What do you do that you earn six figures?

r/financialindependence • u/fidgit86 • 9d ago

It seems like a lot of people make a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing out on something. So those of you that do, whats your occupation that pays so well?

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u/fidgit86 9d ago

🤩 wow! Overwhelmed with all these responses, thank you 🙏🏼 gives me a better idea of what to do next.

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u/BunnieP 9d ago edited 8d ago

Fucking brilliant question man. For real, this is like a treasure trove of shit to show kids to help them expand their options!

*edit: thanks for the up votes and the award guys, I feel like I should clarify my statement..

YES ABSOLUTELY this is a great thread for adults looking to advance themselves financially.

I just happen to be a middle school teacher who tries to strike a balance between not smashing dreams and realistically letting kids know that not everyone is going to be a super successful YouTuber and make millions 🙃

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u/SuccinctSavage 9d ago

It's just funny that so many of the people are responding with "(name of profession) do something else. I hate my life"

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u/catdog918 9d ago

Yeah that lawyer guy seems to really hate his job

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u/sleepdeprivedfangirl 9d ago

Yea, I’m browsing this thread while applying to college

I’ve had to do some double takes lol

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u/Best-Dragonfruit-292 9d ago

Work-life balance (and money management) is a big deal. The point of making all this money, in theory, is to be able to enjoy life more. I've watched my father come from nothing, gain it all and lose it all, at least three different times. He's miserable and I'd be shocked if he lasts more than 5 more years. My current job has stages that I can stop at whenever I feel comfortable, and the stage at 90k is really where I think I'd be fine settling at for 20 more years. The stage after is $200k, but will see you worked to death.

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u/SnooHedgehogs4376 9d ago

I agree, but to be fair almost ALL of these careers seem lame AF.

Meh-meh-meh, I am an accountant be-bop-be-bop. Derp-Derp-Derp.

That’s just one lame example here. Zzzzz ffs. I guess the cool shit out there is too busy being badass…and living the life to hangout on Reddit??

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u/forakora 9d ago

Got accounting degree, but refuse to do an office accounting job. The money is great, but sitting at a desk would be boring af all day

Make 60k being a travelling auditor. Not as much money, but it's comfortable and I get to travel all over California. On occasion I get sent around the country, so I've had the opportunity to see the statue of liberty, space needle, and Arkansas (don't go. Trust me.)

Of course I'd rather not work at all, but it's good enough and has its little perks and I'm not miserable at a desk. It's not about finding a badass job. It's very rare to find a job that will make you happy on it's own. Find a job that is tolerable and doesn't make you unhappy. Be happy and enjoy life on your own outside of work. That's the key.

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u/ampjk 9d ago

So can you do a thot audit for me

5

u/iosquid 9d ago

I guess the cool shit out there is too busy being badass…and living the life to hangout on Reddit??

No, all the cool jobs just don't pay well enough to qualify as an answer to the question. Sorry homie, fun stuff pays shit and the "boring" jobs are how you make bank, welcome to the real world.

4

u/holiday_armadillooo 9d ago

How much do you get paid for being an edge lord?

2

u/obamahamburgers 9d ago

about three fiddy

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u/ampjk 9d ago

3.5oz of precum

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u/Tjrulesz 8d ago

The job pays well.

The job is easy.

You enjoy the job.

Pick two.

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u/ChemE2023 4d ago

Yeah, I feel like people always need to also list hours worked. $120k at 35 hrs a week vs $150k at 90 hrs a week, stuff like that.

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u/Malevolent_barnacle 9d ago

Kids who lol this 30 something needs all the advice she can get!

3

u/aestheticmonk 9d ago

It is a great question and a goldmine. But not just for the kids! It’s pretty awesome hearing from so many who are making so many things work.

(mid-career, aiming for coastFIRE, but wondering what to do as a next chapter.)

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u/Cabbagetoe 9d ago

The best part of this is that the largest part of these high earning jobs don’t even require an advanced degree. People doing IT and working on power lines and elevators. Get some OJT and profit.

2

u/tradesysmgr 9d ago

I love reddit for that!!

2

u/343FuckupSpark 9d ago

But aren't most responses USA specific?

2

u/ILieForPoints 9d ago

That's expected since most of the traffic to reddit is the US.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/325144/reddit-global-active-user-distribution/

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u/FrankieSaints 9d ago

Interesting, over 2/3 of all Reddit traffic from English as primary language countries.

I'm honestly surprised the US traffic is <50%

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u/ILieForPoints 9d ago

Same, it seems strange but then you realise any time politics is brought up it's always American when in non country specific subs.

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u/ampjk 9d ago

It's pretty simple just join a trade

8

u/Yodas4sale 9d ago

Professional Licensed Surveyor in California. It is a fascinating field. surveyors are a dying breed and more in demand than ever, which means a license becomes worth more and more every year. And the best part- you don’t need a degree to get your license, so potentially no student debt.

