The team at Vangst includes cannabis recruiters, industry veterans and researchers. Get access to our in-depth industry reporting to stay on top of trends.

Cannabis Job Reports, Salary Guides and more. 

Live Now: The Vangst 2024 Cannabis Jobs Report. We are excited to announce that the Leafly Jobs Report now has a new home at Vangst!

The industry’s definitive report finds a gain of +22,952 jobs in the past year. 
How many jobs are supported by America’s legal cannabis industry? We have the answer. 

The [2024 Vangst Jobs Report](https://www.vangst.com/2024-jobs-report) found there are now 440,445 full-time equivalent jobs supported by legal cannabis in the U.S. That’s a 5.4% increase over 2023, a positive sign that the industry is finding its footing after a rough couple of years. 

This year’s report explains why that happened, and also reveals: 

- The top ten states for cannabis employment in 2024 
- Why mature states like Colorado and California lost jobs last year
- How Michigan and Missouri each created more than 10,000 jobs 
- How inflation and interest rates are affecting hiring 
- Which states gained the most cannabis jobs last year
- Which states lost the most cannabis jobs last year
- Why we expect hiring to quicken—and where prospects are brightest

![Screen Shot 2024-04-10 at 11.18.09 AM.png](https://media.graphassets.com/ZvCimUOsQ4G9MipdGvYM)

**[DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE](https://www.vangst.com/2024-jobs-report)**

Live Now: The Vangst 2024 Cannabis Jobs Report 

The 2024 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide is here. Check out salaries from some of the most popular positions in the cannabis industry.

Each year, Vangst puts out the industry-defining report on salary information for scores of cannabis job types. Our 2024 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide has all of the latest information you need to grow your company and know your worth.

Discover the latest hiring trends and insight into the professional landscape of the cannabis industry with the Vangst 2024 Salary Guide.  From salary data across various employment verticals to predictions of the year ahead,  this report provides invaluable foresight for investors, employers, and job seekers alike. 

With data from over 1,000 cannabis professionals and companies, as well as  expert analysis from the Vangst team, the report highlights:

- Salaries for 60 roles, spanning 10 verticals that represent the industry
- Diversity and Benefits insights
- Trending industry topics
- Predictions for 2024, including the state of cannabis legalization

[Download a copy of the 2024 report.](https://vangst.com/reports/salary-guide).



2024 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

Live Now: The 2024 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

Live Now: The Vangst 2023 Cannabis Jobs Report

Familiar with the Leafly Cannabis Jobs Report? The torch has been passed to Vangst. Don’t miss this year’s cannabis industry trends. Download today.

How many jobs are supported by America’s legal cannabis industry? We have the answer. 

The 2023 Vangst Jobs Report found there are now 417,493 full-time equivalent jobs supported by legal cannabis in the U.S. That’s a surprising result – a 2% drop in employment since early 2022. It’s the first time legal cannabis jobs have declined year-over-year since the modern legal era began in 2012. 
This year’s report explains why that happened, and also reveals: 

- The top ten states for cannabis employment in 2023 
- Why the pandemic’s end led to job losses 
- How inflation and interest rates are affecting hiring 
- Which states gained the most cannabis jobs last year
- Which states lost the most cannabis jobs last year
- Why we expect hiring to quicken – and where prospects are brightest

![Screenshot 2023-04-09 at 12.08.27 AM.png](https://media.graphassets.com/xXrVi1j5QAGa6k19ohr8)

### A New Home for a Trusted Report 
From 2017 to 2022, Leafly and Whitney Economics partnered to produce the Cannabis Jobs Report, an annual tally of jobs supported by America’s regulated cannabis industry. This year Leafly is passing the torch to Vangst, who is proud to publish the 2023 Jobs Report and continue its legacy of solid economic data and timely, accurate information. Jobs Report creator Bruce Barcott and economist Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, are once again at the helm of the report.

[Click here to download the full report.](https://vangst.com/reports/2023-jobs-report) 

Live Now: The Vangst 2023 Cannabis Jobs Report

The industry’s definitive survey of cannabis jobs now lives at Vangst! 

We are so excited to announce the launch of our 2022 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide, which includes insights for over 60 roles in 10 industry verticals.

