How to Make 6 Figures As A Quality Assurance Engineer? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a quality assurance engineer? Good for you! Being a quality assurance engineer 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 quality assurance engineer - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income as a Quality Assurance Engineer by allowing you to share your expert insights, tips, and experiences with a broader audience. With blogs rated as the 5th most trustworthy source of online information and 77% of internet users actively reading blogs, there's a robust market for high-quality, trustworthy content. By focusing on a niche you enjoy and leveraging your industry expertise, you could attract a dedicated readership.
This increases your potential to earn through advertising, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. Moreover, as your blog grows, you may explore additional revenue streams such as offering online courses, consultancy services, and eBooks. Creating a reliable mailing list and maintaining a consistent posting schedule could help keep your audience engaged and maximize your earning potential, potentially enabling you to hit that six-figure income mark.
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.
2. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative side hustle or even develop into a main source of income, helping you reach six figures as a quality assurance engineer. By choosing a niche that leverages your QA expertise—such as discussing industry trends, reviewing QA tools, or sharing career advice—you could attract a dedicated audience that values specialized knowledge.
Investing in basic recording equipment and utilizing free or affordable hosting platforms means you could start this venture with minimal upfront costs. As your audience grows, you might attract sponsors or advertisers, offering streams of additional income. Moreover, engaging with online communities and promoting your podcast through social media could amplify your reach and solidify your reputation as an authority in the quality assurance field.
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. Digital products ($261K/month)
Starting a side business with digital products could significantly boost your income potential as a quality assurance engineer. Since digital products, like software tools, eBooks, or online courses, are easy to create and share, you could leverage your expertise to develop valuable resources for other QA professionals or those looking to enter the field.
Imagine creating a software tool that automates parts of the testing process or an online course that teaches advanced QA techniques—both can be sold online with minimal overhead. Additionally, because digital products don't require physical inventory, you can directly sell them from your website, maximizing profit margins and eliminating the complexities of traditional business models.
The demand for high-quality digital products continues to grow, and as someone with technical skills and industry knowledge, you are in an excellent position to meet that demand. This entrepreneurial route could be your pathway to earning six figures while simultaneously providing value to others in your profession.
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.
4. Start a freelance writing business ($65.5K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could be a highly lucrative way to supplement your income as a quality assurance engineer. With the flexibility to define your own work schedule and the ability to work from home, you could easily integrate writing projects into your existing routine.
Leveraging your industry knowledge, you could focus on niches related to technology, software development, or quality assurance, potentially commanding higher rates due to your expertise. Possessing strong writing skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and being a self-starter are crucial qualities that could help you establish a successful freelance writing business. If you stay up-to-date with current writing tools and trends, you could increase your income and reach the six-figure mark by offering high-quality, specialized content.
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.
5. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
Starting an eCommerce store could significantly supplement your income as a Quality Assurance Engineer, potentially helping you reach a six-figure salary. By leveraging the lower overhead costs and increased reach of online selling, you could effectively market your products or services to a global audience without the constraints of a traditional brick-and-mortar business. This flexibility allows you to manage your ecommerce store outside of your primary job hours.
The booming eCommerce market offers unparalleled convenience to both sellers and buyers, making it easier than ever to attract and retain customers. Setting up an ecommerce store involves creating a website, integrating payment processing software, and managing inventory—all of which can be streamlined with modern eCommerce platforms. Such an entrepreneurial venture could not only provide additional financial stability but also offer valuable experience in running a business, adding another layer of skill to your professional repertoire.
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.
6. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could significantly boost your income as a quality assurance engineer. You could provide personalized guidance, support, and strategy services to clients navigating professional transitions and growth opportunities, leveraging your industry experience.
Offering custom sessions on resume building, interview prep, and workplace advancement, you could help clients achieve their career aspirations while monetizing your expertise. With the flexibility for in-person or virtual meetings, you could build a diverse client base and set your own schedule, creating an additional revenue stream that complements your primary role.
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. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Becoming an affiliate marketer could be a lucrative side income stream for you as a quality assurance engineer, given the opportunities to earn commissions by promoting other companies' products or services. Since this business model requires minimal upfront investment, it makes for a low-risk venture that you could pursue alongside your full-time job. By leveraging your analytical skills, you could effectively identify high-performing niches and products that resonate with your audience.
Additionally, your technical background might give you a competitive edge in optimizing your marketing strategies and driving traffic to your referral links efficiently. With the right approach and dedication, affiliate marketing could help you significantly supplement your income and potentially reach six figures. This entrepreneurial path not only diversifies your income sources but also offers flexibility and growth opportunities outside your regular job.
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.
8. Create an online course ($91.9K/month)
Starting an online course could significantly boost your income as a quality assurance engineer by allowing you to monetize your specialized skills and knowledge. You could identify educational gaps in the QA field, such as emerging automation tools or best practices in software testing, and create engaging video lessons along with supplementary materials. This would cater to lifelong learners seeking convenient access to up-to-date information.
Given the flexibility to offer self-paced or cohort-based structures, you could build a loyal student base, generating passive income while continuing your full-time job. With minimal startup costs, launching an online course platform can be a lucrative side business, allowing you to share your expertise and position yourself as a thought leader in the QA industry.
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. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Starting a social media influencer journey could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a Quality Assurance Engineer. Utilizing platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, you could share valuable insights, tips, and tutorials related to software testing, automation tools, and best practices in QA. By creating content that resonates with your peers and other tech enthusiasts, you could establish yourself as a credible source in the industry.
Brands recognize the value of influencers and often seek partnerships to connect with their target audience. By building a large, engaged following, you could attract sponsorship deals, paid collaborations, and other monetization opportunities. Leveraging your expertise in Quality Assurance, you could turn your passion for technology into a profitable side business or even a full-time venture, potentially helping you to reach that six-figure milestone.
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.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a Quality Assurance Engineer, propelling you closer to making six figures. Whether you're looking to clear your utility bills, finance your college education, or save for a vacation, this side business offers tremendous flexibility. Leveraging social media marketing tools allows for automation, which means you do not need to commit an extensive amount of time, leaving ample room for your primary career responsibilities.
Developing a strong social media marketing strategy is key to serving customers efficiently, and creating an agency portfolio will help market your services to prospective clients. This approach enables you to tap into a vast market with minimal upfront investment, maximizing your income potential. Once your agency gains traction, scaling up could significantly boost your revenue, adding to the financial stability and independence you desire.
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.
11. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a quality assurance engineer. By sharing your expertise on topics such as best practices, tools, and methodologies in QA, you could attract a following of both novice and experienced engineers looking to improve their skills. Educational content, tutorials, and in-depth reviews can help build your reputation as an authority in the field.
Once you reach the required threshold of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours, you could monetize your channel through the YouTube Partner Program. The established monetization system on YouTube, combined with the growth of your audience, could yield a steady stream of passive income. By promoting your channel on social media and engagement strategies, your YouTube channel could evolve from a side hustle into a significant revenue generator, helping you inch closer to a six-figure income.
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.
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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.
