She's just trying to 'earn a living'. [=to earn the money needed for food, clothing, etc.]
He will do anything to 'earn his keep'. [=to earn what is needed to support himself]
He 'earned/won his spurs' by doubling the company's profits in the past year.
(..) I haven't danced in years. I'd almost forgotten the feeling. (EXHALES) It's foolish, I suppose... for a creature like me to hope... that one day he might earn your affection. I don't know. Really? You think you could be happy here? (..)2017 Beauty and the Beast
(..) of the people they loved. But the rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose. If he could learn to love another... and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell... the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast for all time. As the years passed... (..)2017 Beauty and the Beast