15 High-Income Skills Worth Learning In 2023

Last summer, McKinsey researchers came out with intriguing findings about skills and salaries.

Having followed the career journey of some 4 million workers worldwide over ten years, they found that an impressive number of professionals (roughly one in three!) in the US, Germany, and the UK achieved significant salary increases.

The common denominator? They learned the right skills.

Despite the common misconception that education ends at college, continually investing in professional development can significantly boost your paycheck.

And that's particularly true if you know where to invest your time and money.

Important disclosure: we're proud affiliates of some tools mentioned in this guide. If you click an affiliate link and subsequently make a purchase, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (you pay nothing extra). For more information, read our affiliate disclosure.

What Is A High-Income Skill?🤑

A high-income skill is any skill that commands a high salary or fee in the marketplace.

Yes, copy that — but how do you determine which skills make money?

Several factors influence the profitability of different skills, including industry health, technology, and where you are in the world.

For example, suppose you possess a technical skill that’s particularly useful in a growing industry (like data analysis for content marketing). In that case, your knowledge will drive up your value to employers.

Or alternatively, if you’re a bilingual Chinese/English speaker living in the US, then your mastery of both languages will be incredibly useful to employers who do business with China.

More importantly, because of the scarcity of other similarly qualified bilingual workers, your knowledge will be worth more when seeking freelance or full-time work.

But put down the Mandarin phrasebook — not every high-income skill requires as much of a time investment as learning a new language.

15 Skills You Should Add To Your Repertoire💸

Here are 15 high-paying skills that you can acquire to boost your earnings in 2023.

Project Management

Blockchain

SEO

Web Development

Sales

Data Analytics

Copywriting

Affiliate Marketing

AWS Cloud

Public Speaking

Software Development

UX And UI Design

Coding

Video Editing

Social Media Marketing

1. Project Management

Project management skills are essential to any team or business.

Why?

Well, project management involves organizing, controlling, and distributing resources to achieve specific goals and objectives.

Project managers make sure things get done on time, and their responsibilities include setting goals and deadlines — and coordinating and monitoring team members to ensure they achieve those goals and meet those deadlines.

In other words, project management is the oil that ensures all the other business cogs are turning smoothly.

Estimating how much money you can make by developing project management skills is difficult. As a profession, though, it's pretty lucrative.

You won't have to look hard to make money with your project management skills.

Expert project management skills come through work experience. But if you're starting your climb of the administrative ladder, earning an accredited certification in project management is a great way to demonstrate your aptitude to employers.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers several certifications in project management, fitting various levels of experience. If you want to get your chops in your own time, check out Udemy or Domestika, which offer several PMI preparation courses and seminars.

2. Blockchain

Over the past few years, blockchain technology has emerged from the cryptocurrency industry as a business solution with uses in every field.

The heightened security and transparency that come with the technology have led to its widespread use in supply management, digital identity management, voting systems, and smart contracts.

Blockchain developer jobs entail researching, designing, developing, and testing blockchain solutions for real-world problems.

So how do you get into blockchain?

A college degree in computer science, computer engineering, or engineering will help if you want to find work as a Blockchain developer — but it's not essential.

You can avoid college by getting formal training and (informal) experience. Obtaining a blockchain certification, such as those provided by the EC-Council Blockchain Certification Program, or taking a course in the topic, is a helpful first step into Blockchain.

After getting certified, work on building a portfolio of projects on a platform like GitHub, so blockchain employers can see what you can do with your blockchain skills.

3. SEO

How did you find this article?

Google!

And so did most other readers who landed on this page — after all, more than 8.5 billion Google searches are processed daily.

SEO ("Search Engine Optimization") is the act of fine-tuning web content so that it appears as high as possible on search engine results pages (SERPS).

Because when your page appears up top on a SERP, the likelihood of a user clicking on it increases dramatically — as do the chances of your website achieving the goals you set for it.

SEO, therefore, is a big business. It's a cocktail of data analysis, market research, code-wrangling and wordplay that factors in most marketing roles.

