The fastest-growing jobs in the creator economy dont require going viral
Two different panels at VidCons discussed the careers that can be built behind the camera.
With the ever-growing state of the creator economy, the allure of being a content creator is more prevalent than ever. Some of the most accessible jobs in the field, however, aren't the ones that require going viral on your own.
Two different panels at VidCon 2026 focused about the jobs that exist behind the camera, from editors to talent agents. This kind of focus makes sense: the next generation of creators will think more like media companies than ever before, and a media company needs its staff to survive.
"We all know at this point that the number one job in the country right now that kids want to do is to be a content creator, but I feel like that's 1% of what's actually happening in the creator economy," said Adorian Deck, creator and the founder-CEO of Decked Media, a company which helps creators and brands build out their multi-platform strategy.
Making yourself valuable in the creator space
Among the jobs available in the creator economies are the usual suspects of entertainment: editors, talent managers, and producers. But that's only one piece of the pie. There are heads of creator development, post supervisors for content, accountants, finance managers, and chiefs of staff.
No matter the exact job description, panelists talked about the importance of being adaptable.
Editors Sara Currie, YB Chang Biste, and talent manager Gil Krueger (far right) talked about finding opportunity on the panel Behind the Camera: the Jobs Powering the Creators.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
YB Chang Biste, creator, former senior editor for the Try Guys, and now freelancer, said that being quick to adjust to different styles of creators helped her establish herself in her career.
"You could be the best editor in the world, but if you meet a YouTuber who has a very specific style of editing and style of humor that you might not be familiar with, you might not be the best editor in the world anymore," Chang Biste said.
SEE ALSO: The creator strategies still working in an AI-saturated internetSean Klitzner, who was the co-creator, showrunner, and creative director of Beast Games, talked about when he initially started working with Mr. Beast, he started out in a creative wall. Then, he noticed they needed production help. From there, he noticed the budget needed reworking, and shortly after became Mr. Beast's chief of staff.
"I just said yes to whatever they needed," he said, before distilling his experience to a simple piece of advice: "Go through the door that's open."
Finding jobs supporting creators
So how does a person go about actually breaking into the space? Partially, it relates back to going through that open door. However, it can also entail going down traditional job channels.
"This is gonna sound like super old man advice but LinkedIn is your friend," said Gil Kruger, who runs the creator talent management agency Best Regards Media. Chad Wild Clay, the creator behind Spy Ninjas, also echoed this, saying that his company regularly posts jobs on LinkedIn.
Networking, of course, was also pushed as an essential part of finding work. Chang Biste and former editor for Mr. Beast, Sara Currie, also pointed to the online network they're a part of: EditHers, a group which brings together women editors on YouTube. Groups like these can be vital for making connections, and seeing call outs for work you wouldn't otherwise.
Klitzner also pointed to behind-the-scenes jobs being a viable point of entry for anyone who eventually wants to be a creator in front of the camera:
"Go learn everything you have to do to get to that point," he said.
Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.
