2021 Cannabis Salary Guide

A word from Meta Talent Group

Meta Talent Group exists to inspire and connect the world’s top talent with companies focused on people, planet, and profitability.

MTG provides staffing and executive recruitment services for growing companies and purpose-driven individuals seeking to improve the world socially & environmentally in industries like cannabis, hemp, psilocybin and other alternative industries.

National Review

Map of Marijuana Legality by State

  • Legal Recreational States/Territories:

    • 15 + D.C. + Guam

  • Legal Medical States/Territories:

    • 36 + Puerto Rico

Newly Legalized States (Nov. 2020):

  • Arizona (recreational)
  • Mississippi (medical only)
  • Montana (recreational)
  • New Jersey (recreational)
  • South Dakota (recreational)

Limited Medicinal Program with only low-THC, CBD Oil (hemp-derived):

  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Texas
  • *Virginia (only state on this list to decriminalize marijuana)
  • Wisconsin

Variance by State

Composite Cost of Living Index: Q3 2020

Salaries vary from state to state. Below is a list of COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) variances for each state in the U.S. This information can help calculate the adjusted average salary in each state. Multiply the average base salary for the position that needs to be filled by the variance for that particular state.

For example, a Director of Extraction has an average base salary of $100,000. If the company is based in New Jersey, it will carry a variance of 18.2% above the U.S.
average.

$100,000 x 1.182 = $118,200

The average base salary for a Director of Extraction in New Jersey is $118,200.

Salary Guide Review

The salaries presented in this guide are based on data compiled from 2020 United States sources including:

  • Exclusive searches
  • Public job boards
  • Company websites
  • Salary information extracted from interviews
  • Meta Talent Group’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Base Salaries

LOW: 10% of the national workforce are paid below this figure

AVERAGE: this represents the national average

HIGH: 10% of the national workforce are paid above this figure

Salaries may be affected by other factors including, but not limited to:

  • Benefits package
  • Bonuses or profit sharing
  • Company size
  • Equity components
  • Location
  • Specialized skill sets
  • Education & certifications

Accounting / finance & it

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
Accounting Clerk
35,000
45,000
55,000
Accounting Manager
55,000
75,000
95,000
AP Supervisor
50,000
65,000
80,000
AR Supervisor
50,000
65,000
80,000
Bookkeeper
40,000
50,000
60,000
Controller
80,000
100,000
120,000
Cost Accountant
45,000
55,000
65,000
Director Accounting
90,000
110,000
130,000
Director Capital Markets
100,000
110,000
120,000
Director Finance
90,000
110,000
120,000
Financial Analyst
50,000
65,000
80,000
IT Manager
70,000
90,000
110,000
Payroll Manager
70,000
85,000
100,000
Senior Financial Analyst
60,000
75,000
90,000
Senior Accountant
60,000
70,000
80,000
Software Developer
60,000
75,000
90,000
Staff Accountant
45,000
55,000
65,000

Admin / HR & Legal

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
Administrative Assistant
35,000
40,000
45,000
Attorney
70,000
90,000
110,000
Compliance Analyst
55,000
65,000
75,000
Director Human Resources
70,000
100,000
130,000
Director Talent
70,000
90,000
120,000
Executive Assistant
60,000
80,000
100,000
HR Generalist
45,000
55,000
65,000
HR Manager
60,000
70,000
80,000
Licensing Specialist
50,000
60,000
70,000
Manager of Compliance
50,000
70,000
90,000
Metrc Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Office Manager
45,000
55,000
65,000
On-Boarding Manager
40,000
50,000
60,000
Paralegal
45,000
60,000
75,000
Project Coordinator
40,000
50,000
60,000
Project Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Receptionist
30,000
35,000
40,000
Recruiter
50,000
60,000
70,000
Talent Acquisition Specialist
45,000
55,000
65,000

Cultivation & Laboratory

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
Assistant Cultivation MGR
40,000
55,000
70,000
Assistant Lab Manager
50,000
60,000
70,000
Chemist
40,000
50,000
60,000
Cultivation Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Cultivation Technician
35,000
40,000
45,000
Director Cultivation
70,000
100,000
140,000
Director Extraction
75,000
100,000
130,000
Director Quality
70,000
90,000
120,000
Extraction Manager
60,000
70,000
80,000
Extraction Technician
35,000
40,000
45,000
Formulation Chemist
50,000
60,000
70,000
Head Chef
50,000
70,000
90,000
Head Grower
50,000
60,000
70,000
Integrated Pest Manager
50,000
60,000
70,000
Laboratory Director
70,000
90,000
110,000
Laboratory Manager
60,000
65,000
80,000
Laboratory Technician
35,000
40,000
45,000
Quality Assurance Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Quality Control Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
R&D Manager
50,000
70,000
90,000
Senior Analytical Chemist
50,000
60,000
70,000
VP Cultivation
100,000
140,000
180,000
VP Quality Assurance
100,000
125,000
150,000
VP Research & Development
100,000
130,000
160,000

