Gen Zers aspire to be influencers, but the constant workload is a concern, says creator.

Exactly 57% of young people aspire to become influencers.

According to a 2023 Morning Consult survey of 1,000 Gen Zers and 2,204 U.S. adults, nearly half of adults would choose a career in technology.

According to Victoria Bachan, president of talent at influencer agency Whalar, their motivations differ. Some are thrilled about the prospect of fame, wealth, and celebrity, while others seek a sense of community and connection. Additionally, there are those who are passionate about using social media to create.

The job may be more challenging than it appears, as creators encounter numerous difficulties on a daily basis.

'There's a misperception that it's easy'

Running "your own independent media company" is similar to becoming a paid creator, according to Taylor Lorenz, host of Power User podcast and author of Extremely Online.

"She states that there's a common misconception that launching a successful startup is easy, but she believes that most startups, including media startups, ultimately fail."

According to Linktree's 2022 Creator Report, there are 4.2 billion social media users globally, with 200 million being creators who monetize their audiences. This means that only 4.7% of social media users are earning money from it.

While many creators earn money from their work, only about half, 48%, make $15,000 or less annually, according to a 2023 survey of over 2,000 creators by NeoReach. On the other hand, less than a third, 28.9%, earn more than $50,000 per year.

'It's just constant, Monday through Sunday'

For some, the daily routine of their profession can be exhausting.

Hannah Williams, 27, and her spouse operate the renowned TikTok account Salary Transparent Street, which features individuals across the country disclosing their salaries. The channel boasts 1.4 million followers, and the majority of their earnings stem from partnerships with corporations such as Capital One, with a smaller portion derived from the platforms where they post their content through creator funds.

Since quitting her job as a data analyst in 2022, Williams has been a full-time creator and her business brought in more than $1 million in 2023. Now, she earns $125,000 per year for her own salary.

Williams typically begins working at 8 a.m., which includes checking emails, editing videos, and planning content. From noon to 3 p.m., she is usually on calls with clients. She takes a break at 4 p.m. and returns to her desk at 6 p.m., at which point she works "full on until midnight." She and her husband frequently travel for their job and post at least once a day.

"The internet is always on from Monday to Sunday, so you are constantly connected as well."

Since graduating college in 2022, Caroline Lasher, 22, has been a full-time content creator. Her Instagram and TikTok accounts have garnered her a combined following of 211,000. Lasher primarily creates beachy lifestyle content and earns a substantial portion of her income through brand partnerships and affiliate links. Her monthly earnings can fluctuate, but she often brings in more than $10,000.

Lasher wakes up at 8 a.m., reads emails and contracts, edits content for posting, and goes out shooting until the evening.

She is her own photographer, videographer, and editor, and when she goes out, she brings her tripod and looks for public locations to take pictures. In the evening, she has dinner and decompresses, then often edits until 10 p.m. She works every day but takes breaks to eat with a friend or after dinner.

Lasher's work schedule is influenced by the companies she collaborates with. The demand for partnerships fluctuates throughout the year, with periods of high promotion for new seasonal products and lower demand during other times.

Brands often demand what they want, when they want, and how they want it, regardless of initial timelines or contracts, according to Bachan.

Whatever the demands, Lasher, too, finds it's nonstop.

"Since everyone is always on their phone, it's difficult to walk away from influencing," she remarks.

'We've literally been on our toes for nine years'

This type of never-ending schedule lends itself very easily to crashing.

Lasher says, "I have burned out. It usually comes in waves." When it does, she'll either take a few days off or work through it.

The platforms where creators post make it harder to take a break, as their content may not be shown to as much of their audience when they return. Even when Lasher's mental state fluctuates, she feels that being inactive will harm her.

TikTok may be banned in January 2025, and creators will have to find new platforms to showcase their content.

Since 2013, Leslie Mosier, 32, has been managing social media accounts for her dog, Doug the Pug. After securing sponsorship deals, she began working full-time in 2015. Today, their Facebook page has 5.7 million followers, their TikTok has 6.1 million followers, and their YouTube page has 634,000 followers. Doug the Pug has generated income through sponsorship deals, book deals, and merchandising. Most recently, Mosier and her husband launched an organic dog product company called Nonipup.

"Mosier states that platforms' popularity fluctuates and new ones are constantly introduced, with nothing remaining the same for more than six months. She also mentions that they have been on their toes for nine years."

'You can imagine the racism that my partner and I experience'

One of the most challenging aspects of the job is its public-facing nature.

"According to Lorenz, traditional celebrity fame comes with its fair share of downsides, including hate, harassment, and stalkers. However, it also comes with very few upsides. In fact, Lorenz states that he has never met a content creator who hasn't experienced online abuse."

Williams and her spouse, who are an interracial couple, experience racism on a daily basis, as she says, "so you can imagine the comments and derogatory terms that my partner and I have encountered."

'Do something you enjoy doing, even if no one's watching'

Williams, Lasher, and Mosier all find joy in their jobs. Williams appreciates the freedom and flexibility it offers. Lasher is passionate about photography and the creative process. Mosier finds fulfillment in making people happy with her puppy.

For nearly a decade, Caspar Lee, 30, devoted himself to creating humorous videos about his personal experiences and eventually landed interviews with renowned actors such as Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. Despite retiring from full-time YouTubeing, he continues to amass a substantial following, with over 6.5 million subscribers on his channel and millions more across his other social media platforms.

In 2019, he realized that he no longer loved the process as much as he used to, so he quietly stepped away. Now, he works on various entrepreneurial ventures, including talent management company MVE Management and venture capital firm Creator Ventures.

To succeed as a creator, he advises using available tools, diversifying posting platforms, and identifying a niche for content. Additionally, he suggests doing something enjoyable, even if there's no audience.

Sign up for CNBC's online course to master your money this fall. Our practical strategies will help you hack your budget, reduce your debt, and grow your wealth. Start today to feel more confident and successful. Use code EARLYBIRD for a 30% introductory discount, extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.