo Filters And Digital Assets For Creatives

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.

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4. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)

Starting a podcast could help you make six figures as a DevOps engineer by leveraging your unique expertise and insights to attract a dedicated audience. By focusing on a niche topic within the DevOps field, you could create valuable content that addresses common challenges, best practices, and emerging trends in the industry. This specialized content could attract a loyal following of fellow professionals, eager to learn from your experiences.

With a growing audience, you might attract sponsors and advertisers relevant to the tech industry, providing a stream of supplemental income. Additionally, your podcast could open up opportunities for consulting gigs, speaking engagements, and even full-time business ventures based around your authority in the DevOps space. By continuously sharing high-quality, engaging content, you could transform your podcast from a side hustle into a lucrative revenue stream.

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

How I Started A Successful Podcast Production Company

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.

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5. Create an online course ($83.3K/month)

Creating an online course could significantly supplement your income as a DevOps engineer by leveraging your specialized skills and experience to fill educational gaps in this high-demand field. You could develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials on essential DevOps topics, such as continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), cloud infrastructure management, and automation, to attract a broad audience of aspiring professionals and organizations looking to upskill their teams.

By launching a self-paced or cohort-based course platform, you could tap into the lucrative passive income potential, earning revenue through course subscriptions and one-time purchases. With relatively small startup costs and the flexibility to teach on your schedule, an online course could serve as a profitable side business or even a full-time venture, allowing you to achieve six figures while sharing your knowledge with eager lifelong learners.

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 (?)

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6. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)

Starting a social media influencer journey could significantly boost your income and even propel you to a six-figure salary as a DevOps engineer. By leveraging your expertise, you could establish credibility in the tech industry, attracting a vast audience on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. Brands are eager to engage with influencers to connect with their target audience, and your unique insights into DevOps could make you a valuable partner.

You could share tutorials, industry insights, and practical tips, resonating with both aspiring and experienced engineers. With the right strategy, consistently producing relevant content will grow your following, and as you build your audience, opportunities for sponsorships, partnerships, and ad revenue will increase. This entrepreneurial approach not only supplements your primary income but could also lead to entirely new revenue streams, enhancing your financial stability and professional brand.

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 I Started A $2.5K/Month Blog About Motherhood, Life And Travel

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7. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)

Starting an ecommerce store could be an effective way to supplement your income as a DevOps engineer and eventually help you reach a six-figure salary. Given your technical expertise, you could easily set up and manage an online storefront, utilizing your skills to solve complex problems like inventory tracking and payment processing. The lower overhead costs and increasing consumer preference for online shopping offer a lucrative opportunity to generate additional revenue.

By leveraging your understanding of automation and cloud services, you could streamline the setup and maintenance of your ecommerce platform, freeing up more time to focus on scaling the business. Additionally, the flexibility and broad reach eCommerce provides means you could operate this business alongside your main career, potentially turning a side income into a significant revenue stream. With strategic planning and effective use of technology, you could successfully build an ecommerce business that substantially boosts your overall earnings.

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

How I Started A $20K/Month Southern Inspired Candle Business

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8. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)

Starting a YouTube channel could be an excellent way to supplement your income as a DevOps engineer and potentially scale it to a six-figure business. By sharing your expertise through tutorials, tips, and insights on tools and best practices, you could attract a significant following of aspiring engineers and tech enthusiasts. The established monetization system on YouTube allows you to earn revenue through ads once you join the YouTube Partner Program, which requires at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months.

In addition to ad revenue, you could explore other income streams such as sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and selling your own courses and merchandise. With persistence and quality content, you could build a robust audience base, turning your passion for content creation into a lucrative side business. The success stories on YouTube can serve as inspiration and encouragement, proving that achieving six figures through this platform is entirely possible.

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

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9. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)

Adding an affiliate marketing venture to your portfolio as a DevOps engineer could significantly boost your income and potentially help you reach a six-figure annual salary. By promoting other companies' products or services and earning commissions on sales made through your referrals, you could capitalize on your technical skills and online presence to drive substantial traffic. This low-cost business model is advantageous as you don't need to create or own any products yourself, allowing you to focus on marketing and promotion.

Starting with affiliate marketing only requires signing up for affiliate programs in your chosen niche, receiving unique tracking links, and driving sales through your referrals. The minimal upfront investment makes it a highly accessible option, especially for those on a budget. By leveraging your existing skills and network, you could create a new income stream that complements your primary role as a DevOps engineer, offering you greater financial flexibility and growth opportunities.

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 (?)

My Affiliate Marketing Business Earns $500K/Year Profit [No Employees]

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10. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)

Starting a freelance writing business could be an excellent way to supplement your income and make strides toward earning six figures as a DevOps engineer. Given the flexibility of freelance work, you could easily manage writing projects from home in your spare time, setting your own schedule around your primary job. You could focus on niches related to technology, cloud computing, or other areas where your specialized knowledge as a DevOps engineer would shine, allowing you to command higher rates for your expertise.

Freelance writing could help you diversify your income streams while honing valuable skills like effective communication, meeting deadlines, and staying updated with industry trends. Additionally, becoming a self-starter and mastering cutting-edge writing tools could further enhance your ability to attract and retain clients, ultimately contributing significantly to your six-figure income goal.

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 (?)

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11. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)

Launching a career coaching business could significantly supplement your income as a DevOps engineer and help you reach six figures. You could leverage your industry knowledge to offer personalized guidance, support, and strategy services to clients navigating professional transitions or seeking growth opportunities in tech fields. By designing custom sessions on resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement, you could create another revenue stream while helping others achieve their career goals.

With the flexibility for in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a broad client base and empower breakthroughs through specialized advice and accountability. This entrepreneurial venture could be especially rewarding if you possess natural motivational abilities and human resources expertise, allowing you to monetize your skills effectively and set your own schedule. As your reputation grows, this side business could transition into a full-fledged enterprise, significantly boosting your earning potential.

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 (?)

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meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.