Want to Work in the Cannabis Industry? These Roles May Interest You

Cannabis is a plant that has grown naturally on Earth for as long as humans have lived here. Despite the time it has spent flourishing on our planet, cannabis has not always been embraced…until now.

Over the course of the last few years, the global cannabis industry has inflated into a $20 billion annual market. Meanwhile, the U.S. cannabis sector has amassed the greatest level of growth, with the market generating over $16 billion in sales in 2020. By 2025, the value of the U.S. cannabis industry is forecast to reach $30 billion. There is a growing need for people to join the cannabis workforce in order to keep up with this demand.

According to ZipRecruiter, the top earners in the cannabis industry make $121,413 on an annual basis. If you’re interested in being a part of this rapidly evolving market, check out some of these positions.

1. Extractor

If you have extraction expertise and are seeking out a comfortable income, this could be the role for you. There’s also the opportunity to work as an extraction technician under the close supervision of a master extractor. Certain skills/certifications are required to become a cannabis extractor, such as biochemistry education and the ability to precisely extract specific quantities of the cannabis plant’s primary cannabinoids CBD and THC.

2. Cultivator

A certified cannabis cultivator who grows the plant will usually work closely with a broad spectrum of strains, meaning that he or she must possess proper knowledge of the composition and effects of each one. Additionally, a cultivator should understand best practices for growing cannabis, such as the nutrient intake required for maximum yields.

3. Cannabis Chef

The cannabis edibles and dining scene is growing, with a string of cannabis-themed restaurants opening across the United States since the first, Lowell Herb Co., opened its doors in 2019. If you have undergone basic culinary arts training and know how to infuse cannabis oil into a variety of edible items, including baked goods, sweet treats, and beverages, you can help to serve the growing consumer demographic.

4. Cannabis Tester

Also known as a “quality-control inspector,” this role involves working with agencies, government branches, or cannabis companies to ensure the health, safety, strength, and composition of cannabis products so as to keep companies in line with cannabis laws and regulations. Eligible candidates may require a degree in agronomy, biology, or chemistry.

5. Dispensary Manager

This type of cannabis job demands a lot of attention and time as it involves hiring and training staff. A dispensary manager is often responsible for running multiple departments, including sales, security, and customer service, in addition to cannabis product inventory monitoring duties. Furthermore, a dispensary manager may need to communicate on a face-to-face basis with customers when the sales team is unavailable as well as lay down the ground rules for deliveries and other essential services.

6. Trained Budtender

Do you have good people skills and a knack for helping others? If so, a budtender job could be just the role for you. Someone in this line of work is responsible for assisting dispensary customers in choosing the best products for their needs. As such, the role requires an adequate understanding of cannabinoids, strains, and various forms of cannabis, though this knowledge can generally be obtained on the job.

7. Cannabis Delivery Driver

After COVID-19 broke out across the world and social distancing measures were put into place, more people started receiving their bud via delivery services. This type of service has stuck around ever since and if you’re the one delivering the goods, you could earn a comfortable hourly wage with potential commissions and tips.

8. Dispensary Cashier or Receptionist

Another cannabis job that involves face-to-face contact is a cashier/receptionist—a great option for people who want to start with something simple and work their way up. For this role, you will be required to answer phone calls, greet customers, and deal with sales transactions. There may also be times when you’ll have to verify customer prescriptions and identification.

9. Trimmer

You may have heard stories of people packing their bags and heading off to the Emerald Triangle in Humboldt County for trimming, harvesting, and cultivating jobs. So long as you are willing to work fast, these entry-level jobs pay incredibly well. Popular in states with thriving cannabis industries, such as California and Colorado, these jobs involve stripping the buds of cannabis plant stems and improving the visual appearance of buds by trimming any surrounding leaves. Once weighed, dried, and sorted, they are sold at licensed dispensaries.

10. Packager

Looking for something in between cultivating and budtending? Packaging positions offer a prime opportunity to gain entry into the cannabis industry. Cannabis flower or edible packaging jobs can be added to your resume to attract further interest from employers in the cannabis market.

Work With Cannabis Indirectly

Aside from the “plant-touching roles,” there are also plenty of ancillary cannabis jobs that don’t involve dealing with the plant directly. Examples include working for a cannabis-related company as a human resources manager, website builder, SEO specialist, content creator, lawyer, accountant, product packaging manufacturer, real estate agent, or graphic designer.