Canadian Cannabis Salary Guide 2022

A word from Meta Talent Group

Meta Talent Group is a boutique recruitment firm that exists to inspire and connect the world’s top talent. The goal is to work with companies that place a premium on people, planet, and profitability.

MTG provides executive search and recruitment services for growing companies and purpose-driven individuals seeking to improve the world socially and environmentally in cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics.

FEDERAL LEGALIZATION

Go-time
2018
  • June 2018: Saskatchewan announces 51 retail license winners
  • October 2018: Cannabis Act is passed
  • 100+ operational retail stores open
Continued Tailwinds
2019
  • July 2019: Cannabis sales surpass S100M+
  • October: 2019 Legalization 2.0 MIPs/Edibles become legal
  • 500+ operational retail stores opened in the year
2020 and Beyond
  • Cannabis is deemed essential in the COVID Pandemic
  • Average monthly cannabis retail sales hit $200M+
  • Exponential growth trajectory with $600M+ projected average monthly cannabis retail sales by 2026

SOCIAL IMPACT:

  • Marijuana use has grown from 22% in 2017 to 27% in 2020. (Government of Canada)
  • Police-reported cannabis criminal incidents amongst youth has dropped by 55-65%. (UNBC)
  • Of all impaired driving charges, drug-impaired events only account for 11% across CA in 2019. (MADD)

INDUSTRY IMPACT:

  • Retail sales were $2.6B+ in 2020, a 120% increase from 2019. (Statistics Canada)
  • Retail cannabis stores have gone from 158 in Nov. 2018 to 1,792 in April 2021. (Myran, D&A Review)
  • 84% of Directors and Executives are white and 86% are male. (Akwasi Owusu-Bempah)

VARIANCE BY PROVINCE

  • Salaries vary from province to province. Below is a snapshot of Cost of Living Index by large cities, and this information can be used to estimate the adjusted average salary in each province.
  • The graphic (bottom right) shows a comparison for a single person versus a family of four.
  • For example, a Retail Manager has an average base salary of $55,000. If the position is based in Montreal you can assume a lower salary, closer to $50,000, but if it’s located in Halifax you can assume closer to the $60,000 range.
  • As a single individual you should expect to see a 30-35% lower cost of living compared to a family of four relocating to a new city/province.

CfN Cost of Living Index

  • Halifax, NS
    • 75.07
  • Saskatoon, SK
    • 75.01
  • Ottawa, ON
    • 74.97
  • Toronto, ON
    • 74.86
  • Vancouver, BC
    • 74.39
  • Edmonton, AB
    • 74.34
  • Calgary, AB
    • 73.95
  • Winnipeg, MB
    • 71.99
  • Kelowna, BC
    • 71.5
  • Montreal, QC
    • 70.0

Salary Guide Review

The salaries presented in this guide are based on 10,000+ data points compiled from 2021 sources including:

  • Private and public company job boards
  • Meta Talent Group’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
  • Public job boards (LinkedIn & CA Indeed)
  • Salary information extracted from candidate interviews
  • Searches with our partners

Base Salaries

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

AVERAGE: This represents the industry average

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

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

  • Benefits
  • Bonuses
  • Company Size
  • Education & Certifications
  • Equity or Profit Sharing
  • Location
  • Specialized Skill-Sets

Accounting / finance & IT

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
ACCOUNTING CLERK
40,000
45,000
50,000
ACCOUNTING MANAGER
60,000
80,000
100,000
BOOKKEEPER
40,000
50,000
60,000
CONTROLLER
90,000
110,000
130,000
DIRECTOR ACCOUNTING
100,000
120,000
140,000
DIRECTOR FINANCE
100,000
125,000
150,000
DIRECTOR SOFTWARE DEV
90,000
120,000
150,000
FINANCIAL ANALYST
55,000
65,000
80,000
IT MANAGER
80,000
100,000
125,000
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
STAFF ACCOUNTANT
45,000
55,000
65,000

