How to Make 6 Figures As A Project Manager? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a project manager? Good for you! Being a project manager 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 project manager - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
As a project manager, you could supplement your income and work towards making six figures by creating and selling online courses. By leveraging your specialized skills and knowledge, you could develop engaging video lessons and supplementary materials to fill educational gaps and teach aspiring professionals.
With the flexibility to offer self-paced or cohort-based structures, building a student base provides significant passive income potential. For entrepreneurial-minded project managers who enjoy sharing information, launching an online course presents a lucrative way to monetize your instructional talents with minimal startup costs, reaching lifelong learners eager for convenient and accessible education in emerging subjects.
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.
2. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could significantly boost your income as a project manager by providing a platform to share your expertise, insights, and best practices with a broader audience. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and millions of people viewing blog pages monthly, your content has the potential to reach a vast audience, thus opening up various monetization opportunities such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and ads.
Additionally, blogging as a side hustle or full-time profession is flexible and location-independent, allowing you to generate income on your terms. Given that blogs are one of the most trustworthy information sources, your professional credibility as a project manager can further enhance your blog’s appeal, leading to increased traffic and higher earnings.
Moreover, a well-structured blog with a robust mailing list and a consistent posting routine can keep your audience engaged, thereby cementing your authority in your niche. This consistent engagement could translate into substantial revenue streams, making it a viable path toward achieving a six-figure income.
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.
3. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative side business that complements your project management skills and helps you reach six figures. With relatively low time commitment, you could take advantage of social media marketing tools to automate many tasks, allowing you to focus on high-level strategies and client acquisition. This is especially useful if you're looking to cover additional expenses, finance education, or save for a vacation.
As a project manager, your ability to organize, strategize, and execute tasks efficiently could translate well into managing multiple social media campaigns. Creating an agency portfolio to showcase your services can attract a steady stream of clients, making it easier to scale your business and secure a reliable income stream. By leveraging your existing skills and focusing on delivering results, you could turn your side hustle into a significant source of revenue.
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.
4. Digital products ($261K/month)
Digital products are a top-rated way to supplement your income as a project manager. By leveraging your industry expertise, you could create and sell information-based products like ebooks or online courses tailored to project management. These digital products are easy to develop and can continue to generate revenue long after the initial effort is made.
With digital products, you also have the flexibility to build membership sites or online communities where you could offer exclusive content, tips, and best practices for project management. This not only opens up multiple streams of income but also allows you to establish yourself as an authority in your field. The best part is, there’s no need for physical inventory, so you could start earning from your website directly, without the hassles of traditional business logistics.
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.
5. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
As a project manager looking to make six figures, venturing into affiliate marketing could be a strategic move to supplement your income. Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies' products or services and earning a commission on sales generated through your referral links. Since you don't have to create or own the products, the startup costs are minimal, making it an accessible side business to launch alongside your full-time role.
To start this low-cost business, you could sign up for affiliate programs in a niche that you’re passionate about or already knowledgeable in. By leveraging your existing organizational and management skills, you could efficiently drive traffic and sales, boosting your potential earnings. This approach allows you to diversify your income streams and could be a significant step towards achieving a six-figure income.
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.
6. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a project manager and help you reach six figures. By leveraging your expertise to offer personalized guidance, you can assist clients through professional transitions and growth opportunities, which creates a high demand for your specialized advice.
You could tailor sessions to help clients with resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement goals, capitalizing on your project management experience. This business offers flexibility for in-person or virtual meetings, allowing you to fit it into your existing schedule. Engaging in career coaching could enable you to monetize your motivational skills and HR expertise, paving the way for significant additional income.
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.
7. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a fantastic way for you to make six figures as a project manager by leveraging your expertise and experiences. This business venture allows you to share valuable, industry-specific insights and tips with a broader audience, establishing yourself as a credible and knowledgeable authority in the field. With a carefully chosen niche and engaging content, you could attract a consistent listener base, opening opportunities for sponsorships, advertisements, and even paid subscriptions.
To get started on a budget, you would need to pick a niche topic that resonates with both your passions and a potential audience. Basic recording equipment like a microphone and headphones, combined with a cost-effective hosting platform, are your primary tools to publish episodes. By diligently promoting your podcast through social media and online communities, you could expand your reach, increase your listener base, and subsequently, your income potential.
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.
8. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an ecommerce store could be an exciting way for you to supplement your income and potentially make six figures as a project manager. With the massive growth and convenience of online shopping, launching an ecommerce business allows you to leverage your project management skills in a new arena. You'll experience lower overhead costs, increased flexibility, and the ability to reach a wider audience compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.
As a project manager, you already possess key skills such as planning, budgeting, and resource management, all of which are crucial for running a successful ecommerce store. You'll need to set up a website where customers can easily browse and purchase your products, implement payment processing software, and manage inventory tracking. This venture could serve as a lucrative side business, or even evolve into a full-time career, providing you the opportunity to diversify income streams and achieve financial goals.
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.
9. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could provide an exciting avenue for project managers to supplement their income and even pave the way towards earning six figures. By leveraging your expertise in project management, you could create content that teaches valuable industry insights, shares personal experiences, and provides tips for others in the field. YouTube's established monetization system offers various income streams, such as ad revenue, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.
With dedication and strategic promotion, you could build a substantial following. Achieving 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in 12 months allows you to join the YouTube Partner Program, enabling you to monetize your content. This entrepreneurial approach could not only diversify your income but also establish your personal brand as a thought leader in project management.
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. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Leveraging your role as a project manager, you could harness your expertise and create a brand as a social media influencer. By sharing insights, tips, and experiences related to project management on platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, or Instagram, you could establish credibility in your field and connect with a large audience of professionals and aspiring project managers.
Brands and companies often seek influencers to advocate for their products or services, especially within specific niches. Once you establish a strong following, you could earn significant income through sponsored posts, brand partnerships, and even creating and selling your own digital products such as e-books or online courses.
Starting a side business as a social media influencer allows you to diversify your income streams and potentially reach six-figure earnings by building a loyal audience who trusts your recommendations and values your professional expertise.
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.
11. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
As a project manager, starting a freelance writing business could provide you with a valuable opportunity to supplement your income and work towards a six-figure salary. With the ability to work from home at any time and define your own work schedule, freelance writing offers the flexibility to fit seamlessly alongside your primary career.
By leveraging your strong writing skills, adherence to deadlines, and staying current with writing tools and trends, you could attract clients across various niches. This additional income stream not only diversifies your revenue but also enhances your ability to meet financial goals more swiftly.
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.
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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.
