Online and self-made
Creators, traders, online sellers and founders: careers people build online.
18 careers
Creators
6Esports playerPlay a video game competitively for prize money or a team salary. A few hundred people in the country make a living.Typical income$0To qualify2 to 6 yrsDemandLimitedInfluencerBuild a following on TikTok or Instagram and get paid by brands to post. Most earn little, a few earn a lot.Typical income$3kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandLimitedPodcasterMake a show people choose to listen to or watch every week. Most shows earn nothing; a few become a living.Typical income$0To qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandLimitedStreamerBroadcast live on Twitch, YouTube or Kick for subs, tips and sponsors. Most streams have almost no viewers.Typical income$0To qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandLimitedUGC creatorFilm UGC (user-generated content) style ads: casual, real-customer videos for brands. No followers needed, but it is freelance.Typical income$2kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateYouTuberMake videos and Shorts for an audience and earn from ads, sponsors and fans. Most channels never get paid.Typical income$0To qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandLimited
Trading and investing
4Crypto traderBuy and sell bitcoin, other coins and memecoins, often with borrowed money, 24 hours a day. Most traders lose.Typical income$0To qualify1 to 5 yrsDemandLimitedDay traderBuy and sell stocks, options or futures within the same day, with your own money. Most people who try lose it.Typical income$0To qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandLimitedProp firm traderPay an online firm a fee to pass a trading test, then trade its simulated account for a share of the profit.Typical income$0To qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandLimitedReal estate investorYou buy property to rent out or resell. At today's mortgage rates, a new rental often costs more each month than it earns.Typical income$0To qualify2 to 10 yrsDemandLimited
Online business
7Affiliate marketerYou earn a small commission when people buy through your links. Most earn little, and the few who earn a lot built an audience first.Typical income$1kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandLimitedAI automation agency ownerYou build chatbots, voice agents and automations for small businesses. A new market that needs real technical and sales skill.Typical income$3kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandLimitedAmazon sellerYou buy or make products and sell them on Amazon, often stored and shipped by Amazon. Fees take a big cut.Typical income$2kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandModerateDropshipperYou run an online store and a supplier ships each order. Most stores lose money on ads before they find a product.Typical income$0To qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandLimitedOnline course creatorTeach a skill you really have through paid courses, coaching or digital products. Selling it is the hard part.Typical income$0To qualify1 to 5 yrsDemandLimitedResellerYou buy sneakers, vintage clothes, cards or collectibles cheaply and sell them online for more. Mostly a side income.Typical income$3kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateSocial media marketing agency ownerYou run social media and ads for local businesses for a monthly fee. Finding and keeping clients is the job.Typical income$5kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandLimited