In 2024, this millennial earned $130,000 and revealed two strategies that contributed to her success.

In 2024, Kennie Bukky, a millennial professional, earned a six-figure salary by implementing two effective strategies: growing her social media following and acquiring high-paying skills.

In 2024, Bukky, who is under 30 years old, managed to balance multiple jobs and earn just over £100,000 (approximately $130,000).

When she graduated from university in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in forensic science, she felt her job prospects were limited.

In an interview with CNBC Make It, she expressed her concern about money immediately after graduating from university, as she found the salaries to be unimpressive.

She aimed to earn a high salary, and thus took actions to achieve it.

"I carefully considered my career choices and how I spent my time in exchange for money, as money has always been a concern for me. I came to the realization that pursuing high-end careers is crucial in addressing this issue," she stated.

Bukky's attitude led her to shift into the financial services sector, where she recognized opportunities for profit.

Despite being on a break from the 9-to-5 for the past year, she has commanded six figures as a full-time content creator, as well as through her work as a digital youth engagement officer, career coach, and public speaker.

CNBC has verified Bukky's earnings through invoice statements, and she has opted to maintain the privacy of her legal name and age.

'I felt like I had so much value to share'

Earning a high income involves creating a personal brand on social media, as stated by Bukky.

She has a significant following on TikTok and Instagram, with nearly 130,000 and over 35,000 followers respectively, and focuses on providing career advice and wealth-building tips to her predominantly young, ambitious female audience of color.

She shared her career and personal finance knowledge because she felt confident in her abilities and excelled in those areas.

"My desire to share my value led me to build a personal brand."

Her expanding audience has enabled her to partner with brands such as LinkedIn, Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, ACCA, Bing, and HSBC on social media.

Co-founding The Pivot Place in 2023, a business that helps people build skills to transfer into non-coding tech roles, gave Bukky the momentum she gained from becoming a social media personality.

'Skills pay the bills'

Bukky can charge higher rates for her services because she invested in upskilling.

Bukky stated that investing in oneself, skills, and knowledge can result in a high return on investment (ROI) in terms of earnings potential, often exceeding the returns of the stock market.

At the age of 23, Bukky worked as an onboarding analyst at RBS and earned a salary of £28,000. She later transitioned into a managerial role that offered a higher salary of £40,000.

"She revealed that she was determined to obtain a significant increase in her salary, and she did not want to simply receive a 3% raise every few years. To achieve this, she pursued a more senior role and honed her skills in self-promotion for high-level positions."

Despite grappling with imposter syndrome, Bukky aimed to challenge her beliefs about her abilities. In preparation for the role, she relied heavily on self-study through various free online resources.

To increase their earning potential, Bukky advised young people seeking six-figure salaries to focus on developing "high-income skills." She suggested taking courses, joining communities or boot camps, or starting a side hustle to achieve this goal.

To earn a high income, you must acquire valuable skills and avoid remaining stagnant in terms of your time's worth.