If you’re just starting out in SEO, you may earn around $34,000 (the global average according to the 2022 State of SEO Report).

In other words, SEO is a healthy industry, with ample opportunity for newcomers to climb the pay scale.

Most importantly, what makes SEO such a profitable skill in 2023 is the ease with which you can break into the industry. In most cases, some basic training is enough to reassure employers that you have the skills to take on an entry-level SEO role.

Yoast provides an excellent introductory course for total newcomers that can familiarize you with the ins and outs of SEO skills and strategy.

For something a little more comprehensive, try this SEO Masterclass — which just so happens to be the one of the most popular course on the platform, with 85,000 enrolled students.

4. Web Development

Web development is designing, building and maintaining websites.

Given that there are an estimated 2 billion websites by some counts, it’s fair to say that it's a pretty big business.

Web development is a combination of software development and design, but devs’ individual responsibilities depend on what stage of web development they specialize in.

For example, frontend developers shape how websites look to the user, while backend developers are responsible for the functionality. Take a website login button, for example. A frontend developer will determine the color and text it contains, while a backend developer will ensure it works well when you click on it.

Basically, developers are the glue that holds websites together, which is why learning web development is such a profitable skill in 2023.

Given the various responsibilities attached to the title of developer, there are several channels to obtaining web development skills. Which you follow will depend on the kind of work you want to do — and what programming languages you know.

Here’s a list of the most popular programming languages for frontend developers, and where you can learn them:

JavaScript

HTML/CSS

TypeScript

React

Vue.js

And here are some of the most sought-after programming languages for backend developer positions:

JavaScript (Node.js)

Python

Java

PHP

Ruby

5. Sales

It's not flashy or techy, but having strong sales skills will open up exciting career paths for you across various industries and businesses.

Sales skills are crucial to the success of any business, and organizations need employees who can effectively turn their products or services into revenue and growth.

It’s pretty hard to estimate how much you can expect to earn by "learning sales" because they're needed for an incredibly wide range of jobs.

And when you couple great sales skills with other valuable traits, like leadership skills, the returns only increase.

Interestingly, though, only about 64% of the average salesperson’s salary is base pay, meaning that you could earn a lot more than the flat number that appears on your job contract by other means, such as commission.

Want to develop your sales skills?

The best specific pathway for your situation will depend on your interests and goals. Enroll on a general sales and retail course, such as the RISE UP Sales Certification or Sales Training course to build foundational skills for work in sales and retail.

6. Data Analytics

Once labeled "the sexiest job of the 21st century" by Harvard Business Review, data analytics has seen exponential growth in demand over the past decade.

Even following major industry disruptions, like the ongoing tech wreck and the advent of artificial intelligence, demand for data scientists and similar professionals has soared.

That continual upward curve makes sense too.

Data analytics is the process of making sense of large data sets to extract insights and inform business analytics and related decision-making.

And with the world generating and consuming an estimated 95 zettabytes of data in 2022 (that's 21 zeros), there aren't nearly enough specialists to make sense of all that information.

All this said, it should come as no surprise that there's a universally high demand for data analysis skills.

How then do you become a data analyst and multiply your job market value?

There are a few avenues to consider, depending on what area of data analysis you want to get into.

One potential pathway is learning a programming language like SQL, the standard language used to communicate with databases. Fluency in SQL will allow you to organize, update, and query database information.

You can learn the basics of data analytics by completing this bootcamp-style course on Udemy, which takes about 21 hours and requires no previous experience.

7. Copywriting

With ChatGPT churning out everything from sermons to Valentine's Day cards, it might feel like the world doesn't have much use for copywriting skills anymore.

However, chatbots aren't capable of original thought, and until the AI crosses that threshold, the human copywriter will remain a valuable marketing team member.

Copywriting skills help create written content that pushes an idea, product, or service.

On and offline, businesses need writers who can create compelling messages to help them stand out in increasingly saturated marketplaces.

Copywriting skills are highly sought after in communications fields, including:

Advertising

Marketing

Ecommerce

You don't need an advanced degree to work as a copywriter as most employers will be primarily interested in your previous experience.