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u/catdog918 9d ago

What’s involved in getting a license and the job in general? My brother doesn’t know what he wants to do and this sounds up his alley

1

u/iAintNoLick 9d ago

Can you tell me more about it?

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u/Yodas4sale 9d ago

Yes. Would you like me to PM you?

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u/paquitotuntun 9d ago

I would like to know more.

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u/iAintNoLick 9d ago

Yes please.

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u/PandaintheParks 8d ago

Curious, what's your trajectory/skills/etc. Are you still out on the field? Do you make this as a biz owner or just stamper? Currently a survey grunt but debating whether to leave for engineering or not.

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u/Yodas4sale 8d ago

By survey grunt I’m assuming you‘re a chainman. Do you live here in California also?

1

u/PandaintheParks 8d ago

Yes. I do not yet have LSIT but I do plan on getting it.

1

u/PandaintheParks 8d ago

Also, do you sell Yodas as a side hustle?

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u/garlic_bread_thief 9d ago

So have you decided?

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u/TKo_Rouse 9d ago

Just keep in mind that a lot of these jobs are probably people working in big cities. A teacher in my state for example makes 40-60k someone else was a teacher in NYC said he made over 100k. Also 100k in a big city isn’t that much. You could be far off better making 60k in a low cost of living area. If any of them stick out to you definitely research their rates in your state and area!

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u/FrankieSaints 9d ago

100k in a big city isn’t that much.

You'd be surprised. You don't need to live in the city to work in the city. I'm a 35min drive or 55min train ride from downtown Chicago.

2br apartments run $1100-1800/mo, groceries are not outrageous, gas is pretty cheap. Cost of living is borderline between LCOL and MCOL.

Nicer areas in the city can be $2200-2800/mo for the same size 2br with a decent bump to cost of groceries and whatnot, 10% higher gas prices, etc. Downtown Chicago would be bordering MCOL and HCOL.

Hearing from friends, this is similar in other big cities - you can get the city pay and live in the burbs.

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u/TKo_Rouse 9d ago

Oh definitely man that is also an option. This is by no means a black and white choice. I just want to make sure OP is not purely just looking at who posts the biggest numbers.

35 minutes is not a bad drive at all imo, I am guessing you must avoid the bad rush hour times at your job? A lot of people in your position commute 1 to 2 hours each way. The sacrifice their obviously is a loss of free time. I would 100% consider the situation you are in myself but wouldn't consider a commute of over an hour. However I do not live that close to a big city and I do plan to stay near my friends and family so I am not too worried about making that choice anytime soon.

I just wanted to throw a reminder that a teacher's pay in NYC will not reflect what you will land in Montana so OP takes that in to consideration as well. But you bring up a great consideration point for OP as well. Honestly though another redditor already said it but make sure you like what you do because no amount of money fixes being bored out of your mind and hating your job all day feeling! There are many things to consider when choosing a career!

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u/FrankieSaints 9d ago

All good points.

Yeah 35min is little or no traffic (6am or 7pm), parking is horrible, so I just take the train. It's pretty draining and abiding by the train's schedule is stressful.

Luckily, we went from 0 WFH 2018 to 0-1 WFH per week in 2019 and now we're at guaranteed 2 days WFH per week thanks to COVID (100% WFH March '20 to June '21).

So I think realistically, we'll end up 2 days in office 3 WFH, yet I'm still making "big city pay." Not quite San Francisco pay, but I'm renting a 2 bedroom house w/ finished basement for $1350, so my 6 figure salary makes things pretty comfy in this part of town.

My whole point was to highlight that you can have a hybrid setup to try and milk both sides of it (combine HCOL pay with MCOL or LCOL residence).

Ideally I'd work 100% remote from a low cost island with good internet (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, etc). One can dream :')

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u/TKo_Rouse 8d ago

Yeah for sure man my girlfriend is 100% work from home and it’s nice. She is also making six figure pay. Although her company isn’t on a big city they have lots of big clients such as Walmart and target so I think they pay competitive so the clients don’t try to pick off their tech staff. So I guess in an indirect way we kinda benefit from that as well.

I just hope your not working for google! Idk if you saw that new pay calculator they are talking about implementing to combat work from home for people who decide to live in lower cool areas. Best of luck to you though even though you might be a bears and Cubs fan! I am your neighbor to the north!

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u/FrankieSaints 8d ago

I stopped being a Bears fan Cutler's 2nd year... In fact, I stopped watching football altogether.

Yeah no to Google but it wouldn't surprise me if Google's decision there has a ripple effect on other organizations who want to save money. That was a shit move.

Nice about your girlfriend keeping 100% remote and making good money! I'm hoping to go more remote soon.

