Earning money in these times is not hard. Making good money used to mean having a high level of education or a lot of experience in a field. That’s not the case now. I have friends who make six figures selling junk items.
That’s the beauty of learning high-income skills.
Even without a college education, you can earn good money if you have the right skills. Some of these skills are highly niched, while others are very easy to learn. If you are searching for new ways to earn money, then this post is for you.
What are high income skills?
High-income skills can be anything from freelance writing to selling on Etsy. A skill that you can learn and make good money from is a high-income skill for me. Many of these skills are not very niched, so anyone can learn them and get started with earning money.
Top Picks
Skillshare – The best place to learn any skill and start earning money.
Bookkeeping – The most profitable skill for earning money from home. No experience is needed.
Blogging – The best option if you are looking for high pay and flexibility.
Affiliate Marketing – Learn this skill and make money online by promoting products and services you love.
Voice Acting – Earn up to $200 per finished hour as a voice actor (no expertise required).
23 High Income Skills That Make Money
#1. Make Journals
Making journals is a high-demand skill that you can learn to earn good money. Journals are extremely popular, and you don’t have to be a creative person to design journals. There are resources like Canva or PicMonkey that let you design your journals easily. They have many designs, templates, backgrounds, and fonts you can play around with.
Before you get started, you need to do some research on the type of journals you want to create and the category of people you want to target. Finding the right niche is very important to making journals that sell.
Once you are done with creating your journals, you can sell them online on Amazon.
How to get started:
If you want some help with getting started, Udemy has some amazing courses that are low cost and super helpful.
#2. Learn Typography
Did you know that the art of making the text look creative and readable is called typography? It’s one of the oldest art forms, and it is a great skill to make money. Imagine this blog was written in another font that was totally unreadable and visually unpleasant. You wouldn’t even be able to read one word. That’s how important typography is.
Typography is used in all digital and print media. You can create your own fonts and sell them on places like Etsy, Envato Elements, Creative Market, etc.
How to get started:
Get this easy app to learn basic lettering in typography if you are a beginner. You can find more advanced typography courses on Skillshare.
Related:
- 31 Low-Stress High-Paying Jobs in 2024
- 25 Best High-Paying Jobs with No Experience – Entry-Level Jobs in 2024
- 11 High-Paying Jobs from Home in 2024
#3. Care for Plants
Being able to care for plants is a skill that I would love to acquire. I love plants. Every summer I make it a point to plant as many veggies in my garden as possible. Gardening is one of the things that look easy but require a lot of patience and research.
If you have a passion for learning about plants and helping others with their gardens or indoor plants, then becoming a garden consultant is a great business for you. Though you don’t need any degree or qualification to become a garden consultant, having thorough knowledge about different plants, soil, and other related things is important.
How to get started:
If you are great with plants, you can start spreading the word about your skill in your community and promote yourself on social media to get clients.
#4. Learn to Code
In simple terms, coding is the language of computers. Programmers write codes, which are a set of instructions given to the computer. Coding is helpful in creating websites, apps, and basically any software.
If you want to get into a software or programming job, you have to learn coding. You can also start your own business by creating websites for clients. This is one of the high-income skills that can give you a six-figure income.
Having a technical background is recommended but not necessary to code.
How to get started:
Coursera has some highly rated coding courses.
#5. Learn Social Media Marketing
Everything is about social media now. The growth of social media users increased by over 10% between 2021 and 2022. This shows the potential for earning money on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Social media marketing is one of the biggest marketing strategies that can help any business to grow. This opens up a huge potential for social media jobs like social media manager, Pinterest virtual assistants, etc.
Pinterest is one of the social media platforms that have shown huge growth in the last decade. Pinterest virtual assistants can earn around $150 to $400 per client per month depending on the services they offer. Imagine getting paid to play on Pinterest. Cool, right?!
Social media platforms to follow:
Recommended reading:
- How to Work from Home as a Pinterest Virtual Assistant
- Pinteresting Strategies Review: Kick-Start Your Pinterest Course with This Course
How to get started:
Kristin Larsen from Believe in a Budget will show you how to become a pro Pinterest assistant and make money pinning.
#6. Create Printables
Creating amazing printables is a creative skill, but you don’t have to be a creative nerd to do this. Selling printables is pretty easy and very profitable if you know the niche you want to get into. All it takes is brainstorming your designs, creating them on websites like Canva, and selling them in your Etsy store. You can create printables for any occasion. All you need to do is find your niche.
How to get started:
Learn how Julie started selling printables on Etsy without any experience.
#7. Start Tutoring
Did you know that becoming a language tutor can give you a great income? According to Glassdoor, language tutors earn around $26 per hour, and it goes up with experience. The best thing about teaching is you can do it online on your own schedule. You can also teach subjects like math, science, English, history, etc.
