Ragged Riches

So, I don’t think that it takes a rocket scientist to realize that Ragged Riches is going to focus a lot on content creation. I’m a content creator, and most people who I see in this field are the people who tend to march to the beat of their own drums. You could say we’re…a raggedy bunch.

Being a content creator can be great, but the truth is that I wouldn’t recommend it to most people as a full-time job…at least to start. If you’re an aspiring content creator, it makes sense to have a dayjob until you really get a stable, reliable income.

And if you’re an aspiring entertainer (such as a musician or a model), having a job can be a great way to avoid being stuck broke or in a career you realize you hate. Entertainers are content creators after all. They just tend to be a little more old school than typical TikTokkers.

So what can you do as a day job if you’re a content creator? Let’s talk about the best jobs for content creators and aspiring creators, from the lens of a long-time creator.

What did I look for when searching for the best dayjobs for content creators?

Good question. I had a couple of criteria in mind that were fairly universal because of the nature of content creation. However, every creator is going to have a particular job that woud work better with them and their flow. Here’s what I looked for:

• Flexibility. I tried to find jobs that can be done as both a freelance or corporate manner. Content creation often means you have to schedule things around, do stuff at weird hours, or go to events that are during work hours. Having flexibility matters.
• Knowledge. I am a massive, massive fan of learning while you earn. Content creation is ever-evolving, so if you can get a job that keeps you on your toes, it is a major bonus.
• Mental Health. I looked for fields that either are known for giving great benefits for mental health or are generally low-stress fields.
• Stability. A stable job is worth its weight in gold, so to speak. Content can ebb and flow. Stability can help you get through the month.
• Networking/Promotional/Entrepreneurial Perks. A lot of the jobs on here work well in tandem with a career in content creation. So I looked for jobs or businesses that tend to do well when promoted via social media and content.
• Privacy. Aside from bartending, which is often a good choice for small-to-medium famous creators who want to network, I tried to find jobs that are fairly low-key. Why? Because a lot of content creators and influencers don’t want to deal with fans showing up on the job.

#1: Company Content Writer/Editor/Videographer

If you’re like me, you love to do content 24/7. It kinda has to be your passion in order for you to want to pursue it as a career. That’s why the best day job you can get (if you can get a job like this) is to create or edit content for companies in need of content.

There are a lot of reasons you will like this job.

1. First, you might learn more about content creation and you’ll be able to practice your craft every day.
2. You’re getting paid to learn in a way.
3. If you get a W-2, it’ll make tax day easier on you.
4. You might be able to use their equipment and programs for your own work too—if you ask nicely.
5. A lot of this work can be done from home, which can be a godsend for many of us.
6. Finally, you can also do this freelance on sites like Upwork if you need something more flexible.

Depending on the specific role, corporte content creators can make anywhere from $30,000 to upward of $70,000 per year.

#2: Bartender

Believe it or not, bartending is one of the best career fallbacks for people who want to work in entertainment. There’s always a demand for a good tender, you always can count on tips, and some bartenders can make six figures doing their thing.

The hours are flexible, you get to sleep in during the day, and honestly? It’s an honest day’s job. What makes it one of the best jobs for content creators, aside from the decent pay and flexibility, is the networking.

A lot of bartenders have been able to get big breaks because they were able to network with the right people. If you are in a city area, being a bartender can get you major contracts or even help you meet talent agents.

Honestly? This is a good job for a lot of people. In fact, it’s one of the best jobs for felons and high school drop outs because of its flexibility and open entry.

Bartenders run the gamut from making $20,000 a year to upward of $150,000 a year depending on when they work and who they work for.

#3: Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist/Manicurist

It’s no secret that beauty-related content is a major, major goldmine. If you have a passion for beauty content, I strongly suggest you get your hair, makeup, nail, or aesthetician license sooner rather than later.

A lot of professional makeup artists, hair stylists, and manicurists get clients through social media. This is especially true if you specialize in extreme looks, niche markets, or viral trends in beauty. Having those credentials can also help you if you’re lookin to become an influencer.

This is one of the very few jobs where employers view a good content portfolio as a perk, not a pitfall. If you want to become a celebrity stylist, it’s basically a must.

Folks in the beauty industry make anywhere from $20,000 to upward of $90,000 a year depending on their industry, their clients, and more. It’s important to remember that much of this income is tip-based, so plan accordingly.

