It's common knowledge that doctors, lawyers, surgeons, dentists, and other professional skills are high-income jobs. Experts in these fields spent years of training and certification to become qualified professionals.

However, not only professionals can earn a high income.

Whether you're looking for ways to increase your earnings or a potential lucrative side-hustle, this post is for you.

Moreover, if there are new skills that you want to get your feet wet with, you will find all the information here helpful. Plus, most of it doesn't require a college education at all!

Today, let's talk about the most in-demand and high income skills in the job market.

Related readings:
21 Legit Online Jobs To Make Extra Money As A College Student
21 Best And Most Successful Businesses To Start With Little Money

What is a high-income skill?

High-income skills are types of skill sets that can make you up to five to six figures monthly. In other words, your monthly income is around $10,000-$20,000 in a month, with simply utilizing your knowledge in performing this skill.

Let's dive deeper as to the difference of a hard and soft skill.

Difference between hard and soft skill

For sure, you've come across a job listing emphasizing that they are looking for an ideal candidate who can type at least 60 words per minute or knows how to operate a machine. These are what you call hard skills.

Hard skills are teachable abilities or skill sets that are easy to quantify—for example, typing speed, a degree or a certificate, proficiency in a foreign language, or well-versed computer programming skills.

Essentially, you can acquire it through formal education and training programs.

On the other hand, soft skills, also known as interpersonal skills, comprises effective and clear communication, people skills, time management, leadership, flexibility, among the few.

One must have a combination and a delicate balance between these two skills to succeed in any given career.

How much can you earn?

Contrary to what the mainstream media believes, specific high-income skills pay relatively a decent amount without a formal degree.

Therefore, if you're aspiring to widen your skillset, you must know how to self-taught and of course, invest in yourself. It should come easy to you since there are tons of free resources on the internet, provided you have the time, money, and proper motivation to do so.

Earnings per niche or skill set vary per person and, of course per demand in the chosen niche. But, indeed, one can earn a six-figure business by simply honing into his capability.

Besides, in the most recent student debt statistics, most Americans are drowning in average debt of $29,900. How many years will they pay for it? Some are struggling already right after graduation, looking for a stable job to pay it off.

I'm not saying that you should drop out of uni now. It's still your choice whether to pursue college or not. Indeed, we can learn things outside our comfort bubble, and there are also things that we can most likely acquire in the classroom.

Both have advantages and disadvantages, but the end goal should be: learning to apply all this wisdom in the real world.

9 High Income Skills You Can Learn Even Without a Formal Education

As mentioned earlier, most of these high-income skills don't necessarily require a bachelor's degree, but some have certifications that can be a plus point at your professional profile.

Without further ado, here are the top 9 most-sought-after skills that you should take in today's fast-moving digital world.

1. Copywriting

• Potential Earnings: $35,000-$65,000+ yearly
• Must-haves in getting started: basic writing skills, research, creativity, decent experience
• Related skills: content writing, blogging, transcriptionist, proofreading

For those new to the term, copywriting is a particular type of writing that prompts the reader to make an action. Typical examples are copies of an advertisement used in sales.

Words are powerful. It can make or break you, and it can sell!

There are different types of a copy, either designed to inform, landing page copy, writing emails and newsletters, click the buy button, or sign up for a webinar. A copywriter does all those beautifully crafted coherent words.

If you are keen on writing that convinces people, you can become a copywriter. Apart from the base pay that you can get, some companies will even pay you a percentage of the sales that your copy generates. That's where commission comes in, and easy for copywriters to make a six-figure amount since they're making companies money.

For example, if you're writing for an ad that sells for $50,000 and the deal is for anyone who signs up for early access email copy that you created, you'll get 5% each time everyone signs up, then you'll receive $2,500 in commission in addition to your base pay!

2. Digital Marketing

• Potential Earnings: $66,000-$83,000 a year
• Must-haves in getting started: tech-savvy, marketing ideas, social media strategies
• Related skills: social media manager, content planning/writing, virtual assistance

Digital Marketing is all about promoting products, ideas, or services via online technology. It's no different from traditional product promotion, branding, etc.; what sets it apart is the medium used online technology tools (website, social media page, mobile.)

Some of the duties a digital marketer does are implementing a social media strategy for companies/businesses, creating digital marketing campaigns, and more.

Most jobs at this line require at least a bachelor's degree or relative experience to fully assess whether it will bring value for the brand or company. So long as you know how to engage and communicate with end users over various social media that the company will use, you can easily navigate your way towards digital marketing.

3. Web design

• Potential Earnings: $52,000 average salary
• Must-haves in getting started: Photo app skills, creativity, visual design, attention to detail
• Related skills: game developer, app developer, website design, user experience design

If you have an eye for visual design, then tap into your web design skill! Take note that it's different from a web developer- the one who either builds and enhances a system or app. Web design has something to do with the overall look of a website for business or e-commerce.

