These 30 people are making over $150k a year at work and got us questioning our life choices. Make sure to keep scrolling if you want to learn more.
1. Coding
“I learned to code from a boot camp after getting a business degree. Ended up never needing the degree”.
2. Making YouTube Videos
“I started making YouTube videos about speedrunning for fun. They became popular, and each year, I earned more and more from them. Now, 7 and a half years later, I’m doing it full time with nearly 2,000,000 subscribers”.
3. Transportation For A Mortuary
“I do transport for a mortuary in the SF Bay Area (picking up dead bodies). My base pay is about 80k, but I get plenty of extra hours and overtime because I’m pretty much the only one who volunteers to do the So-Cal and out of state trips”.
4. Slot Game Mathematician
“Slot game mathematician. You know how they say the games are rigged? I’m the guy that rigs it from math scratch work to the code that runs it”.
5. Field Service Technician
“Travel 300 days a year with a 50lb suitcase and 50lb toolbox troubleshooting and fixing industrial equipment”.
6. Steamfitter
“I’m a steamfitter. Basically, I build industrial piping systems. I moved up the ladder after I got my license, and now with all the OT on the jobs I run, I make somewhere around 200k”.
7. Electrical Engineering
“Went back to school at 27 for electrical engineering. After I graduated, I felt like I had the momentum to keep going, so I got my master’s. I was able to land 3 different internships starting about my junior year, which helped gain me some experience in the field”.
8. Orthopedic Surgeon
“Orthopedic surgeon. Made big sacrifices socially/traveling/income during 20s and early 30s while training. I’m 36 years old just starting my 3rd year of practice and make $840k straight salary”.
9. B2B Technical Sales
“I’m in B2B technical sales. I sell industrial starch to paper mills and charcoal plants. Base salary is $135K/yr, over the past 5 years bonus has ranged from $40K – $70K based off company performance”.
10. IT Manager
“Consultants tell me what needs to be done. I say ok. Not my money. Just make sure things are running smoothly”.
11. Importing/Exporting
“This can be a rewarding career path for people who enjoy working with global markets, navigating complex logistics, and have strong negotiation skills”.
12. Power Engineering/Stationary Engineering
“Power Engineer, or commonly known as a Stationary Engineer in the USA. Don’t believe I’ve made less than 150k in about 15 years”.
13. Trauma Surgeon
“Trauma surgeons by and large have pretty manageable lifestyles. They are usually part of a large group in which the members cover each other’s patients. Though things vary from place to place in degree, in many cases you’re on when you’re on, and off when you’re off”.
14. Software Engineer
“Started as a hobby 45 years ago when I was 10. I was so lucky that computers got popular when they did. It allowed me a fantastic career without a college degree”.
15. Project Manager
“Started working there when I was 18, broke $100k at 34 and I’m currently 42. Only have a HS diploma. Most of the time switching companies is the only way to get a big salary bump but I lucked out”.
16. Lawyer
“Lawyer here, making $520-550K ($390K base salary and $130-160K in bonus). My pay is very standard for a lawyer at a large corporate firm, as “BigLaw” lawyers are paid in lockstep for the first 7-8 years. I have five years of experience, and essentially every other sixth year lawyer at a large firm in a major US city makes the same amount I do”.
17. Lineman
“Applied for an apprenticeship after I got my CDL, rest is history. Pay varies by OT, can range anywhere from $170k-$300k depending how much you want to work”.
18. Astrophysicist
“I am an astrophysicist (heliophysicist). I have devoted 40 years (and counting) of my life to learning and sharing that knowledge”.
19. Fundraising Consultant
“I’m a fundraising consultant. Anyone who can write well, look into writing grants. It’s an incredibly niche skill”.
20. Snow Removal
“I do snow removal (Canada). I’ve been in business 2.5 years. I grossed over $200k in 2023. I work 2-4 days a week during the summer, and generally only when it snows during the winter”.
21. Applications Developer
“Fully remote, work from home. If I wanted to leave and make 150k+ base with my experience, I imagine it would be quite trivial. But my company is awesome and so are my coworkers, and I can’t tell you how much money I’d sacrifice for that”.
22. General Counsel
“$230k annual base salary. General counsel at an industrial manufacturing and construction company. That means I’m a lawyer and head of the legal department for a fairly big company”.
23. Scalp Micropigmentation Artist
“Took a weeklong course 12 years ago after getting laid off from my job as an entertainment editor. Making way more money now than I ever did in publishing”.
24. Data Scientist/Quantitative Analyst
“Total Comp is 230k CAD. Hours are 40-50 hours a week. Nice”.
25. Licensed Therapist
“Licensed therapy private practice with multiple contracts with insurance companies and counties as well as subcontractors working for us”.
26. Tech Sales
“Averaging $225k over the last three years. Work 30 hours/week. Travel 25% of the time. It took a bit, but I learned how to swim in a big pond”.
27. Selling Websites To Small Businesses
“I have a whole agency with SEO guys and developers and designers. I sell $ 150-a-month subscriptions for a website and unlimited edits. I have about 85 clients in various packages, and the rest is lump sum jobs for $3500 minimum”.
28. Small Paint Repairs For Car Dealers
“Body shops have gotten crazy expensive, so biz is good for me. ~300k a year”.
29. Home Inspection
“I started a home inspection company about 2 years ago. Hit $100k in the first year and already crossed $150k this year. Recently hired an admin for all the office and prep work and are currently working on hiring another inspector”.
30. Nurse
“My wife is a nurse, works 36 hours a week. She makes about $170k”.
