Top 7 Highest-Paying Jobs in the Cannabis Industry
The cannabis industry is currently one of the fastest-growing sectors of the American economy. More than 200,000 people are already employed in the cannabis field, and this number is expected to rise as more states legalize cannabis. But which jobs in the industry are the most lucrative? Here are the seven highest-paying positions in the cannabis industry, along with their approximate salaries.
7. Cannabis Chef: $50,000–$100,000 per year
Many people know how to cook well, but what about making cannabis-infused brownies, candies, and other edibles? This requires significant skill and education. Since many people prefer edibles over smoking, this job can be especially profitable.
6. Cannabis Sales Representative: $60,000 plus commission per year
Cannabis sales representatives aren’t the people in stores calling customers to offer cannabis. Instead, they help build relationships between cannabis producers and retail stores. They need to understand both the production and sales aspects of the industry.
5. Dispensary Manager: $75,000 per year
Opening a cannabis dispensary is a bit more complicated than opening other types of stores. Working as a dispensary manager is also much more challenging. Not only do you have to handle daily operations, but you must also ensure compliance with all cannabis laws and keep up with regulatory changes to avoid legal trouble.
4. Cannabis Extraction Technician: $75,000–$125,000 per year
While many states in America have legalized medical cannabis, some prohibit patients from smoking or consuming edibles. This means there is a need for specialists who can extract cannabis oils or other concentrates in accordance with state laws.
3. Master Grower: $80,000–$100,000 per year
Although, in theory, anyone with the right lighting and hydroponic equipment can grow cannabis, specialized training is required to understand how to produce cannabis on a large scale for retail supply.
2. Cannabis Consultant: $100,000 or more per year
As in any industry, consultants are highly paid to advise new growers and dispensary owners on how to build their businesses. Since many people entering the industry may not know all the ins and outs, cannabis consultants can be extremely valuable.
1. CEO: $125,000 per year
Who would have thought that owning a store where people can buy cannabis could be so profitable?
Interesting Fact About Cannabis
The Product with the Highest THC Concentration: Budder
The three main forms of cannabis are flower (buds), resin (hashish), and hash oil. Typically, THC content in buds is about 5–10 percent. However, THC concentration in buds has increased significantly over the past decades. For example, one study found that the average THC level in buds was 3.48 percent in 1985, rising to 8.77 percent by 2006. Some cannabis strains have buds with THC concentrations as high as 27 percent.
Meanwhile, hashish usually contains about 15–20 percent THC, but it can be much higher. Filtered hashish contains about 45 percent THC, while bubble hash can have around 53 percent THC. The process of making hashish involves removing trichomes from cannabis. Trichomes are the hairs and crystals found on the outside of buds. Once the trichomes are removed, the remaining hashish is heated and formed into blocks.
The most concentrated form of cannabis is hash oil. Hash oil is produced by dissolving unwanted resins in solvents such as ethanol or hexane, resulting in either a liquid or a waxy substance. Hash oil typically contains about 30–90 percent THC. The most concentrated form of hash oil is called budder, which contains approximately 99.7 percent THC and 5–15 percent of total cannabinoids. Like most types of butane hash oil, budder can be smoked, vaporized, or used in cooking with cannabis. It is a very pure substance, free from heavy metals, soil fertilizer markers, toxins, solvents, mold, bacteria, or other contaminants.
On the other hand, the most concentrated synthetic THC substance ever made is dimethylheptylpyran. It was discovered in 1949 and has a half-life of 20–40 hours.