How to Make 6 Figures As A It Director? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a IT director? Good for you! Being a IT director 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 IT director - 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 highly lucrative side business for an IT director looking to make six figures. By leveraging your expertise in technology and automation, you could streamline operations using social media marketing tools, thus, requiring minimal time commitment. This allows you to efficiently manage the agency alongside your primary job.
Developing a robust social media marketing strategy and creating a compelling agency portfolio could enable you to attract and serve a wide range of clients. Whether it's clearing utility bills, financing education, or saving for a vacation, the potential for additional income through this venture is substantial. This entrepreneurial pursuit not only supplements your income but also diversifies your professional portfolio.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $500,000/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.
2. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could significantly supplement your income as an IT director by leveraging your extensive knowledge and experience to create valuable content that resonates with a tech-savvy audience. By choosing a niche that you're passionate about, such as emerging tech trends, cybersecurity, or IT leadership, you could attract a dedicated listener base interested in your insights, thereby opening up sponsorship and advertising opportunities.
Investing in basic recording equipment and utilizing affordable hosting platforms allows you to manage startup costs efficiently. As your audience grows, the potential for monetization through sponsored content, partnerships, and premium subscriptions increases, potentially allowing you to generate a substantial side income. Ultimately, a successful podcast not only enhances your professional brand but could help you reach six figures by diversifying your revenue streams.
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.
3. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As an IT director, you could supplement your income and potentially reach a six-figure annual earnings mark by venturing into affiliate marketing. This business model allows you to leverage your analytical skills to promote other companies' tech products or services, earning commissions for every sale made through your referrals. Given your expertise, you could seamlessly integrate affiliate marketing into your current role without the need for significant upfront investments.
To get started, you could sign up for affiliate programs in your chosen tech niche, whether it's cybersecurity tools, cloud services, or software solutions, and begin driving traffic and sales through your unique tracking links. With your understanding of digital marketing and technology, you could create compelling content that attracts a dedicated audience, thereby maximizing your earning potential. This supplementary income stream could serve as a low-cost, high-reward venture that complements your existing responsibilities and financial goals.
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.
4. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
As an IT director with a knack for leadership and technical expertise, you could harness your industry knowledge to become a social media influencer, supplementing your income and opening doors to new revenue streams. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok offer you opportunities to share insights, tutorials, and advice, building a loyal following while establishing your credibility in a niche IT market.
The growing importance of social media has led many brands to collaborate with influencers to reach their target audience. By leveraging your expertise, you could attract partnerships with tech companies, software vendors, and professional services, generating significant income through sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content.
These entrepreneurial ventures could help you achieve six-figure earnings while enhancing your professional profile and creating a strong personal brand within the tech industry.
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. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
Supplementing your income as an IT director by starting a freelance writing business could open new revenue streams and accelerate your journey to making six figures. Freelance writing offers the flexibility to work on diverse assignments from the comfort of your home, allowing you to manage your workload around your IT director responsibilities. With strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and up-to-date knowledge of writing tools, you could quickly establish yourself as a sought-after freelance writer.
Your expertise in the tech industry could give you a unique edge in niches such as cybersecurity, software development, or IT management, where high-quality content is in high demand. By leveraging your existing knowledge and communication skills, you could attract premium clients willing to pay top dollar for your insights, further propelling your earnings. If you're a self-starter who stays on the cutting edge of both IT and writing trends, freelance writing could be a lucrative and flexible side business.
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.
6. Digital products ($261K/month)
Creating and selling digital products could be a highly effective way for you to supplement your income and potentially reach six figures as an IT director. Digital products are particularly well-suited for IT professionals because they can easily develop software-based items like apps or games, information-based items like ebooks or courses, or even create a membership site or community. The digital nature of these products means you don’t have to worry about inventory, shipping, or manufacturing costs, making it a low-risk, high-reward venture.
Another advantage is the seamless scalability. Once created, digital products can be sold infinitely without additional effort on your part. Your expertise in IT not only lends credibility to your products but also provides you with the skills needed to create and maintain them efficiently. This could turn a side project into a lucrative stream of passive income, aiding you in reaching that six-figure mark.
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.
7. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an eCommerce store could be a lucrative way to supplement your income and even achieve six-figure earnings as an IT director. With your technical background, you could efficiently manage the necessary elements such as setting up a website, integrating payment processing software, and utilizing shopping cart and inventory tracking systems.
Ecommerce businesses offer substantial advantages like lower overhead costs, increased flexibility, and the ability to reach a global audience, which could amplify your profit margins. Given the booming trend of online shopping for its convenience and efficiency, an eCommerce venture could provide a substantial secondary income stream.
Considering your likely proficiency with technology and systems management, you could leverage your skills to streamline operations and drive your eCommerce business to success. Starting this side business could serve not only as a financial boost but also as a rewarding entrepreneurial endeavor.
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.
8. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
Starting an online course could help you make six figures as an IT director by leveraging your specialized knowledge to fill educational gaps in the IT field. As an entrepreneurial course creator, you could develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials on key topics where you're an expert, such as cybersecurity, network management, or emerging technologies.
By offering these courses on self-paced or cohort-based structures, you have the potential to generate passive income while serving a community of eager lifelong learners. With minimal startup costs and the flexibility to work around your schedule, this side business can become a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents and provide valuable education to a global audience.
How much you can make: $350 — $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.
9. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as an IT director. By sharing your expertise through tutorials, industry insights, and tech reviews, you could attract a large following and benefit from YouTube's established monetization system, such as ad revenue, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.
With dedication and consistent content creation, reaching the required 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to join the YouTube Partner Program is achievable. Leveraging your unique perspective and knowledge in IT, you could build a successful channel that not only brings in additional income but also enhances your professional brand and opens up further entrepreneurial opportunities.
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.
10. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative opportunity to supplement your income as an IT Director, enabling you to potentially reach six figures. By providing personalized guidance and strategy services to clients, you could leverage your extensive professional experience and HR expertise to help others navigate their career paths.
Designing custom sessions for resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement not only empowers clients but also allows you to monetize your motivational and speaking skills. With the flexibility to offer in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a robust client base, expanding your reach while maintaining control over your schedule.
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.
11. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could be a highly effective way for an IT director to supplement their income and potentially achieve six figures. Your deep industry knowledge and experience can serve as valuable content that attracts a significant audience, especially since 77% of internet users read blogs. With blogs being rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information, your insights could become a trusted resource for many seeking expertise in the IT field.
Moreover, blogging offers a flexible and location-independent way to generate revenue, either via ad placements, sponsored posts, or even selling specialized products and services. By building a compelling content strategy and a robust mailing list, you could create a steady stream of income outside your primary job, enabling you to leverage your existing skills into an entrepreneurial venture.
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.
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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.