We are so excited to announce the launch of our 2022 Salary Guide, which now includes salary insights for over 60 roles, spanning 10 industry verticals. Additionally, the guide now includes salary insights for both plant-touching and ancillary roles, all thanks to survey responses from over 2,500+ companies and candidates. 

This year’s guide also includes insights on: 

- Trending Topics 
- Salary Takeaways for 2022 
- Employee Benefit Trends 
- Diversity Trends in the Industry 
- 2023 Industry Predictions 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s 2022 Salary Guide Survey. It is thanks to the participation of our immensely talented and unique network of candidates and clients that we are able to put this report together, year after year. 

[Click here to download the guide.](https://assets.vangst.com?region=us-west-2&bucketType=general&prefix=reports/2022-salary-guide.pdf)





 


The Vangst 2022 Cannabis Salary Guide

 The annual Vangst Salary Guide is back and bigger and better than ever!

Our Economic Pulse White Paper takes an honest and insightful look at current cannabis industry trends and sentiments.

Are you looking for a cannabis industry pulse check? Well look no further than Vangst's Economic Pulse White Paper that takes an honest and insightful look at current industry trends and sentiments. With previously unpublished data from our 2022 Salary Guide Survey, you don't want to miss it! 

[Click here to download your copy of the report](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2022-q4-white-paper-economic-outlook.pdf) for an inside view of the current cannabis economic landscape.  

**This report includes:**
- A pulse-check from cannabis executives on the cannabis industry’s current economic health
- An overview of how cannabis executives feel cannabis is faring compared to the greater U.S. economy 
- A comparison of the struggles cannabis businesses are facing versus other mainstream industries 
- A look at the light at the end of the tunnel
- Key takeaways  

[Vangst Learn](https://vangst.com/learn) is a resource for industry, talent, and media where you can find regularly released reports to help cannabis industry leaders better understand their talent base and grow their business. 




2022 Vangst's Economic Pulse White Paper

Download “The State of the Cannabis Economy: An Inside Look”

Our 2022 white paper provides exclusive insights into critical entry points and feeder industries for the cannabis workforce.

It’s a trend we don’t see going away any time soon, if ever: More and more professionals are leaving traditional industries for the brave new world of cannabis.

And when we say “professional,” we mean it. Sure, we’re seeing a migration of entry-level or early career workers moving from hospitality and retail to frontline positions in the cannabis industry.
But Vangst is also seeing (and helping) mid-level professionals, managers, and C-suite executives make a move that would have been unthinkable to many just a year or two ago, let alone a decade ago when the first U.S. states legalized, regulated, and taxed sales of the plant.

[Click here to download your free copy of the 2022 special report.](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/An+Analysis+of+the+Cannabis+Professional_Report_09.09.22_FINAL.pdf)

This report includes:

- Top feeder industries into the cannabis sector
- Major factors driving migration into the industry
- Exclusive Vangst insights into transferable skills and the positions that make for the most seamless transitions.

Our 2022 Analysis of the Cannabis Professional

Download the exclusive Vangst white paper today

2022 Report: The Cannabis Professional

Our 2022 white paper provides exclusive insights into the cannabis workforce and recommendations for an inclusive workplace.

The cannabis industry and LGBTQ+ community have a unique historical relationship. The compassionate care movement of the 1980s and 1990s paved the way for the multibillion-dollar industry we know today. 

Today, LGBTQIA+ representation within the cannabis industry is double that of the general U.S. population, and is leaps and bounds above traditional corporate America, according to Vangst data. With that strength of diversity comes great responsibility when it comes to workplace culture and benefits.

[Click here to download your free copy of the 2022 special report](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2022-vangst-lgbtqia-representation-in-cannabis-report.pdf) analyzing LGBTQIA+ representation in the cannabis workforce.

This report, released during Pride Month, 2022, includes:

- A brief history of the compassionate care movement
- A look at overall diversity within the cannabis industry
- Key insights on LGBTQIA+ representation within the cannabis workforce
- Recommendations on building a more inclusive workplace for all budgets

Vangst regularly releases reports to help cannabis industry leaders better understand their talent base and grow their business. [Vangst Learn](https://vangst.com/learn) is a resource for industry, talent, and media.

A Vangst analysis of LGBTQ+ representation in the cannabis workforce 

2022 Report: LGBTQIA+ Representation in Cannabis

The 2020 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide. Check out salaries from some of the most popular positions in the cannabis industry.