There are many tutoring companies like Book Nook that hire online tutors for languages or other subjects. Most of the time, you will need to have some experience and qualifications, but some select companies hire tutors without any experience.
Recommended reading:
- 30 Best Online Tutoring Jobs in 2024 (Earn up to $80/HR)
- Teach English Online: 12 Legitimate Companies to Start Now
Recommended reviews to read:
How to get started:
If you are interested in teaching subjects, having thorough knowledge of them is necessary, so doing a course and gaining comprehensive knowledge about the subject is helpful. You can learn a language from apps like Duolingo.
#8. Sell Your Drawings or Illustrations
Drawing or illustration is one of the creative skills. In fact, both of my daughters are very creative, and I hope someday they follow their passion and make a career from it. Becoming an artist does require a lot of learning, practicing, and finding the right niche.
You can choose any medium or stream of art and earn good money. You can display your art in galleries or promote it on social media, sell hard copy prints, or work for brands on commission work.
How to get started:
You can learn any form of art from websites like Skillshare or Udemy.
#9. Learn Photography
Photography is one of my passions, and it offers a HUGE potential to earn money. If you enjoy taking photos, then practice and make money from it. The best part about photography is anyone can do it; you just have to love the craft.
There are many ways you can make money with photography. You can sell your prints, collaborate with brands, create courses, etc.
How to get started:
If you are a beginner and want to learn photography, there are many good courses on Skillshare and Udemy that can give you a basic understanding. Once you are familiar with the basic skills, go out and practice.
#10. Transcribe
Transcription is the art of converting audio or video files to text. Transcription is used in a lot of industries and is categorized into general, medical, and legal transcription.
Transcription is one of the most popular work-from-home options because of its flexibility and pay. If you are just starting out in transcription, you can expect to earn around $15 to $20 per hour.
Recommended reviews to read:
How to get started:
Learn everything about transcription and how to become a transcriptionist in this free course.
#11. Learn to Proofread
To become a proofreader, you need to have a keen eye for detail; have a good command of the English language; be able to spot mistakes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation; and be able to check documents for any errors.
Though some of the companies that hire proofreaders require a related degree for this job, it’s not mandatory. You can also work directly with publishing houses, self-publishing authors, bloggers, businesses, etc.
How to get started:
If this is something you would consider doing, then register for this free workshop to learn about starting a proofreading business.
#12. Start a Blog
Do you love to share your interests and passions with others? As a blogger, I like to help others, and it has been the most satisfying hustle for me. No matter what your interest is, blogging can give you great income along with the chance to help others in your niche. Keep in mind that blogging is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time to see the money, but you will be rewarded if you keep at it.
Though no particular skill is required to start a blog, having good knowledge of your niche is important.
Recommended reading:
How to get started:
Take this free email course to start your brand-new blog in no time.
#13. Keep Fit
Being a fitness instructor is something many people enjoy, and this job has many benefits. To get into this job, you will need to have a certification. You can work with gyms or start your own business.
The fitness industry is growing fast, and everyone is turning to personal trainers/fitness instructors to help them achieve a healthy lifestyle.
How to get started:
Here is some information about becoming a fitness instructor.
#14. Create Online Courses
Course creation is one of the most profitable ways to earn passive income. If you are an expert or have good knowledge of any topic, you can create courses online and help others.
Course creation is not a hard skill to learn these days with so many legit platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, and ThriveCart. All of these platforms have detailed guides on how to create courses that you can follow. This is surely one of the high income skills you can dig into.
How to get started:
Sign up for Teachable or Kajabi to learn how to create online courses.
#15. Become a Graphic Designer
Graphic design is one of the creative pursuits that are high-paying, and it gives you the chance to work independently. You can start freelancing on websites like Fiverr or build a website and offer your services.
You can use job boards like Authentic Jobs and Dribbble to find suitable graphic design roles and work remotely with a company. This career does not require any degree or qualification, but having good experience counts.
Recommended reading:
Social media platform to follow:
How to get started:
Learning platforms like GetSmarter have comprehensive graphic design courses that are recognized everywhere.
#16. Start Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the ways to earn money as a blogger, and I have to admit, I didn’t know much about it when I started. There are many ways to earn money blogging; for example, through display advertising, product sales, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
If you are new to this term, affiliate marketing is promoting products or services that you align with or believe in. When users purchase or sign up for the products, you get a commission.
The biggest perks of affiliate marketing are you get to share the products you like and it’s a high-income stream.
Recommended reading:
How to get started:
Learn A–Z about affiliate marketing with Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing or take Carly’s course if you are a beginner.
