Top Good High-Income Skills to Learn

There was a time if you wanted to be a big earner in the job market, one of two situations were needed to get you there. Firstly you had to ‘know’ someone, and to a greater extent, that still applies today.

Secondly, you had to go through years of higher education, which also still applies in many cases. But these days in our ‘high-tech’ world, there is another alternative.

Some skills do not necessarily rely on these two factors and yet can pay big money. So what are the best high-income skills that you can learn?

What Can Influence Your Choice?

It isn’t just a case of saying where can I earn the most money and forget everything else. There is your future to consider and should have some influence on the choices you make.

For instance:

It could be one or more of these, but the choices you make will have an impact on your working life and your future. It is all about acquiring the right skill for you and not only for now.

Another issue to consider is the longevity of what you choose. You may be looking at a working life of 30-40 years. Times will change, technology will advance. Will the skills you want to acquire still be so valuable in even five years?

Economics Over Stability

In the case where businesses have to cut back on costs, it is often the most expensive people that are looked at first. That is why stability with a good income should possibly take precedence over less stability for initially more money.

Yes, it is a good idea to gain some skills that will earn you a good salary. That cannot be argued with. But in my view, these are the two major considerations:

The events, unpredictable as they have been over the last few years, should make the last one a major consideration.

So, let’s take a look at some suggestions for high-income skills you could learn.

Digital Marketing

Let’s start with an opportunity that has to be considered a recent addition to the job market. This is a series of skills rather than just a solitary effort. It will certainly allow you to work from home and it could develop into a business of your own.

The only question with this is longevity. Will people always require this type of marketing? Or will technology find another way in the future that is less reliant on independent marketers?

A Series of Opportunities within the Job Title

The term Digital Marketing covers a range of activities, any one of which you could specialize in. These include:

While they allow some specialization, it would be better to get experience in all of them. That way you can then decide which is the best for you.

With a Company

They are a series of options that do allow you to be able to develop yourself. This might then make you a potentially viable asset for a business operating in any of the areas.

Companies need specialists rather than those with just marketing skills. They need people with the ability to use technology to its full potential.

Going It Alone

It certainly offers that option, allowing you to set up your own Digital Marketing Consultancy. You will have to be good, though. And you will need to have a lucky break with a recognized company at the front end. This will attract more business and give you a track record.

Marketing is not a new idea, of course, but technology has opened up a whole new range of options. No doubt, as technology advances, other avenues will also open up, and some will decline.

Copywriting

Staying within the Marketing and Advertising world, we have the domain of the Copywriter. Possibly not the first job that comes to mind when thinking of high-income salaries. But let me let you into a little secret.

Technology can do wondrous things, but it can’t replace the human touch these people give to Advertising and Marketing. Every manager and product developer will know the importance of these people, and they are paid accordingly.

Self-Employed

They are often self-employed and work from home. The payments they receive for their work can be a basic fee plus a commission on whatever they are promoting. In terms of a product, that may be an increase in sales over a period of time.

What Do They Do?

Their main purpose is to generate interest in a product or a service. This can be done in many ways and is usually included in the brief. The Copywriter’s job is to write in such a way that will persuade people to some form of action.

This might be to:

Those and other actions that generate interest in a product or service or make a sale are what the Company is interested in. Copywriters are paid to create that interest.

Video Presentations

Copy for these services is a very specialized skill. The copy has to match the visuals and can take a long time to create to the satisfaction of the client. The rewards, though, are high and worth the effort.

The very best freelance copywriters will do very well for themselves, but this is not an easy job. Coupled with an exemplary knowledge of the English language, are a high level of creativity and clever use of words. A very specialized skill, and one could say either you’ve got it or you haven’t.

Web Designer

If you like software and technology but don’t want to become a programmer, then this might be suitable for you. This is another occupation where you can work at home. In fact, I would think that with this particular job that is likely to become more prevalent.

A Background in Art

If you are an ‘arty’ sort of person and like artistic and visual designs, then this provides a good option. It won’t be as highly paid as some other positions in the computing industry. But it has some advantages that other positions may not have.

All businesses that rely to a lesser or greater extent on online trade will require great-looking and functioning websites. These days that is important as any other visual aspect of the business. Companies at the moment then will be looking for talented and creative web designers to give them the image they require. Now you may notice that I say ‘at the moment’.

Things Could Change

This is one of those positions that I might refer to as being potentially vulnerable in the long term. You will be aware that there are sites that allow you to easily build your own websites.

Now at the moment, most of these are quite basic and are aimed at the complete amateur. And to be honest, they look like it, and it is not hard to pick them out. Companies will not be interested in that sort of limited presentation.

But what happens if the tech improves to the point where it is possible to create great-looking sites with all the bells and whistles very easily? That would certainly affect the Web designer’s position in one way or another. It might be worth some consideration.

With the expansion of online trading likely to continue, every business will require a great website. It will be a case of positioning yourself somewhere to deliver them.

Video Editing

Next on my rundown of the Top Good High-Income Skills to Learn, we have the editing of video for professional and even semi-professional use. This is an industry that is showing signs of enormous growth.

Companies have long used videos to promote their services and products. But there are other types of businesses that have now joined in utilizing this powerful marketing tool.

These range from some basic but effective low-key productions for media like Youtube and similar. And it goes all the way to the top with some very serious video marketing. And let’s not forget about what is probably the largest growth industry for video editing and production, Music Videos.

Home Made Options

As with the website designers we have just discussed, some packages do this for you. But they are mostly painfully basic.