Each year, Vangst puts out the industry-defining report on salary information for 25+ cannabis job types. Our 2020 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide saw the inclusion of data for the delivery vertical, information on the makeup of who works in the industry, as well as social equity hiring trends and insights.

Snag your copy of the full 2020 salary guide report [here](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2020-salary-guide.pdf)!

Or you can view a snapshot of the top jobs and the hottest markets in 2020 [here](https://vangst.com/blog/vangst-cannabis-industry-salary-guide-top-jobs).

Get your hands on a copy of our latest salary guide [here](https://vangst.com/reports/salary-guide).



2020 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

The 2020 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

The 2021 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide is here. Check out salaries from some of the most popular positions in the cannabis industry.

Each year, Vangst puts out the industry-defining report on salary information for scores of cannabis job types. Our 2021 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide has all of the latest information you need to grow your company and know your worth.

[Download a copy of the 2021 report](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2021-salary-guide.pdf).



2021 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

The 2021 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

If you're willing to work in the cannabis industry, here is what you need to know before you get ready to move.

## Understanding cannabis state requirements  

While cannabis is becoming more universal in the U.S. with more states legalizing every year, there’s still no universal way to work in the industry. Each state has its own unique set of rules and requirements needed to work in cannabis.

Here at Vangst, we’re on a mission to ensure everyone who wants to break into cannabis should have the opportunity to do so. That’s why we created our [Industry Requirements by State Tool](https://vangst.com/reports/state-requirements), giving you an easy-to-use resource to understand the specific rules and requirements for working in cannabis for each state.

### Every state has different cannabis laws and requirements  

Like speed limits, liquor store hours, and even pumping your own gas, laws around a lot of things vary greatly by state. The same is true when it comes to cannabis. Learning all about the specific regulations in your state is an essential first step in your cannabis career journey and our [Requirements by State Tool](https://vangst.com/reports/state-requirements) is your one-stop resource to understanding all the requirements. And to learn more from professionals currently working in the industry in your state, be sure to check out our [state regulations forum](https://vangst.com/community/state-regulations) and feel free to ask specific questions about working in cannabis for your state.

![growing-cannabis](https:///assets.vangst.com/cms-images/cannabis-grow-house-employee.jpeg)

### Current cannabis legalization status in each state  

As of 2021, the following states allow (or are in the process of regulating) both adult-use and medical cannabis sales:

- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington

As of 2021, the following states allow only medical cannabis sales:

- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- West Virginia

As of 2021, the following states do not allow adult-use or medical cannabis sales:

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

### How to use our Industry Requirements by State Tool  

**STEP 1: SELECT YOUR STATE**

On your desktop or phone, simply select the state you’re looking to work in from the drop-down menu. Each state will display the current medical and adult-use cannabis status. For legal cannabis states with employee requirements, the minimum age for entry into the industry and the application link will display as well.

**STEP 2: VIEW THE REQUIREMENTS**

Explore the specifics for your selected state to learn about the licenses required, application process, background check requirements, and additional links to learn more.

**STEP 3: BEGIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS**

If you meet your state’s requirements and the state requires a license or badge, open the application link to start the application process. Make sure to thoroughly read the application, submit all required documents and double-check the requirements listed on the government’s website before submitting the application. Read carefully: some states won’t allow you to procure a license until you are actively employed by a licensed cannabis facility.

### Let us help you find the perfect cannabis job.  

Once your badge or application is approved or if you meet the requirements to work in a state that doesn’t require a badge, you’ve got almost everything you need to work in cannabis. The next step is finding the right job, and that’s where we come in. Be sure to [sign up and create your Vangst profile](https://vangst.com/sign-up) to get started then [check out the jobs(https://vangst.com/jobs) available in your location. 

The cannabis industry is flourishing everywhere and we’re looking for all kinds of passionate, ambitious, and dynamic people to make their impact in our growing business. 

How To Work In The Cannabis Industry by State

How to Work in the Cannabis Industry – Requirements by State

The 2019 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide is here! Check out salaries from some of the most popular positions in the cannabis industry.

