Everyone has a calling.
Perhaps you’re a talented painter or have a knack for writing compelling stories. Maybe you’re great at helping others or have the technical skills for data analysis.
If you’re lucky, you get to use these skills in your job, combining what you’re good at with an intellectually and financially rewarding career.
But if doing what you love and making a satisfying income don’t align, you might seek well-paying work outside of your inherent skill set. And sometimes, the choice to pursue a high-paying job is worth it. You can earn an excellent income with in-demand skills and explore your other talents in passion projects or freelance gigs.
If you’re ready to revamp your professional toolkit and find work that provides better compensation, learn some high-income skills. You may just discover a new interest in the process.
What are high-income skills?
High-income skills, or high-paid skills, are abilities that most employers are willing to pay higher salaries for. These often include specialized knowledge related to a specific industry or type of work. Employers often pay more for these skills because they’re in demand, hard to learn, or take years of experience to truly develop.
High-paying skills can be either soft or hard, depending on the needs of different industries. Technical or hard skills, like advanced Excel abilities or knowledge of specialized coding languages, help you earn a healthy income because companies rely on this work to make informed business decisions and monitor progress.
Soft skills, like strong communication, can also boost your pay because they contribute to a healthy workplace environment and effective management. And many roles, like consulting, sales, or management, rely on your ability to transmit ideas clearly, mediate conversations, and listen attentively to clients.
A 2022 study from McKinsey found that people who consistently build their skills earn higher salaries throughout their careers. It says that although work experience is valuable, it’s the skills you build during that experience that really help you move up. And when you show employers you’re a fast and eager learner, you demonstrate a growth mindset that leads to bigger and better positions over time.
The 9 best high-income skills to develop
A century ago, there was a limited range of roles in the job market — like farming, mechanics, and nursing, which were some of the most popular in the 1920s. But in the modern day, the sky’s the limit. You can design software, engineer spacecraft, or help companies manage effective, impactful projects in virtually any industry.
The first step to becoming a viable candidate for well-paying, in-demand roles is sharpening your professional skill set. Use the following list of nine high-income skills to guide your educational journey. Gravitate toward abilities you’d enjoy learning and ones relevant to your current career. That way, you’ll know what to do to earn more — and have fun along the way.
Hard skills
You can best develop hard skills through schooling, self-directed learning, or hands-on experience. Here are six examples of in-demand hard skills and roles they apply to:
1. User experience (UX) design
UX describes how a person interacts with a product — like an app or website — and is an essential consideration for development teams. Consumers must be able to nimbly navigate and enjoy using a product for it to succeed in the marketplace, and people with UX skills help get them there.
According to salary aggregate Glassdoor, UX designers earn a median salary of around $99,000. You can hold this lucrative role by developing your coding and design skills, though employers might prefer a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But this skill applies to many different positions, like web architects and UX researchers.
Level up your resume by practicing the principles of UX, like usability and ease of use, in your projects. If you’re applying for positions that ask for this skill, create a portfolio to show your experience to a hiring manager.
2. Project management
People with project management skills can compile and prioritize tasks, make schedules, and ensure that teams complete action items correctly. They also help teammates resolve problems that could put a project at risk — a skill applicable to nearly any job.
Glassdoor reports that project managers earn a rough median of $96,000 annually. To hold this high-paying role, the BLS suggests that you should earn at least a bachelor’s degree, but you can learn transferable skills like leadership and organization through experience. And management skills are applicable to other roles, like being a supervisor or team leader.
3. Data analysis
Modern companies rely on data to decide what products and services to develop and how to implement more efficient operations.
Analysis is the backbone of that success, so data-related skills are some of the highest-paying. People with data skills gather and organize information and look for patterns, whether that’s analyzing high-level financial projections or conducting user research for a marketing campaign.
You get a taste for these skills by attending a weeks-long bootcamp or certificate program, though a degree program can also teach you. Then, you can work on projects to hone your skills using real data. When it comes to data analyst jobs, you can expect a lucrative median salary of $80,000 annually, according to Glassdoor.
4. Software development
Technology makes everyone's lives easier. You can use voice-command devices to lock your front door, virtual tools to collaborate with far-flung colleagues, and apps to guide your daily meditations. And behind all this helpful software are developers, so their skill set is in high demand. People with these skills can design applications, platforms, and websites that meet end users’ needs.
Glassdoor states that software developers earn a median of around $106,000 per year, but people with coding skills can also work as data scientists, quality assurance testers, or cyber security analysts. And according to a report from Indeed, many tech companies are open to hiring people without degrees, so long as they can do their jobs well. Instead, you can take courses and practice these skills on your own to gain the abilities many companies seek.