Start out by building an online portfolio of volunteer or personal projects, or get initial work experience using a freelance platform like Fiverr.

8. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the process of promoting your products and services through affiliate links — and with over 265 million Americans estimated to be shopping online in 2023 it's big business.

With innovations like voice search, live shopping, and social selling, consumers will increasingly look to third-party sources for shopping guidance in the coming year.

Affiliate marketing isn't a high-income skill you can just "get" by completing a course, but proficiency in certain technical skills will help you break ahead in the field in the coming year.

9. AWS Cloud

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that provides a broad range of services and tools to help organizations build, deploy, and manage their applications and infrastructure.

You might not have heard of AWS before, but you will have benefited from it. AWS is the world's largest cloud services provider, with a market share of over 34% toward the end of last year.

In 2023, AWS revenue is expected to hit an astounding $100 billion — and that's despite predictions of a modest global recession.

As AWS Cloud is such a monster, working with the platform involves a suite of technical skills, including cloud security, developer operations, and cloud migration.

For similar reasons, various industries work with AWS Cloud, including healthcare, finance, technology, and retail.

There are several career paths for those who develop proficiency in AWS Cloud. Here are some of the most common professions:

Cloud architects

Developers

Administrators

DevOps engineers

You'll need other skills, too, to do these jobs, but having AWS Cloud as a skill will provide a big bump to your earnings.

There are several courses you can take to get started with AWS Cloud, including:

AWS Certified Solutions Architect

AWS Certified Developer Associate

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator

10. Public Speaking

OK, we know everyone hates public speaking, but this valuable skill is essential to effective negotiation, sales skills, and other key abilities for working well with others. So if you can build your confidence as a public speaker (and you can), you stand to multiply your value to employers.

It's difficult to estimate how public speaking skills convert on your paycheck, but that doesn't change the fact that it is an undisputedly good thing for your career.

For one, excel at public speaking, and you'll be much more effective in job interviews. Practically every job advert highlights strong verbal communication skills as a desired skill, and the ability to showcase your speaking skills will give the employer confidence that you can speak confidently in meetings and conferences.

There are numerous on and offline courses you can take to develop your public speaking skills. It's important to find a course with a practical element so that you can get comfortable with public speaking by — you know — speaking publicly.

Toastmasters International is a great organization for local and online public speaking courses that focus on building confidence and clarity when addressing an audience.

11. Software Development

Software development involves designing, building, and maintaining software applications. These applications include:

system software (e.g. operating systems)

programming systems (e.g. text editors, compilers, debuggers)

application software

embedded software (software used in machines not usually considered computers, such as cars)

Software development is undoubtedly a high-income skill in 2023.

With rapid growth of the Internet of Things, wider application of touchless tech and virtual reality, and other tech development trends, having the know-how to develop and maintain systems that support these technologies will be essential across all industries.

With such high demand for software developers, you can expect your chops to convert into some pretty attractive paychecks.

Learning a popular programming language, such as Java (W3Schools offers a great free introductory course) is a good entry route into software development.

Once you've got your coding chops, you can increase your marketability to specific software development fields by getting further certifications. Here are a few ideas:

Software Testing: The Complete 2023 Software Testing Bootcamp

Mobile App Development: iOS & Swift The Complete iOS App Development Bootcamp

Internet of Things: Complete Guide to Build IOT Things from Scratch to Market

12. UX And UI Design

UX (user experience) & UI (user interface) design is the process of developing digital products that are visually appealing and user-friendly.

More specifically, UX designers focus on creating a seamless overall experience for the user by researching, developing user personas, and creating prototypes. Meanwhile, UI designers work on the site's visual and interactive components, visual components, including color schemes, images, and typography.

Those are two desirable skill sets for any business with an online presence (let's face it, every business). So it should be no surprise that Glassdoor listed UX Designer as one of the top 50 jobs in America in 2022.

With demand for UX & UI designers skyrocketing, professionals with these skills can expect a pretty sweet paycheck.