ADMIN/HR & COMPLIANCE

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
35,000
40,000
45,000
DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES
80,000
110,000
150,000
DIRECTOR QUALITY
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR TALENT
75,000
100,000
125,000
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
60,000
80,000
110,000
HR GENERALIST
50,000
55,000
65,000
HR MANAGER
65,000
75,000
85,000
MANAGER OF COMPLIANCE
60,000
75,000
90,000
OFFICE MANAGER
45,000
50,000
55,000
ON-BOARDING MANAGER
45,000
55,000
60,000
PROJECT COORDINATOR
40,000
50,000
60,000
PROJECT MANAGER
50,000
65,000
85,000
QAP (QUALITY ASSURANCE PER)
55,000
70,000
80,000
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
70,000
80,000
90,000
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER
70,000
80,000
90,000
RECEPTIONIST
30,000
35,000
40,000
RECRUITER
50,000
60,000
75,000
TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST
45,000
55,000
65,000

CULTIVATION & Laboratory

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
ASSISTANT CULTIVATION MGR
50,000
60,000
70,000
ASSISTANT LAB MANAGER
50,000
60,000
70,000
CULTIVATION MANAGER
50,000
65,000
85,000
DIRECTOR CULTIVATION
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR EXTRACTION
80,000
100,000
130,000
EXTRACTION MANAGER
60,000
75,000
90,000
FORMULATION CHEMIST
60,000
70,000
80,000
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGER
50,000
60,000
80,000
LABORATORY DIRECTOR
70,000
90,000
110,000
LABORATORY MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
40,000
45,000
50,000
R&D MANAGER
60,000
75,000
90,000
VP CULTIVATION
100,000
150,000
200,000
VP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
100,000
140,000
180,000

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
125,000
150,000
200,000
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
120,000
150,000
200,000
CHIEF DEI OFFICER
100,000
125,000
150,000
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
150,000
200,000
300,000
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
150,000
200,000
300,000
CHIEF HR OFFICER
125,000
175,000
250,000
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
125,000
150,000
200,000
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
150,000
200,000
250,000
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
125,000
150,000
200,000
CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER
120,000
150,000
200,000
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF SALES OFFICER
125,000
175,000
225,000
CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
120,000
175,000
250,000
CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER
110,000
130,000
150,000
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
150,000
180,000
225,000

Marketing & Sales

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
ACCOUNT MANAGER
50,000
65,000
80,000
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MGR
50,000
70,000
90,000
BRAND MANAGER
60,000
70,000
85,000
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 MARKETING
80,000
110,000
140,000
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
70,000
90,000
SALES DIRECTOR
80,000
110,000
140,000
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
55,000
70,000
80,000
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
45,000
55,000
65,000
VP MARKETING
100,000
130,000
165,000
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
120,000
DIRECTOR OPERATIONS
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR PROCESSING
80,000
100,000
130,000
DIRECTOR PURCHASING
70,000
90,000
110,000
DIRECTOR SECURITY
70,000
90,000
125,000
FACILITY MANAGER
60,000
75,000
100,000
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
PRODUCTION MANAGER
70,000
75,000
90,000
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
110,000
SUPLLY CHAIN DIRECTOR
80,000
100,000
130,000
VP SUPPLY CHAIN
110,000
140,000
180,000
VP OPERATIONS
125,000
150,000
200,000
VP SECURITY
100,000
130,000
175,000

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 C-Suite 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.

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.

Retail Manager

Manage all aspects of the store, including: personnel, product, merchandising, SOPs, training & education. Work with leadership team to drive sales and increase brand awareness. Requires 3+ years of experience.

Sales Director

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

Security Manager

Manage and maintain security measures, perform site inspections, and assist all security audits. Work with leadership team to develop a Security Plan. Requires 4+ years of experience in a similar position.

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 Finance

Develop and implement strategies, plans and processes to improve profitability and cost efficiencies. Requires a bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience.

META TALENT IN REVIEW

MTIP

META TALENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

A national internship program for the nascent industries of cannabis, hemp & psychedelics.

WHY?

The program was launched in 2020 to help bridge the entry-level employment gap that currently exists.

WHAT?

The program is designed to connect students from accredited universities with forward-thinking companies that place a high value on their employees and retention rates.

WHO?

The candidate has an opportunity to work in a nascent, alternative industry to help determine if the fast-paced environment is right for them.

The company receives access to pre-screened internship candidates and has the opportunity to “try before you buy” in terms of working with the candidate before hiring them full-time, increasing overall retention rates.

MTG builds a pool of internship and entry-level candidates with industry experience.

Diversity of hires made by Meta Talent Group in 2021:

  • Over 70% Female
  • Over 20% BIPOC

MTG’s Retention Program:

Retention bonuses are paid by MTG to placed candidates after 1 year of employment

720.471.0707

recruiting@ metatalentgroup.com