Some of the tasks a web designer does are designing engaging and user-friendly responsive landing pages of a website, optimizing the site for speed and scalability, create a layout or user interface to make the overall look of a website pleasant.

There is no need to cracking complex codes or HTML stuff; some applications provide templates that you can use and further enhance the website's layout. You can also watch Youtube tutorials, join a technical design boot camp, and gather insights from blogs and article resources.

4. Graphic arts

• Potential Earnings: Range from $25,698 to $59,010 average yearly
• Must-haves in getting started: art animation, computer skills, mastery of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
• Related skills: web design, accuracy, and attention to detail, creativity

Graphic artists are the ones who birthed any infographics that you see on various social media. From pictures, videos, animation, gifs – graphic artists designed that.

It is one of the most sought-after skills of companies, especially in the e-commerce industry. To become a graphic artist, one need not proficient in coding, programming, or anything like that.

Unlike web design, graphic arts are more on graphics themselves, typography, graphs, and images to rely upon an idea or information. Graphic designers or artist works both on print and digital.

5. Software Developer

• Potential Earnings: $76,526 average per year
• Must-haves in getting started: proficiency in programming languages, problem-solving skills
• Related skills: application and web development

Software developer specializes in building and support of software systems. It is indeed an in-demand skill in today's job market as many applications and systems exist, and companies will pay someone who can build it from the ground up or optimize it.

Depending on where you live, you can earn higher than $60,000+ per year.

On the other hand, most software developer roles require a bachelor's degree in computer, engineering, mathematics, or relative experience.

6. Video and Media Production

• Potential Earnings: $48,725 average yearly
• Must-haves in getting started: flexibility, knowledge of computer operating systems (hardware and software)
• Related skills: videographer, director, cinematographer, production assistant

There are four learning abilities- reading, writing, listening, and watching. All these four are vital to a person's language learning and cognition. Some people know more by reading; some are through listening and written words. Still, others learn more through watching.

This is where video editors and media productions come into play. Most significantly, with the rise of streaming content and Youtube, there's a handful of demand for video editors.

For this high income skill, one must learn how to use software editing tools for video cuts, create a rough cut, improve image quality, and more. You may need a degree in media and arts, but if you're a career shifter, you can check out Skillshare and learn lessons about video editing.

7. Sales

• Potential Earnings: $65,000 average salary
• Must-haves in getting started: product knowledge, competency, social selling
• Related skills: sales representative, appointment setter

Splurging into the world of sales might be one the most rewarding experience one can get. Aside from the base pay, there are numerous incentives and huge commissions once you close the deal that some companies offer.

It doesn't require a formal degree as a salesperson, though it helps in positioning and adds knowledge. Competency and enough product knowledge are vital in sales and adapting to trending sales tactics in the ever-changing market.

Look at realtors or real estate agents as well as an appointment setter. As long as you know how to sell a product, there's always money in sales.

In the case of appointment setters, they do not close the sale perse, but they schedule an appointment to let the client and the salesperson meet. In a sense, they're like a pre-sales agent. Then, the salesperson on the final verge is the one who will seal the deal. In return, appointment setters earn a cut for every prospect they successfully scheduled.

8. Trade Skills

• Potential Earnings: varies per specialized skillset
• Must-haves in getting started: specialization, experience, proficiency in using tools and doing projects, training, certification
• Related skills: electrician, plumbing, carpentry

Trade skills are specialized skill sets that can potentially earn you a six-figure amount. Most especially if you're good at what you do, it's also easy to learn if you dedicate your time to it.

You don't need a bachelor's degree but a vocational one will do. Plus point if you have formal training from your local trade center.

Since we “trade” our time for money, trade skills are worth it to learn. Some examples of trade skills are plumbing, fixing things, technician, electrician, mechanic, home inspector, to name a few.

9. Entrepreneurship

• Potential Earnings: varies
• Must-haves in getting started: problem-solving skills, negotiation, can bring solutions to the table
• Related skills: businessman, sole proprietorship, online seller

It is no doubt that one of the most high-income skills that will never leave the unending list is entrepreneurship. Furthermore, it is one path to wealth. (Wealthy people acquire money-producing assets and build an empire of businesses)

Let your ideas or business model come into reality if you can offer a solution to solve one of people's greatest problems. Learn to become innovative and adapt to thrive.

Entrepreneurship is a combined skill of sales, marketing, innovation, and critical-thinking skills. So, if you have an idea that will make the world a little better, tap into your entrepreneurial skill, make tons of money, and help other people through your talent and intelligent products and services.

Who knows, you might build the next multi-million dollar business or become the next top businessman in the world!

What skills can make you rich?

We're done with the hard skills now so let's also not forget about the “soft skills.” These are attributes one must possess to be successful in whatever career path he'll strive for.

1. Communication

Communication skills are fundamental as it is always highlighted in any job postings for almost any kind of role. Good communication skills entail a good grasp of understanding the receiver as much as to become understood. Today, thousands of businesses also need someone to deliver their brand's message in a clear, concise way that end-users will easily understand.