I had a little bit of exposure to this recently. An acquaintance, a professional video editor, produced a music video for me as a favor for someone I was working with. What he created was at times breathtaking, and I wouldn’t have thought possible. That is what the good guys can do.

High Demand

There is no doubt there is a high demand for good Video editors. It won’t be easy to learn these skills as a freelancer, not impossible, but difficult. So that might mean working in a company that specializes in video production. Or if you are very lucky with another freelancer willing to show you the ropes.

If you are going down the company route, you may find they will need a degree in an associated discipline. They may also want to see some background or real interest in graphic design or similar creative fields.

Freelance or Full-Time

Once you know what you are doing, there is the opportunity to go freelance if you wish. However, the company route might be more stable. Freelance, though, does allow you to work in a variety of fields. That might help you decide if you want to specialize in, shall we say, Music Videos.

All Levels of Activity

Most people trying to produce quality video for whatever it is will probably require a Video editor. If they want to make a good job of it, that is. That could go from the Podcaster or the Youtube channel all the way to the top. And that is a very long way these days.

A growth industry at all levels that looks like it has a great future.

Important Trade Skills

Let’s step away from the perceived ‘important’ roles, to the work that is. We can live without many of the occupations we come across; however, we cannot live without these people. The salaries at the basic level are quite normal, and some are going to argue not ‘high-end.’ But that certainly doesn’t apply to all levels.

These are positions for people not cut out to be creative in video or software. They might not be salespeople or particularly adept with writing skills. Some might think that this group of people will be excluded from ‘high-end’ salaries. But, think again.

If you are very good at what you do you can earn six figures. I am not going to do more than list them; they would all be self-employed. You will be familiar with what they do.

Qualifications

You will, of course, need to be qualified in whichever area you choose. It would also be wise to get local accreditation and/ or certification. Those two elements will increase your profile and give you status.

SEO

This might be a name that some are unfamiliar with. It stands for Search Engine Optimization. This is one of the fastest-growing options for work amongst those companies relying on online trading.

If trading on the internet is important to a business, then they want their website to appear in the first few search options. When a user types in a subject to search for, they are more likely to view the first sites available. Being one of them is often very significant financially.

Incredibly Important

This is where the SEO becomes important. They study practices and trends to help the company website appear closer to the top of requests for online searches, usually in Google. The SEO is fast becoming one of the highest-paid consultants in web-based marketing.

Freelancing

It’s one of the developing internet businesses that can be easy to set up as a freelancer, providing you know what you are doing. The analysis of web analytics is not an easy subject to master or even to learn.

Monthly Retainer

Many SEOs are paid a monthly retainer by companies to ensure they get a good ‘search appearance.’ SE Optimizers with many clients can therefore generate a sizable amount of revenue for themselves. There are many courses you can undertake that will allegedly teach all you need to know. But, as with all online courses, you should tread very carefully.

Sales

Let’s finish on the obvious contender. The top salespeople in larger companies earn a lot of money. This is a stressful occupation, of that there is no doubt. Targets to be met, customers and bosses to satisfy, this is Life In The Fast Lane.

I once worked for a large computer manufacturer, no names mentioned. I worked in Systems Analysis but had close contact with one of the sales teams. It was not a happy place and wouldn’t have suited my temperament. Some thrived, most didn’t.

Not All Are in The Trenches

All salespeople are not at the front-line closing deals. There are some in support. In the larger companies people who work the phones. However, they tend not to earn as much as those that close the deals.

Educationally most of the larger companies insist on a degree of some sort these days. There are those companies who are more interested in your personality and perceived ability to do the job. That is quite reasonable in some cases.

Why The High Salaries?

The main reason is the amount of income the successful salespeople can generate for the business. If a company is getting millions for a deal, then they are happy to reward the person who generated it.

What Sort Of Sales?

There are various options, and with the internet, even more, these days. But my opinion still the most lucrative, is the Business to Business sales environment. That tends to be where the biggest deals are made, and therefore the most commission earned.

One important issue with some sales experience is the future. If you are considering setting up your own business at some point in the future, you will need the skills that sales opportunities will provide.

Just A Few Options

Those are just some of the options available to you. There are others, of course. Whatever course you decide to take, you will need to look professional. A nice briefcase always gives the right impression; I personally recommend the Tassia Luxury Leather Executive Case Attache Briefcase. And a nice pen like the Parker IM Fountain Pen also helps you to create a professional image.

It’s also not a good idea to meet colleagues or clients having got soaked through, so I would suggest a quality umbrella such as the Lilyxin Premium Automatic Compact Umbrella Windproof.

Not Confident Enough For Sales?

Not to worry, we’ve found a number of great reads to check out, such as You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, the Unstoppable Self Confidence, and of course The Self Confidence Workbook, to help you get started.

Or how about The Confidence Gap: A Guide to Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt, The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance, and lastly, Self-Confidence Strategies for Women, all available online in 2023.

If you lack in self-esteem, then you’ll want to take a look at Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior, Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Get Out of Your Head available online today.

But that’s not all; we also found Self-Esteem: A Proven Program of Cognitive Techniques for Assessing, Improving, and Maintaining Your Self-Esteem, and lastly, the Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life for some needed guidance.

Final Thoughts

You get very little if you aren’t prepared to work for it, and high-income jobs will be no different. There may be stresses, long days, traveling, and all the other hassles that go with it. But if you’re looking for a well-paid position, then you will be prepared to put up with that.

There is certainly plenty of money to be earned. You just have to know where to find it.

All the very best with your high income job hunting!