US 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.

National Review

US Cannabis legalization map

Legalized States in 2020:

  • Arizona (recreational)
  • Montana (recreational)
  • New Jersey (recreational)
  • South Dakota (med + rec)
  • Vermont (recreational)
  • Virginia (medical)

Legalized States in 2021:

  • Alabama (medical)
  • Connecticut (recreational)
  • New Mexico (recreational)
  • New York (recreational)

States Without Med/Rec Legalization:

  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Mississippi
  • Nebraska
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Variance by State

Salaries vary from state to state. Below is a national Cost of Living Index, which measures the difference in the price of goods and services. This can assist with calculating the adjusted average salary in each state. One may do so by multiplying the average base salary for the position that needs to be filled by the variance for that particular state.

For example, a Director of Finance has an average base salary of $120,000. If the position is based in Arizona, the below map designates a Cost of Living Index of 107.0. This indicates that AZ is 7.0% above the national average. See calculation below:

$120,000 x 1.07 = $128,400

The average base salary for a Director of Finance in Arizona is $128,400.

Composite cost of living index

Salary Guide Review

The salaries presented in this guide are based on 25,000+ data points compiled from 2021 sources including:

  • Company-specific job boards
  • Meta Talent Group’s Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
  • Public job boards (LinkedIn & US Indeed)
  • Salary information extracted from candidate interviews
  • Placements with our partners

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
  • 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
AP Supervisor
55,000
65,000
75,000
AR Supervisor
55,000
65,000
75,000
Bookkeeper
40,000
50,000
60,000
Controller
90,000
110,000
130,000
Cost Accountant
65,000
75,000
85,000
Director Accounting
100,000
120,000
140,000
Director Finance
100,000
125,000
150,000
Financial Analyst
55,000
65,000
80,000
IT Manager
75,000
90,000
120,000
Payroll Manager
70,000
85,000
100,000
Senior Financial Analyst
65,000
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
VP Finance
110,000
130,000
150,000

Admin / HR & Legal

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
35,000
40,000
50,000
ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
70,000
90,000
110,000
COMPLIANCE ANALYST
55,000
65,000
75,000
DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR TALENT
80,000
100,000
125,000
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
60,000
80,000
130,000
HR GENERALIST
45,000
55,000
65,000
HR MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
LICENSING SPECIALIST
50,000
65,000
80,000
MANAGER OF COMPLIANCE
60,000
75,000
90,000
METRC MANAGER
60,000
70,000
90,000
OFFICE MANAGER
40,000
50,000
60,000
ON-BOARDING MANAGER
40,000
55,000
70,000
PARALEGAL
45,000
60,000
75,000
PROJECT COORDINATOR
40,000
50,000
60,000
PROJECT MANAGER
50,000
65,000
85,000
RECEPTIONIST
35,000
40,000
45,000
RECRUITER
50,000
60,000
75,000
TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST
45,000
55,000
65,000
VP HUMAN RESOURCES
125,000
150,000
175,000

Cultivation & Laboratory

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
ASSISTANT CULTIVATION MGR
45,000
60,000
75,000
ASSISTANT LAB MANAGER
50,000
60,000
70,000
CHEMIST
50,000
55,000
65,000
CULTIVATION MANAGER
55,000
70,000
90,000
CULTIVATION TECHNICIAN
40,000
45,000
50,000
DIRECTOR CULTIVATION
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR EXTRACTION
90,000
110,000
130,000
DIRECTOR QUALITY
70,000
95,000
120,000
EXTRACTION MANAGER
60,000
75,000
90,000
EXTRACTION TECHNICIAN
40,000
50,000
60,000
FORMULATION CHEMIST
50,000
65,000
80,000
HEAD GROWER
50,000
70,000
90,000
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGER
55,000
65,000
75,000
LABORATORY DIRECTOR
75,000
100,000
125,000
LABORATORY MANAGER
60,000
70,000
90,000
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
40,000
45,000
50,000
LEAD SCIENTIST
75,000
100,000
125,000
POST-HARVEST MANAGER
70,000
80,000
95,000
QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
50,000
65,000
80,000
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER
50,000
65,000
80,000
R&D MANAGER
60,000
75,000
90,000
VP CULTIVATION
125,000
150,000
250,000
VP QUALITY ASSURANCE
100,000
150,000
200,000
VP RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
100,000
135,000
175,000

Executive Officers

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
125,000
175,000
200,000
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF DEI OFFICER
110,000
130,000
150,000
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
200,000
250,000
300,000
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
175,000
225,000
275,000
CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF HR OFFICER
150,000
200,000
250,000
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER
120,000
140,000
160,000
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER
110,000
130,000
150,000
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
125,000
175,000
225,000
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
120,000
150,000
180,000
CHIEF OF STAFF
80,000
140,000
200,000
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
150,000
200,000
250,000
CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER
125,000
175,000
225,000
CHIEF PRODUCTION OFFICER
120,000
150,000
180,000
CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER
125,000
150,000
220,000
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
125,000
150,000
200,000
CHIEF RISK OFFICER
120,000
140,000
160,000
CHIEF SALES/BD OFFICER
150,000
200,000
250,000
CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
125,000
175,000
225,000
CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER
125,000
150,000
175,000
CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
150,000
175,000
250,000

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
60,000
75,000
90,000
CONTENT MARKETING MGR
60,000
70,000
80,000
CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
CUSTOMER SERVICE REP
35,000
40,000
45,000
CUSTOMER SUCCESS MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
DIRECTOR BRANDING
80,000
100,000
120,000
DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEV
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR BUSINESS RELATIONS
80,000
100,000
120,000
DIRECTOR MARKETING
90,000
110,000
130,000
MARKETING COORDINATOR
40,000
45,000
50,000
MARKETING MANAGER
60,000
80,000
100,000
PR MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
REGIONAL SALES MANAGER
50,000
75,000
100,000
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
40,000
45,000
50,000
SALES MANAGER
50,000
70,000
90,000
SALES DIRECTOR
80,000
110,000
130,000
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST
45,000
55,000
70,000
VP MARKETING
125,000
150,000
200,000
VP SALES
120,000
150,000
200,000
VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
100,000
140,000
180,000
WHOLESALE MANAGER
65,000
75,000
90,000

Operations & SCL

Base Salaries
Positions
Low
Average
High
CONSTRUCTION PM
80,000
100,000
120,000
DIRECTOR FACILITIES
70,000
100,000
130,000
DIRECTOR OPERATIONS
80,000
110,000
140,000
DIRECTOR PROCESSING
70,000
90,000
125,000
DIRECTOR PURCHASING
70,000
90,000
110,000
DIRECTOR SECURITY
70,000
90,000
110,000
FACILITY MANAGER
65,000
75,000
90,000
GENERAL MANAGER
60,000
80,000
100,000
INTEGRATIONS PM
70,000
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
80,000
90,000
PURCHASING MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
RETAIL MANAGER
50,000
60,000
70,000
SECURITY MANAGER
60,000
70,000
80,000
SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATOR
40,000
50,000
60,000
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER
60,000
80,000
100,000
SUPLLY CHAIN DIRECTOR
75,000
100,000
125,000
VP DOMESTIC SUPPLY CHAIN
110,000
140,000
170,000
VP GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN
125,000
150,000
175,000
VP OPERATIONS
130,000
160,000
225,000
VP SECURITY
110,000
130,000
150,000

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.

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. Create presentations and proposals. 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 Finance

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

Wholesale Manager

Lead all parts of the sales process including targeting appropriate accounts, lead selling, education and brand recognition. Drive brand success by actively supporting the selling efforts of sales reps and key account specialists. Requires 3+ 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