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u/RrtayaTsamsiyu 9d ago edited 8d ago

FYI UPS is about the best job you can get without a degree. Start out throwing boxes at one of the major hubs for $17, get a bid for driving 18 wheelers for $31 topping out at $36 or ¢86/mile. Home every day, or sleeper teams if you bid on that. Super easy once you get into driving, which they train you for for free.

This is on top of the medical/dental/eye insurance. No premiums. Had a 130k bill when my daughter was born, I paid $600. Just got 9 fillings done, I paid $8. Closest thing you can get to universal healthcare in the US.

And it's unionized, so everything is protected by contracts and reps.

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u/petersom2006 9d ago edited 9d ago

You need to think about more then money- six figures is actually not a lot of money any more.

How you get the job is a huge part- Many listed required special degrees or niche skills. Do you want to take on a bunch of debt getting the skills? Doctors and Lawyers have serious debit and you give up a lot of earning time learning the skills.

Also what do you want your work life balance to be? Grinding every day or working from home or something else. Your more blue collar jobs fit here- it is hard ass work to do electrical, hvac, or trucking jobs- and you arent doing it from home.

Finally what is your growth path in the job? Is it a job that hits a dead end or ceiling at some point- are you ok with that ceiling? Take a look at some of the richest people in the world that are self made- software is arguably the most common theme. Finance/investing second.

In my eyes- software has been and will continue to be the best answer. 4 year degree from state school in computer science and you can come out day 1 making six figures. Literally every industry needs software and will need it even more in the future. You can apply your skills to any industry at any point in your life. You can work remote. Majority of good jobs come with stock grants that make being a rank and file millionaire pretty much a guarantee- you get lucky multiple millions is more common then any job outside of maybe finance. You do things really well the sky is the limit.

There is nothing else right now that has the same pro/con list that I am aware of.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

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u/PandaintheParks 8d ago

But does it have to be a well connected monkey?

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u/hffhbhjg 9d ago

One thing I haven’t seen a comment about that you really need to keep in mind is that almost nobody started out in these positions making this amount of money. Seniority and duration, in almost every field, is rewarded over new hires.

So even if you decide to take one of these positions, just keep in mind that you likely won’t make this money starting out. After a few years and experience, though, it certainly becomes more likely.

1

u/mknight1701 9d ago

Learn Azure or AWS architecture. That’ll get you the money soon enough.

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u/TacoNasty 9d ago

Just for a bit of perspective. I have a good friend who does data project management something and he hates his job and is looking elsewhere. I make 65k but enjoy what I do. I suggest you find something you enjoy or don’t mind doing and be happier. I have no regrets and enjoy what I have with my kids. Quality of life if you can find it.

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u/luposdei 9d ago

I agree, genius post. Thanks!

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u/r66ster 9d ago

computers bro.... its the FUTURE!!!

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u/GloryholeKaleidscope 9d ago

Seems like sales for the win, esp if you dont have years to invest in college. I posted a similar question awhile back, got very little traction so Im b's deep in these comments. Good post yo!

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u/Aaron31088 9d ago

What will you do next? Haha, I'm trying to find something here I'll either enjoy or hate but make enough to be happy

1

u/theflip5039 9d ago

Pretty sure something key I haven’t seen people talk about is setting up multiple streams of income, like renting a property, crypto mining, selling shit on eBay, stocks, etc more streams of income help.

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u/igstwagd 9d ago

I have multiple properties, crypto, stocks, etc but that doesn’t get me to 6 figures. The job is the main source. it takes time to build up those other streams. You have to have about $1.5MM or more invested before you consistently make 6 figures a year and even then, you shouldn’t be spending all of your gains each year so you can keep re-investing.

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u/chucho89 9d ago

To sum it all up, boring jobs that no one wants to do and that it envolves a certain amount of risk.

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u/N104CD 9d ago

Air Traffic Controller. If you are in United States and under 31, it’s a good job with a good benefits.

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u/btjk 9d ago

Between careers now, never would have thought of most of this. Post fuckin' saved gg +1

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u/thatsmyburrito 9d ago

It would be interesting to get these on some sort of graph showing the time/money investment vs the income of each profession.

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u/Brinxy13 9d ago

Money doesn’t mean you’ll like the job though, keep that in mind

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u/AcrobaticSource3 9d ago

Glad you are getting a lot from the responses, but general advice is to not focus on the money if you can. I’m not gonna bullshit you and say that “if you love your job, then you never have to work a day in your life” but I will say that by our quality of life is much better working a $75K job you like than a $150K job that drains your soul. Yeah, you can’t go on as many vacations on a $75K job, but that $150K job will expect you to be on call for emergencies (spoiler: there are never emergencies that serious) and you will spend your entire vacation fearing a return to work instead of enjoying it

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u/sonny_rojo 8d ago

Don’t chase the money

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u/MyGuiltyLife 8d ago

Have you decided what to do next?