2. Management

Whether for time management, finances, or managing your mindset, effective management pays off. If you are efficient in your work, you are productive. Also, if you can control your finances at ease, you can live a better financial life. A manager is more than just a title or a position in a company.

If you can manage your own life, you can also manage and balance a work-life situation.

3. Flexibility

Some job roles require extra time and effort on your part. Therefore, you must have a flexible attitude and the ability to perform well.

If you are flexible, you can adapt to different changes in your work or life environment, stress, and improve and shift into our current world's quick pace.

4. Teamwork and work-ethic

You will need interpersonal skills such as teamwork and work-ethic to get along well with other people. The success of a business will not just credit to one person. Every department is involved and is working so you must cultivate a good relationship with your colleagues and clients.

5. Leadership

Lastly, most employers today look for someone who displays excellent leadership skills. You must become a master in your craft and show exemplary leadership skills.

Doing so will make your boss, teammates, and clients rely on you as the expert they can trust because you can lead and guide them.

Ways to Learn and Develop a High income skill

Nevertheless, you can learn skills. Inhibit a growth mindset and continue to acquire knowledge and skills; it's worth it to become a #studentforlife!

If you already have a high income skill that you can tap on, you should strive to always be on the top of your game. In other words, become a master!

Here are ways for you to learn and develop the skill set that you have.

1. Invest in knowledge

The investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Constantly improve and be better than yesterday. Invest in yourself, your experience, and your skills. You can do this by taking a free or paid online course. Platforms like Skillshare and Udemy can be a great start to learn any skill you desire.

Don't forget Youtube and Google Academy for free content! Books and online blogs are great resources too.

Of course, you may have to pay upfront money first but remember it takes dedicated time and money to master a skill. You can't be a master overnight; you'll encounter sleepless nights and endless learning experiences along the way.

2. Consider a personal coach or mentor

It's okay to self-taught, but it's even better if there's someone who you can count on and guide you towards your learning curve. Everyone of us is a beginner taught by a teacher or master expert who is more knowledgeable than us.

A coach or mentor will speed up your success and help your mindset shift and set the right perspectives towards success.

3. Right motivation and time management

When learning a new skill or enhancing one, be patient and gentle with yourself. There's a three-month learning curve for everyone, and it still varies per person's learning abilities.

Set aside dedicated time for your study and learning, and stay focus throughout your learning journey. Remember, hard work pays off.

4. Network

Get hold of your field of network and connect with professionals in a shared field. You can learn a thing or two from different people you will meet. Besides, it's easy to connect with professionals in your same league through social media networks like LinkedIn.

You can join Facebook groups and meet up with these people to know more about the best practices and apply them to yourself.

5. Application

Experience is the best teacher. Now that you've accumulated all the skills you need to learn, it's time to put them into practice. First-hand experience is an excellent stepping point to your learning journey.

Consider taking an intern for example, and then if you think you can finally put it into real work, assess yourself and get paid through your high income skills.

FAQs

What are the best skills to learn this 2021?

Most of the best skills to learn this 2021 are seemingly related to technical and online skills like web and UI design, graphic arts, software development, virtual assistance, social media management, and more.

This makes sense since we are now moving into digital transformation. So, take time to learn some of these technical skills and increase your skill level as hundreds of open door opportunities await.

Which skills are in demand today?

It depends on where your location is across the globe. The most in-demand skills today are those related to online or virtual skills. It would help if you looked to develop these skills, such as video editing, copywriting, web design, and app development, among the few.

What is the best skill to learn?

The best skill to learn depends on each person's personal preference and motivation. Ultimately, it makes sense to learn a skill that will make you money in exchange for your time and effort. And, of course, it should be more than a hobby. It should be a skill that lifts you and fills your energy cup because you love what you do and strive every day because of it.

Can I really learn a skill and get paid even if I am not a degree holder?

YES! Although some companies prefer a bachelor's degree for some specific role due to its technical nature, most high income skills don't require a formal college education. A skill does not discriminate!

These high-income skills can be learned through online courses, reading books and blogs, training, certifications, and experience. You can pick it all up along the way.

And YES! You can get paid by utilizing these skills.

Wrapping Up

To sum up, it's essential to stay relevant in today's fast-paced world more than ever. You can do this by specializing in a specific skill that will bring you cash. However, you can also try which skills you are comfortable with and gain additional knowledge and experience.

Besides that, you can choose to do it freelance and break out the 9-5 shift that tied you up. Whether you will take it as a part-time freelance job or side-hustle, learning these high-income skills are worth it.

It can boost your finances, increase your earning ability, upgrade your skill level and worth, help you achieve your financial goals, and ultimately attain financial freedom!

Therefore, would you want to become a jack of all trades and master or none or the opposite?

Share with us what you think about this post. Which of these high income skills would you like to learn and master? We love to hear from you! Until next time!