How People Are Quietly Earning Six Figures 

Ever scrolled through Reddit, minding your business, only to stumble upon a post that makes you question everything you thought you knew about making money? Yeah, that happened to me. I found this thread where people casually dropped their jobs, and surprise—many were pulling in six figures doing things you’d never expect.

No, they weren’t Wall Street execs or tech moguls in Silicon Valley. These were regular people with niche skills, unconventional jobs, and business smarts quietly stacking serious cash. And, being the curious (and slightly nosy) person I am, I had to fact-check some of these claims, for all our benefits of course.

So, let’s break it down. Here’s what I found, backed by data, real-life examples, and a few surprises along the way.

1. The “I Have No Idea What I’m Doing” Consultant

“I have a very niche skill set with a specific software made by a company I used to work for and was hired by a company that uses a completely different software that my previous employer also made. My days consist of one or two meetings where people complain about the software. I validate their feelings by agreeing with them, and they seem satisfied. I have no idea what I am doing and am waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Welcome to the world of high-paid consultants.

This person might feel like an imposter, but here’s the thing: consultants don’t necessarily need to have all the answers—they just need to ask the right questions. Many companies will pay big bucks for someone who understands their systems, even if that person is just nodding along in meetings.

 Fact Check:

• The average IT consultant in the U.S. earns approximately $103,797 per year, with an average base salary of $93,222 per year.
   Source: Glassdoor
• Senior IT consultants can earn an average of $93,027 per year.
  Source: Indeed

Moral of the story? If you know a niche system well enough to hold a conversation about it, you might be consulting material.

2. HVAC Tech… But for Skyscrapers and Hospitals

“I fix broken air conditioners. But the ones for skyscrapers and hospitals.”

Most people think of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) as the person fixing their home AC unit in the summer. But commercial HVAC technicians—especially those working on massive cooling systems for hospitals and skyscrapers—are in a league of their own.

Fact Check:

• The median annual wage for HVAC technicians is $57,300. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Commercial HVAC technicians earn an average hourly wage of $31, translating to approximately $64,480 annually. Source: Salary.com
• Senior HVAC technicians can earn an average of $79,168 per year.  Source: Indeed

Bottom line? The bigger the building, the bigger the paycheck.

3. Powerline Technician (AKA Playing with High-Voltage Electricity)

“I build and fix powerlines and play with high voltage electricity.”

Photo by Pixabay:

This job is NOT for the faint of heart. Powerline technicians literally keep cities running, often working in extreme conditions to restore electricity after storms.

 Fact Check:

• The median salary for electrical power-line installers and repairers is $78,310 per year. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• With overtime and hazard pay, experienced workers can earn $100,000 or more annually.

High risk = high reward. Plus, most don’t need a college degree—just a solid apprenticeship.

4. Tow Truck Operator on Atlanta’s Busiest Highways

“I drive a tow truck in metro Atlanta and clean up wrecks on I-285 & I-75. It’s a lot of hours and being on call sucks, especially working nights.”

Tow truck driving might not sound glamorous, but highway wreck recovery pays well. These operators respond to accident scenes, clear debris, and sometimes haul away exotic cars worth more than your house.

 Fact Check:

• The average salary for a tow truck driver in the U.S. is approximately $55,000 per year. Source: Indeed
• Specialized tow truck operators handling heavy-duty or hazardous recoveries can earn $75,000 or more annually.

Moral of the story? If you don’t mind long hours and unpredictable work, towing can be incredibly lucrative.

5. ICU Travel Nurse During the Pandemic

“I’m a traveling ICU nurse and at the height of the pandemic the pay was $120/hr, $180/hr OT. Mandatory to work 72 hours a week so that translated to about $10,500/week. Also $50 meal stipend/day and all housing and transportation paid for. Working 6 days straight and 1 day off every week sucked but every Friday was payday.”

Photo by Laura James

We all know nurses work insanely hard, but during the pandemic, traveling ICU nurses were making NFL money.

 Fact Check:

• Standard ICU nurses earn an average of $95,000 per year.  Source: Indeed
• Traveling nurses can make an average of $2,100 or more per week, depending on location and demand. Source: Indeed
• Crisis contracts during COVID offered rates of $5,000 or more per week (Just saying).

Brutal hours, but the financial reward is undeniable.

6. Mining Engineer: Digging Deep for High Earnings

“Mining engineer. The trick is to do a job nobody wants to do.”

Mining engineers aren’t just people with helmets and pickaxes in old-school gold mines. These are professionals working in large-scale mining operations, overseeing everything from resource extraction to environmental safety and efficiency. They work in remote areas, under extreme conditions, and that’s precisely why they’re paid big money.

 Fact Check:

• Average Salary: Mining engineers in the United States earn an average annual salary of $101,512.  Source: Indeed
• Top Earners: Experienced professionals in this field can make up to $168,201 per year. Source: Indeed
• Industry Demand: The demand for mining engineers is expected to grow, with employment projected to increase by 2% from 2023 to 2033.  Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Mining engineers travel the world, work with multimillion-dollar machinery, and ensure that the raw materials for everything from smartphones to buildings are extracted efficiently. If you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty (literally), this career could be a goldmine—pun intended.

7. Handmade Jewelry Business Owner: Crafting a Profitable Niche

“I run a handmade jewelry business. Most people would never suspect (might not even believe) the money I make doing this.”

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Selling jewelry on Etsy, Shopify, or even Instagram has become a legitimate goldmine for creative entrepreneurs. What used to be a “cute little side hustle” has turned into a full-fledged six-figure business for many.

 Fact Check:

• Average Revenue: Successful jewelry-making businesses can generate an average of $248,000 per month.  Source: StarterStory
• Top Earners: Some jewelry business owners report annual earnings of $340,000, showcasing the potential in this creative field. Source: Reddit

With low startup costs and the right marketing, even a one-person operation can scale to six figures fast.

8. Airline Captain: Soaring to Financial Heights

“Airline Captain. I earn over $200k per year  but this is mostly hush money for keeping the ufos secret though,“

Photo by Matheus Bertelli

Becoming a commercial airline pilot is one of the highest-paid jobs that doesn’t require a traditional degree—but it does require intensive training and thousands of flight hours.

 Fact Check:

• Average Salary: Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers have a median annual wage of $202,180. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Top Earners: The top 10% in this field earn more than $208,000 per year.

If you love travel and don’t mind the strict training requirements, piloting commercial planes is one of the most stable high-paying careers available, and of course, the hush money!!!

9. Union Elevator Mechanic: Going Up in the Income Bracket

“Union Elevator mechanic, it has its ups and downs. Also, I walk a lot of stairs.”

First of all, 10/10 for the pun, but really, elevator mechanics literally keep the world moving, and they get paid handsomely to do it. This is one of those jobs most people never think about until they get stuck in an elevator, but it’s a high-paying, highly skilled trade that requires precision, safety training, and technical expertise.

 Fact Check:

• Median Salary: The average salary for an elevator mechanic in the U.S. is $98,880 per year. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Job Growth: Demand for elevator mechanics is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Final Thoughts: 

The biggest misconception about earning six figures is that you need to be a doctor, lawyer, or tech genius. In reality, many six-figure earners have unconventional careers that fly under the radar.

From mining engineers to jewelry artists, airline captains to consultants, the key is to identify skills that are in demand and position yourself strategically.

So, what’s stopping you from breaking into a six-figure career?