#4: Therapist/Social Worker

A lot of people who are therapists end up becoming smash hit content creators on YouTube, and it’s easy to see why. Mental health and psychology are big topics online, especially now that people are falling apart at the seams.

It’s important to note that this has a major caveat: if you are not already studying social work or have a degree, don’t go this route unless you’re absolutely sure you can handle it. This can be an extremely emotionally taxing job. Thankfully, most jobs in these fields have great benefits.

It’s not unusual for people to be traumatized by what they see, especially if you’re working for something like CPS. Content creation is already emotionally taxing, so this might just make you burn out if you’re not able to compartmentalize.

With that said, this is a good job for content creators that want to build a brand over their work. Since therapists can also do telehealth on their own time, you also get flexibility that you might not have with other medical jobs.

You might recognize content creators like Jordan & McKay, Healthy Gamer GG, and Anna Bea as examples of this in realtime. A lot of people who want to promote their therapy or social work background do so through social media.

Of course, if you become more famous as a content creator, you might end up just becoming an influencer in that scene. You might not need to be a therapist at all!

Social workers and therapists are often grossly underpaid, at least in many cases. Social workers and CPS workers often earn under $50,000 a year when they first start out. However, wages can go up to as much as $90,000.

PRO TIP: Really, any medical background at all will work well as a dayjob for a content creator, assuming that it’s not mentally taxing on you. It adds a lot of authority to your content others don’t have.

#5: Accountant

I know, accounting is dry as a bone. For most people, accounting is one of more boring jobs that you can get. But, it offers a LOT of perks. If you’re looking for one of the best day jobs for content creators, this is the big one I would suggest, with a bullet. Here’s why:

• You get privacy. If you end up going viral or if you end up having a channel that gets a lot of people interested, accounting is a good way to shield your privacy. You can even work remotely!
• You never run out of clients. It’s true. Tax prep, bookkeeping, and accounting are the three most stable jobs ever.
• It can be remarkably well-paid. A friend of mine who is a corporate accountant is currently making $140,000. Not too shabby!

Yeah. That’s a lot of good stuff. And some firms will even pay you to learn. What’s not to love?

#6: Social Media Manager

I shouldn’t have to explain this, right? Social media management is the best way to sharpen your social media skills, learn what works with social accounts, and also figure out how to boost your own media presence.

If you’re lucky enough to know those skills already? Awesome. That means you’re going to get mucho dinero while doing what you do best.

A typical social media manager can make between $40,000 to $80,000 a year. Senior social media managers can have salaries as high as $100,000 per year in major cities.

#7: Graphic Designer

I think almost every content creator has to know at least some amount of Canva or Photoshop. If you are good with graphics, you might as well look at companies hiring graphic designers. In some cases, you can use your social media or content creation as a portfolio for hiring companies.

Graphic design is a lot like writing in the sense that you can have a 9-to-5 if you want, but you often might make more money doing it as a freelancer or selling cute products you made yourself.

Entry-level graphic designers make $42,000 while more senior ones can make upward of $75,000. Not too bad!

#8: Digital Marketer

Man, if I had a dollar for every influencer and content creator I know who make thier dayjobs in marketing, I’d have a new car by now. Digital marketing is all about coordinating all the things necessary to make a brand launch well and gain followers.

It’s SEO. It’s social media. It might even include influencer marketing. Many marketers end up opening their own firms because it’s so much work, but if you can hack it yourself…why not? It’s one of the best jobs for content creators who want out of the content game or want to stay behind the scenes.

Digital marketers can have a massively various salary depending on what they do, how they do it, and who is hiring them. I’ll just post what Google told me: Entry-level positions in New Jersey might start around $60,036 annually, while experienced professionals can earn up to $145,436. Nuff said.

#9: Data Entry

I am a huge fan of low-stress, low-skill jobs when it comes to having a day job. This is doubly true if you’re a budding content creator who wants to work from home. Data entry fits that bill perfectly.

If you’re like me, doing content can be a lot on your brain. You want your job to be simple, quiet, and maybe home-based. This is the perfect job for people who want to have something to chill out to while they brainstorm ideas.

Most data entry jobs, particularly remote jobs, tend to pay under $25 an hour. Even so, they are safe, stress-free, and stable options.

What are your thoughts on these picks?

Tell me your thoughts. If you know a good addition to this list, hit me with it in the comments below.