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Jobs that pay over $1 million a year are tough to get. But you’re tough. You’ve got the heart of a lion and you’re ready to soar like an eagle!
(I’m more like a sleepy sloth. I’ll watch you soar while I chomp on a leaf. Then I’ll take a nap.)
Just kidding. I’m here to help you get those dream jobs that will make you a millionaire!
Less than half a percent (0.5%) of American households earn over $1 million a year.1 Want to join the money earning elite? I’ll show you how.
Table of Contents
Top Jobs That Pay Over $1 Million a Year
Content Creator
Best for: People who want to make videos, podcasts, blog articles, social media posts, and more
Example:
Lindsay Silberman is a luxury lifestyle blogger. Successful bloggers have jobs that pay over $1 million a year. Lindsay earns her millions of dollars from the ads on her site and by selling her own products, such as scented candles.
Content creator is a great job for men, it’s one of the best business ideas for women, and it’s one of the most profitable online businesses.
If you want to blab for big bucks as a content creator, check out the best podcast hosting.
You can easily create a website with Squarespace. And be sure to get email addresses from your fans. Use ConvertKit to send them newsletters and deals.
Check out our picks for the best blogging platform.
Entrepreneur
Best for: People who want to make their own schedule and make lots of money
What’s great about being an entrepreneur is that you can make over $1 million a year without a college degree, athletic talent, or singing ability.
You can also be a part-time entrepreneur while working a corporate job.
That’s what Kat Norton AKA Miss Excel did. And in just a couple of years her business is now her job that pays over $1 million a year.
Miss Excel is so successful, Kat was able to buy her dream home, all while working only about 20 hours per week.
How does Miss Excel make money? Courses.
Her main revenue source to get to over a million dollars a year is by selling instructional courses. You can sell your own courses on Skool, Thinkific, or Teachable.
What topic do you know well? You can record videos and sell access to them. You can teach people how to cook healthier meals, travel on a budget, teach their old dog new tricks, play the guitar, or conduct brain surgery without a license.
Need money to get your business started? Check out
- Best small business loans
- Best business to start with 10k
- Low cost business ideas with high profit
- How to get a startup business loan with no money
Real Estate Agent / Broker
Best for: people who enjoy sales, marketing, and real estate.
The best real estate agents have jobs that pay over $1 million a year. But most realtors earn about $60,000 per year.
To make over 1 million dollars a year as a real estate agent, you’ll need to help sell and buy lots of expensive properties for your clients. Here are examples:
To become a real estate agent, check out this course to learn if it’s right for you: Fast Track to Getting Started in Real Estate.
E-commerce Business Owner
Best for: People who have their own product to sell or want to sell products supplied by other companies
Example:
Nicole Wegman started her own e-commerce business called Ring Concierge. She earns over 1 million dollars a year.
You can sell your own products on Shopify.
CEO / Corporate Executive
Best for: Leaders, communicators, visionaries.
Typically, CEOs have many years of successful experience in their industry. They’ve made a name for themselves. The other type of CEO is the founder of a business.
Examples:
- S.J. Squeri is CEO of American Express and earns about $48 million a year
- Mark Begor is CEO of Equifax and earns about $37 million a year.
- Shantanu Narayen is CEO of Adobe and earns about $32 million dollars a year2
Software Developer
Best for: Coders who also have an appetite for business
Software developers create computer programs and apps.
The typical software developer jobs pays between $100,000 and $160,000. To earn $1 million a year in this job, you’ll need to create your own business with your skills.
If you create a best-selling app or business software, you can earn over $1 million dollars a year.
Hedge Fund Manager
Best for: humans who are outstanding researchers, analysts, and communicators
Hedge fund managers make investment choices for their clients.
Most Hedge Fund Managers have earned a University degree, they’re certified as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and they have over 10 years of outstanding investment experience.
Hedge fund manager jobs that pay over $1 million a year are available for brilliant investors. In fact, there are hedge fund managers who earn billions of dollars a year.
Pro Athlete
Best for: People who can combine their natural athletic ability with an incredible work ethic
I was gonna turn pro. But during a game, the ball came speeding straight towards my head. The white ball left a red welt on my forehead. I was never the same. My ping pong career was over.
But don’t let that stop YOU.
Sure, we all know that pro NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS players make incredibly high salaries. But did you know that the best athletes in these sports have jobs that pay over $1 million a year?
- Formula 1 Racers
- PGA Golfers
- Volleyball players
- Tennis players
Law Firm Partner
Best for: Attorneys who want to build a law business
Law partner is more than a lawyer job. A law firm partner is an attorney who owns part of the firm. This person’s job is to increase revenue. Typically, as a law firm partner, you also help run the law firm in addition to practicing law.
Law firm partners average 1.12 million a year.3
Law firm partner jobs that pay over $1 million a year typically require advanced education, such as a law degree.
Entertainer
Best for: Singers, Musicians, Rappers, Funny People, Dancers, talk show hosts
Did you know that the most popular stand-up comedians have jobs that pay over $1 million a year.4
Examples of millions made just from tours (doesn’t even count merchandise and streaming deals!):
- Kevin Hart – $67.5 million a year
- Dave Chappelle – $36.6 million a year
- Bert Kreischer – $32.9 million a year
Matt Rife hit it big on TikTok and now his comedian job pays over $1 million dollars a year.
As an entertainer, you’re missing out if you don’t market yourself on social media, your website, and email list.
You can easily create a website using Squarespace. Set-up an email list with ConvertKit to communicate with your fans. This is important because social media algorithms can block your posts, but email won’t.
Check out the best email marketing software.
You might not consider a company spokesperson to be an entertainer, but they kind of are. For example, Flo from Progressive has one of the best jobs that pays over $1 million dollars a year.
Popular game show hosts have jobs that pay over $1 million a year. Ken Jennings, the host of Jeopardy earns over $1 million dollars per year.
Common Questions About Jobs That Pay Over $1 Million a Year
What Jobs Pay $1 Million Per Year?
To make $1 million per year, you’ll need to be one of the best in the world as a:
- Entrepreneur
- Entertainer
- Law Firm Partner
- Pro Athlete
- Hedge Fund Manager
- Real Estate Agent
- Software Developer
- E-commerce Business Owner
- Content Creator
What Job Makes The Most Millionaires?
Business owner is the job or career that makes the most millionaires. A job in sales, such as real estate or SaaS (Software as a Service) can also make you a millionaire after several successful years. The investment field can also make you a millionaire. Certain surgeons can also become millionaires.
How to Make $1 Million a Year?
To make $1 million a year, be the best in the world in your field. And be sure you choose a lucrative field such as owning your own business, investing, real estate sales, entertainment, or sports.
Billionaire Jobs?
The very best entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and investors have jobs that make them billionaires.
Jobs That Pay Half a Million a Year?
Lots of jobs pay half a million a year such as
- Surgeon in specialties such as neurosurgery and plastic surgery
- Sales such as real estate or SaaS (Software as a Service)
- Business person – check out the best small business website design options
- Hedge Fund Manager
- Investor
- Professional Athlete
- Professional entertainer
- OnlyFans entertainer – check out how to make money on OnlyFans
$1 Million Salary Per Month?
Jobs that pay $1 million salary per month include entrepreneur/business owner, content creator, and e-commerce business owner. Check out this article on jobs that pay 1 million dollars a month.
Sources:
1 – https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/04/united-states-actual-perceived-income-gap-economy/
2 – https://aflcio.org/paywatch/highest-paid-ceos
3 – https://www.mlaglobal.com/en/insights/research/2022-partner-compensation-survey
4 – https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-comedy-tours-2023/
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