If you're ready to dive front-end first into UX & UI design, there are many online courses to help you get started. Here are a few top picks for getting into UX Design:

Introduction to UX Design

And here are some courses that can help you start your UI Design journey:

Introduction to UI Design

UI Design Bootcamp. Master Typography, Colour & Grids

13. Coding

We don't like to play favorites, but coding is likely your best bet if you're looking for a single high-income skill to bump your salary.

Coding is essential for building and maintaining any digital product or service.

Given that "digital" factors into just about every product or service, the demand for individuals who can write clean, efficient, functional code is sky-high and rising.

Given these conditions, coding is a great pathway into several tech-based careers, including software development and web design. Even if you're not looking for a coding-based job, possessing this tech skill can help you find work in adjacent fields, such as content creation, public relations, and digital marketing.

Here are some of the highest-earning coding languages at present (and a few bootcamp-style courses where you can start learning them):

Python: The Complete Python Bootcamp

JavaScript: Introduction to JavaScript Programming

Java: Java Programming Masterclass

14. Video Editing

@camicees Professional editing be like #filmmaking #videoeditor #filmmakingmemes #editingmemes #whatimeanwhenisay ♬ Originalton - Hi

Video editing has been a profitable skill for a while now — and not just for independent content creators.

With video crucial to the entertainment and marketing industries (especially once Google releases its "Search in Video" feature), demand for video editors will continue to rise in 2023.

Including video can significantly boost a page's search engine rankings, but only if the video is high-quality content.

And as we're a long way away from creating AI that can create unique, detailed video content, the need for human professionals that can fulfil this role is unlikely to drop any time soon.

Develop strong video editing skills, and you could work in several high-income roles. Here are a few with their average US salaries according to Indeed:

Content developer ($51,779)

Film editor ($53,025)

Multimedia designer ($56,786)

Animator ($69,027)

Videographer ($81,164)

On top of a comfortable salary, the advantages of getting into video editing include the opportunity to work in a creative field and handle various projects.

The most valuable video editing and animation platforms to be familiar with include Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Animate, and Filmora.

Here are a few specific online courses where you can get to grips with them:

Adobe Premiere Pro CC Masterclass

Adobe Animate Ultimate Guide

Complete Filmora (9, X & 11) Megacourse: Beginner to Expert

15. Social Media Marketing

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Social media has been crucial to successful digital marketing strategies for years, and the value of expertise in this thriving field will only rise in 2023.

Based on numbers from Search Engine Journal, the worldwide social media population already exceeds 4.26 billion people — expected to reach 6 billion in 2027.

In such a large (and extremely saturated) marketplace, savvy business owners don't want to pawn off social media marketing responsibilities on interns.

Showing them that you have relevant specialized skills — and industry experience — does pay off.

If you're starting out in your social media marketing career, employers will want to see that you have a solid understanding of marketing strategies on specific social media platforms and key metrics for measuring and improving campaign performance.

An additional asset to have on your resume is proficiency in current social media marketing tools, like SocialBee and BuzzSumo.

Still, you should know that social media employers will often need to see practical experience on your resume if they're going to consider you for a job.

But don't stress if you don't have any formal experience right now. Use freelance platforms, like (shocker) Freelancer, to put your newly developed skills to practice and keep track of your key achievements. With a few months of decent work experience, you should have plenty on your resume to aim for better full-time opportunities.

Start Making (More) Money Today 🙌

If you want to gain high-income skills in 2023, start with your career goals and interests.

Ask yourself:

What kind of job do I want in a year's time?

What aspect of my current job/industry do I find most interesting?

What do employers in my field want and how can I give it to them?

Many of the skills in this list transfer somewhat between different roles and industries. Coding, for example, is a great asset for software development and web development. However, before you invest time and effort (and potentially money) into learning a new skill you should be sure it's something that you’re passionate about.

Remember, there’s no single best course out there for boosting your income. The key is to focus on your interests and understand what employers in your field want from you. That way, when the next big opportunity presents itself, you'll be ready for it.