A high-income skill can allow you to boost your income and transform your financial trajectory. But what if you don’t currently have any high-income skills? That’s okay! Luckily, it is entirely possible to learn a new skill for which businesses will pay top dollar.
So, are you ready to learn more about this incredible opportunity? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular high-income skills that you can learn to increase your income.
How high-income skills can transform your finances
Before we dive into the skills that you can learn, let’s consider how powerful high-income skills can be. The goal of building a high-income skill is to land a higher-paying job or start a successful side hustle to boost your income.
Of course, the idea of making more money is an exciting prospect for most of us. But simply increasing your income without a financial goal in mind can lead to more lifestyle inflation than you truly want in your budget.
With that, it’s smart to consider what you’d like to do with the extra funds ahead of time. A few amazing choices include paying off your debt, saving for retirement, or upgrading your lifestyle in small ways that really matter to you.
Understanding your money goals ahead of time can help you use your newfound income in ways that matter to you. Plus, the knowledge of what you plan to spend the money on will help you find the motivation to learn a new skill.
13 High-income skills to help you earn more money
Learning these high-income skills can take your finances to a whole other level! So, here’s a look at some of the best-paid skills out there.
1. Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship covers a wide swath of opportunities in the market. But essentially, entrepreneurs create businesses that sell products or services.
Successful entrepreneurs possess unique high-income skills, including effective time management, strategic thinking, resilience, networking, and more. Plus, any successful entrepreneur will get started with a baseline of curiosity.
With that, you can explore limitless opportunities as an entrepreneur. As for potential earnings, the sky is the limit because you can build your brand and business as much as you want! Some of the most famous entrepreneurs, such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, have earned billions of dollars.
The median income for entrepreneurs is around $51,419. But you may sink time into a fledging business that never makes a dollar. If you can build a business that generates a high income, this could be a great opportunity.
2. Freelance writing
Freelance writing provides a great opportunity to earn a great income. As you build your skill set, it is likely that you will run into lower-paying work because there are always people trying to get cheap work. But as you prove your writing prowess, you can increase your rates quickly.
Personally, I work as a freelance writer and regularly earn five figures each month. Want to give freelance writing a try? Take a look at our full guide to help you get started.
3. Web design
A website is an essential part of a business because it establishes and promotes brick-and-mortar businesses and online businesses. With that, it is not surprising that web designers are able to charge a premium for their services.
Web designers can charge anywhere from $30 to $80 per hour. But as an experienced web designer, you should expect to earn approximately $75 per hour.
4. Software development
Software developers create apps. These apps might include games for your phone or resources for a website. In some cases, these applications can be connected to websites. But in other cases, these applications will only be accessible as a stand-alone option.
The average salary for a freelance software developer is $93,982. In this growing field, Glassdoor reports salaries as high as $141,000. So, needless to say, this is one of the best paying high income skills you can learn!
5. Public speaking
Public speaking is a skill set that most of us simply don’t have. In fact, the most common fear is the fear of public speaking. Experts say that about 77% of the population is affected by this fear.
Since so many are uncomfortable with public speaking, it is not a shock that great public speakers can command a higher salary. Whether you have a job that entails a lot of public speaking or become a public speaker available to talk to audiences worldwide, it is possible to increase your income through this skill.
So, if you decide to become a speaker for hire, the topic will affect the price you are able to command. But for most topics, you should earn at least $1,000 per speaking engagement. Find out more about pricing yourself as a public speaker with this guide offered for free through the Havard Business Review.
6. Sales
A successful salesperson can boost their income because many work on commission. So, the more you sell, the more you make! In order to become a successful salesperson, you’ll likely need some training. But part of being successful with this skill involves having a likable personality with a gregarious nature.
According to PayScale, the average base salary for a salesperson is $45,975 per year. However, that can be somewhat misleading because many salespeople earn additional income through bonuses and commissions. With those numbers included, salespeople can regularly earn closer to $80,000.
7. Financial skills
The financial industry is a very broad space filled with many high-paying jobs. A few of the higher-paying jobs in this space include economists, financial managers, accountants, and investors.
In most cases, you’ll need to gain these high-income skills through a college education. However, it is possible to break into the field without any formal training.
8. Cybersecurity
The vast world of cybersecurity involves protecting data from bad actors. Unfortunately, there are more attempts to steal data each and every year. But as a cybersecurity expert, that means you’ll have plenty of job security.
According to ZipRecruiter, cybersecurity specialists earn an average of $111,052 per year. But it is possible to earn up to $200,000 with this valuable skill set.
9. Digital content creation
The demand for digital content is constantly growing. With that growing demand, you have the opportunity to build this skill and command a high reward.
Digital content can include anything from creating blog posts and social media posts to videos and audio. Although the amount you are able to earn will vary, on average, you’ll have the opportunity to earn around $50 per hour.
10. Graphic designer
Graphic designers are tasked with the creation of visually appealing images for businesses of all shapes and sizes. As a graphic designer, you’ll need a combination of creativity and specialized skills to make the client’s vision come to life.
So, as a graphic designer, you can expect to earn around $75 per hour. Like most of these skills, you may make less as you build up your portfolio. But once you have a great portfolio, you can start to charge higher rates.
11. Digital marketing
Digital marketing helps online business owners reach their target customers. As a digital marketer, you will help business owners accomplish their objective of reaching more customers.
Since there is such a demand for digital marketers, you have the potential to earn up to six figures with this skill set.
12. Audio and video production
The plethora of podcasts and videos available on the internet has led to an increasing demand for people with audio and video production skills. These skills would allow you to clean up audio or video files from a less than perfect original into a file ready for publication.
This skill set opens the door to earning around $78,000 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.
13. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO, otherwise known as search engine optimization, is one of the highest income skills that are in high demand. Essentially, as an SEO expert, you work to help a client’s website rank at the top of search engine results. Since everyone wants their brand found first, this creates a huge demand for this skill!
According to the Search Engine Journal, SEO experts charge an average of $119 per hour. That can add up quickly!
How to gain high-income skills
The high-income skills above can help you boost your earnings. But what if you don’t already possess one of these skills? That’s okay! You can absolutely learn a new skill that will help your income skyrocket.
The only way to learn a new skill is to invest in yourself. You may choose to invest your time or money to master a new skill that will lead to more income. Free and paid courses are a great place to get started.
For example, our free course offers guidance on how to set up a side hustle quickly. So, there is no shortage of courses available to help you learn high-income skills. Additionally, you can check out YouTube as another free resource to help you learn new skills.
Learn a high-income skill to boost your income
Learning high-income skills can transform your finances and your life. So, are you ready to make a change? Start by considering which high-income skills seems interesting to you. From there, look for courses that can help you harness this skill into an income.
Who knows maybe you will build a six-figure brand, or find an excellent work-from-home job using your newfound skill!