Executive Officers

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
Chief Administrative Officer
125,000
150,000
175,000
Chief Communications Officer
100,000
130,000
160,000
Chief Compliance Officer
110,000
140,000
170,000
Chief DEI Officer
100,000
125,000
150,000
Chief Executive Officer
150,000
200,000
250,000
Chief Financial Officer
150,000
200,000
250,000
Chief Growth Officer
125,000
150,000
175,000
Chief HR Officer
125,000
175,000
225,000
Chief Information Officer
120,000
140,000
160,000
Chief Innovation Officer
110,000
130,000
150,000
Chief Investment Officer
120,000
140,000
160,000
Chief Marketing Officer
125,000
150,000
175,000
Chief Medical Officer
120,000
150,000
180,000
Chief Operating Officer
140,000
180,000
225,000
Chief People Officer
125,000
150,000
175,000
Chief Production Officer
120,000
140,000
160,000
Chief Research Officer
120,000
150,000
180,000
Chief Revenue Officer
125,000
150,000
175,000
Chief Risk Officer
120,000
135,000
150,000
Chief Sales Officer
125,000
175,000
225,000
Chief Science Officer
120,000
160,000
200,000
Chief Security Officer
110,000
130,000
150,000
Chief Strategy Officer
120,000
140,000
160,000
Chief Technology Officer
140,000
170,000
200,000

Marketing & Sales

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
Account Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Account Specialist
40,000
50,000
60,000
Business Development MGR
50,000
70,000
90,000
Brand Ambassador
40,000
45,000
50,000
Brand Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Content Marketing MGR
60,000
70,000
80,000
Client Success Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Customer Service Rep
35,000
40,000
45,000
Customer Success Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Director Branding
70,000
90,000
110,000
Director Business Dev
75,000
100,000
125,000
Director Business Relations
70,000
90,000
110,000
Director Marketing
75,000
100,000
125,000
Marketing Coordinator
40,000
45,000
50,000
Marketing Manager
60,000
75,000
90,000
PR Manager
50,000
60,000
70,000
Regional Sales Manager
50,000
70,000
100,000
Sales Representative
40,000
45,000
50,000
Sales Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Sales Director
75,000
100,000
125,000
Social Media Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Social Media Specialist
45,000
55,000
65,000
VP Marketing
100,000
125,000
150,000
VP Sales
100,000
150,000
200,000
VP Business Development
100,000
140,000
180,000

Operations & SCL

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
Director Facilities
70,000
90,000
110,000
Director Operations
75,000
100,000
125,000
Director Processing
70,000
90,000
110,000
Director Purchasing
70,000
85,000
100,000
Director Security
70,000
90,000
110,000
Director Warehouse
70,000
85,000
100,000
Director Wholesale
70,000
90,000
110,000
Facility Manager
60,000
75,000
90,000
General Manager
60,000
80,000
100,000
Inventory Manager
60,000
70,000
80,000
Operations Manager
60,000
80,000
100,000
Operations Coordinator
45,000
50,000
55,000
Procurement Manager
60,000
75,000
90,000
Product Dev Manager
80,000
90,000
100,000
Production Manager
70,000
75,000
80,000
Purchasing Manager
60,000
70,000
80,000
Retail Manager
50,000
60,000
70,000
Security Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000
Supply Chain Coordinator
40,000
50,000
60,000
Supply Chain Manager
60,000
80,000
100,000
Supply Chain Director
75,000
100,000
125,000
VP Domestic Supply Chain
110,000
130,000
150,000
VP Global Supply Chain
120,000
140,000
160,000
VP Operations
125,000
150,000
175,000
VP Security
100,000
125,000
150,000
Warehouse Specialist
40,000
50,000
60,000
Warehouse Manager
50,000
65,000
80,000

Brief Job Descriptions

Administrative Assistant

Supports an organization or department by performing administrative services. Requires a high school diploma with 1-2 years of experience preferred.

Director of Talent

Develops, implements and manages a recruiting strategy aimed at attracting the top talent across the globe. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience.

Executive Assistant

Aids executive in staff capacity by handling a wide variety of situations involving the admin functions of the office that cannot be brought to the attention of the executive. Gatekeeper to the CSuite team. Requires an associate’s degree or its equivalent with 3+ years of
experience.

Human Resources Generalist

Analyzes HR data and carries out responsibilities in staffing, employee relations, training compensation, employment, labor relations, safety, affirmative action, employment equity programs, etc. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of experience.

Marketing Manager

Manages the promotion and direction of the marketing or service activities, improvement of company’s product image, market data and information. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 3+ years of experience.

Project Manager

Manages, plans and organizes activities of projects to ensure that goals or objectives of projects are accomplished within prescribed time frame and funding parameters. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of experience.

Receptionist

Greets and receives callers or visitors at establishment and determines nature of business. Acts as a junior gatekeeper to the entire company. Requires 1-2 years of experience preferred.

Recruiter

Recruits, interviews, checks references, makes offers and conducts orientation for new employees. Requires a bachelor’s degree in area of specialty and 1-3 years of experience.

Sales Director

Directs and oversees an organization’s sales policies, objectives and initiatives to drive revenues. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience.

Supply Chain Director

Directs an organization’s overall global supply chain operations, including purchasing and inventory, selection of vendors and distribution of finished goods. Requires 5+ years of experience.

Vice President of Domestic Supply Chain

Plans and directs all aspects of an organization’s domestic supply chain policies, objectives and initiatives. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience.

Warehouse Manager

Manages and controls storage and distribution activities of the company to ensure maximum utilization of facilities. Requires a bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of experience.

Salary Guide Review

Meta Talent Group is the culmination of all things that I love and support; community, integrity, evolution, a hyper-focused mission and helping to further companies that support holistic health. I’m truly grateful to be a part of the cannabis and alternative health movement.

Derrick Knudsen, Founding Partner