#17. Get into Event Planning
Event planning is a very creative career and a great option if you are someone who loves organizing events. Event planners need to be organized, have meticulous planning skills, and be able to multitask. Though this job does not require you to have any degree to get started, having a certification does help.
You will be working in different areas of event planning, so gaining experience in your niche can boost your chances of landing projects.
This is largely a freelance job, and you can join associations like Meeting Professionals International to network and grow your career.
How to get started:
This is a great course to learn how to become an event planner.
#18. Learn Bookkeeping
Do you like working with numbers? Bookkeeping is one of the high-income skills that are super profitable and don’t require any expertise or experience. Bookkeepers work on financial statements, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll, and they help their clients implement better financial strategies.
Recommended reading:
- How to Become a Certified Bookkeeper without Any Experience
- 15 Companies for Remote Accounting Jobs in 2024
How to get started:
Bookkeeper Launch is a great place to learn how to start your bookkeeping business.
#19. Learn Virtual Assisting
Virtual assisting is a diverse job that lets you work in different areas, and it is super flexible. You can do website management, data entry, book appointments, write content, and more. Here is a list of services you can offer as a virtual assistant.
Companies like Boldly, Fancy Hands, Virtual Office VA, etc. offer virtual assistant jobs. You can also go the solo way by starting your own virtual assistant business. The earning potential here is around $35 to $50 per hour, and you can work as much or as little as you want.
Recommended review to read:
How to get started:
Here is how you can become a virtual assistant without any experience.
#20. Become a Flea Market Flipper
Flea marketing flipping is one of the fun things to do, and learning this skill is worth it. At first, you might think there is no money in flipping junk items, but read this interview with Rob & Melissa to find out how they are earning a six-figure income.
In simple terms, thrift store flipping is finding cheap items at yard sales or weekend markets and selling them for a profit. You need to have an eye for spotting good pieces to sell.
How much you earn as a flea market flipper depends on how much time you want to put in.
How to get started:
Rob and Melissa will show you how to start your own flipping business.
#21. Create Video Games
Video gaming is a big industry now, and there is a huge demand for video game designers. You do not need any qualifications to become a video game designer, but some certifications can help you land a job quickly. Having some programming skills also helps.
The first and most basic skill you need to become a video game designer is your love for gaming. You need to be good at analyzing and have excellent communication skills.
How to get started:
Check out these courses on Coursera to learn video game design.
#22. Become a Freelance Writer
Writing is a creative skill that is often best suited to people who like to work alone. As a freelance writer, you can write for many mediums, become a staff writer, or start your own freelance writing business.
Whichever option you choose, writing can be very fulfilling and can give you the chance to work in your own time and make money. This could be your calling if you are the creative type.
Recommended reading:
How to get started:
Sign up for courses on Coursera or Udemy.
#23. Sell Items with Amazon FBA
Did you know that you can sell stuff online and make a liveable income? Yes, you can. With Amazon FBA, you can earn money selling stuff, and the biggest plus is you don’t need to worry about shipping or customer service. Everything is handled by Amazon. It’s super easy and very profitable.
You don’t need any experience to start this hustle, and if this is something that interests you, here is an interview I did with Jessica, who earned over $100,000 in her first year of selling on Amazon.
Recommended reading:
How to get started:
Read this article from Amazon on how to get started.
Tips to Choose a High-Income Skill
Before you jump in to find a high paying skill, check the following tips:
- Is the skill related to your passion or interest? You want to find a skill that you love.
- Is there a good demand for this skill? Check job boards and freelance websites to check the demand.
- How much time do you need to invest to learn this skill? If you are short on time, then choosing a skill that takes time to learn can be overwhelming.
- What is the money-making potential? This is the most important thing to check before you dive in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best high-income skill to learn?
It depends on your income goals and your interests. If you are aiming for a six-figure income, then choose skills like coding, affiliate marketing, proofreading, graphic designing, etc.
How should I choose which skill to learn?
Choosing a skill can be a daunting task, but if you have a clear mind about what your passion is, then it becomes really easy. For example, I love photography, and I am always digging deep into this art form, learning more every day.
Are there any high-income skills without a degree?
There are many skills that don’t need a traditional college education. Skills like proofreading, bookkeeping, freelance writing, etc. do not require a degree to get started if you take the freelancing path.
Where can I learn high-paying skills?
Depending on the type of skill you want to learn, there are many online platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, and GetSmarter that have so many good courses.
Final Thoughts
Whether your goal is to learn something new or earn good money, you can do it by learning high-income skills on websites like Udemy or Skillshare.
High-paying skills can help you earn good money even if you don’t have a degree. This is the biggest perk of learning these skills. Even if you are not a graduate or you have zero experience, you can earn a great income if you are ready to learn.