5. Content creation
According to a 2022 forecast from Statista, the content marketing industry is on track to reach $107 billion dollars in 2026. This niche encompasses advertising and outreach activities through social media marketing, video content, and search engine optimization (SEO). Knowing how to create resonant content that’ll attract new audiences and encourage consumer trust and loyalty is a valuable skill.
The salaries for content creators reflect that value. Glassdoor says that senior social media managers bring in a median salary of around $91,000 per year, while brand marketing managers earn in the low six figures.
Since content creation is a broad umbrella, you can put talents you already have to work in related roles. If you have experience in graphic design, you could form an integral part of a content team, creating eye-catching social media infographics or email marketing campaigns.
If you have a way with words, you could pen blog content or write persuasive social media captions as a copywriter.
6. Artificial intelligence (AI)
The BLS reports that jobs in this field are growing much faster than average, and for good reason. It’s a powerful resource for companies that want to increase efficacy and data security — and for individuals who wish to streamline everyday tasks. AI can do everything from responding to customer service queries to correcting grammar, and knowing how to use it is extremely valuable.
You don’t need to learn computer science to use AI or put these skills on your resume. A solid understanding of data analysis, statistics, and probability is an asset, and so is any experience using tools like ChatGPT. People with these high-demand skills can expect to earn a median salary of $112,000, according to Glassdoor.
Soft skills
Soft skills help you foster better interpersonal relationships and awareness of yourself and your surroundings. And while you often need more than these characteristics to land a job, they’re high-value skills in any workplace, especially the ones listed above. Here are three that can make you a standout candidate:
7. Leadership
When you think of the highest-paid people in your industry, you likely envision someone at the top of their game — a leader.
But everyone in an organization can exhibit strong leadership skills, regardless of position. Leadership is the ability to empower, guide, and teach others, so this could look like explaining a complex concept to a teammate or helping someone who’s having a bad day at work.
You can grow into a strong leader by understanding and practicing your social strengths and mirroring the communication style of your mentors. Taking leadership courses or workshops about management is also a great way to grow.
8. Communication
A key soft skill to doing any job well is communication. Clear, respectful communication allows you to reach understandings with clients, organize assignments with your team, and resolve conflict. Even if you spend most of your day creating content or writing code behind a computer screen, you’ll need to share knowledge with your teammates and pitch ideas to managers or employees.
Depending on your job, there are dozens of communication skills that fall under this umbrella. Active listening is a good example for healthcare jobs that require empathy, and written or digital communication is helpful for remote salespeople or jobs that ask you to write many presentations, tutorials, or reports.
9. Teamwork
One person alone can’t provide an excellent service or product. Even the leanest operations, like a freelancer working from a home office, might rely on the support of an accountant, assistant, or childcare provider. That’s why strong teamwork skills are an asset on any resume.
Collaboration and teamwork help professionals create thriving workplaces that propel learning and innovation. And social connections make work more enjoyable for everyone involved. You can enhance your teamwork skills by learning to manage conflict effectively, speak clearly and listen actively, and motivate your colleagues.
How to know your skills (and start learning more)
Chances are, you already have some in-demand skills under your belt without knowing, like critical thinking and collaboration. Learning your strengths can help you tailor your resume to what employers are looking for. Here’s how to spot the highest-paying skills in your existing toolkit:
- Assess your experience: Think about past roles and responsibilities you’ve held. Why did that employer hire you? What skills did you use every day? How did you grow? Try making a list of everything you learned to spot high-paying skills more easily.
- Research your field: Different industries have different needs, and that’s why some might pay more than others for specialized skills. Take the time to look at in-demand competencies on job boards or organizations like the BLS, and take note of which you have and which you could improve.
- Take a personality test: Workplace personality tests are great ways to identify what you’re good at and spot room for improvement. CliftonStrengths, the MBTI, and the Whole Person Model assessment are all great options.
- Ask your colleagues: The people you work with often know your skills best. In your next 1:1 with your manager, ask what you’re doing well and what you could improve, and take note of their feedback. It’s also a good idea to ask the colleagues you work with every day if they have advice or ideas for improvement.
- Take a course: Once you know what your skills gaps are, it’s time to fill them. Identify one or two skills you could benefit from learning and seek out ways to improve. Courses like those on Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning are great choices because they’re short and give you a certificate to add to your resume when you pass.
The many benefits of skill-building
In a world with infinite career paths, there are many options for candidates looking for above-average salaries. And you can access them by acquiring relevant high-income skills.
Earning a new skill doesn’t always require a college degree, years of coursework, or complete retooling. You can build upon your abilities and continue to work full-time or part-time while upskilling.
Deciding to educate yourself further and shift your career doesn’t only improve your earning potential. It exposes you to new information, experiences, and people. Take that first step toward a more rewarding career — and enjoy the journey toward it.
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