How much should you pay your trimmers? How much can you make as a Director of Cultivation? As the legal cannabis market expands across the U.S., job seekers and employers alike are looking for answers to common hiring questions. Vangst works with hundreds of cannabis employers to match candidates with common positions like horticulturists, packagers, dispensary managers and more. Our unique position in the industry allows us to gather salary data for these common positions and consolidate the data to create an industry-wide salary guide.  

[Check out the 2019 salary guide](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2019-salary-guide.pdf)  

For our 2019 guide, we surveyed cannabis businesses in the four most common sectors of the industry — cultivation, lab/extraction, manufacturing and retail. In our guide, you’ll find salary information for the following positions:

![cannabis industry sector breakdown vangst](https://assets.vangst.com/cms-images/cannabis-industry-sector-breakdown-vangst.png)  

#### 1. Cultivation:

- Director of Cultivation salary
- Grow Manager salary
- Grower/Horticulturist salary
- Trimmers/Post Harvesters salary

#### 2. Lab and Extraction:

- Director of Extraction salary
- Extraction Manager salary
- Quality Manager salary
- Compliance Manager salary
- Chemist salary

#### 3. Manufacturing:

- VP of Manufacturing salary
- Production Supervisor salary
- Edibles Specialist salary
- Production Technician salary
- Packagers salary  

#### 4. Retail:

- VP of Retail Operations salary
- Director of Retail Operations salary
- Merchandise Planner salary
- General Manager salary
- Budtenders salary

In addition, we’ve included an updated map of cannabis legalization in the U.S. and legalization information worldwide. To provide the most comprehensive information possible, we complied hiring and industry information for employers and job seekers alike. Hiring and industry highlights in 2019 include:  

- Pain points for candidates hesitant to join the industry
- Hiring practices employers can implement to improve employee retention and satisfaction
- Economic impact of the cannabis industryPercent of Americans who support legalization
- Hot jobs in the industry
- Benefit offerings across the cannabis industry
- And so much more!  

We want to sincerely thank the businesses who helped make this guide a reality. Without the participation of cannabis businesses in the U.S., this valuable resource would not be possible!   

### ADDITIONAL HIRING RESOURCES  

![work office vangst](https://assets.vangst.com/cms-images/work-office-vangst.jpeg)  

Offering competitive pay is an important step in attracting the right talent, but job seekers are looking at more than compensation when evaluating opportunities. Because a job listing is one of the first introductions a candidate has with your company, you want to make sure you craft a listing that grabs the attention of the seekers and entices them to apply.  

Once you’ve created your dream team, don’t let all your time and energy go to waste by not planning ahead for your ongoing workforce needs. Workforce planning means thinking ahead to make sure your organization can weather changes to your staff. With the new year quickly approaching, now’s the time to forecast your 2020 hiring demands. Q4 is one of the best times to hire additional staff. You can train new hires so they are ready to hit the ground running in Q1 and can take advantage of the decreased competition for talent. With the help of the salary guide and crafting a job listing resource, you can tackle your upcoming hiring needs confidently.    

If you’re interested in saving time and frustration by utilizing our team of cannabis industry recruiting experts, feel free to contact us with your needs below. From high-level placements to temp trimmers, we do it all. We only recruit for the cannabis space — our focus is solely on this budding industry.  

### ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR JOB SEEKERS  

![cannabis map](https://assets.vangst.com/cms-images/cannabis-map.jpeg)  

The cannabis industry is packed with opportunities for job seekers. If you’re new to cannabis, check out some of our free resources like “[how to work in the cannabis industry: requirements by state.](https://vangst.com/reports/state-requirements)” On our requirements by state page, you can check out the requirements in place to join the cannabis industry in your area. For example, Colorado requires a MED badge for all cannabis employees (check out [this blog](https://vangst.com/blog/how-to-get-colorado-med-badge) to find out how to get one). 

If you’re interested in pursuing a job in the industry, [become a member of the Vangst network](https://vangst.com/sign-up).  

**Whether you’re a job seeker or employer, we hope the 2019 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide provides valuable information for your hiring needs!**


2019 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide

The 2019 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide is Here!

From starting new companies to pushing the envelope to change the status quo, we’re seeing the incredible work of female-identifying individuals in cannabis come to fruition every day.

Women all over the world are making their mark on the cannabis industry.

From starting new companies to pushing the envelope to change the status quo, we’re seeing the incredible work of female-identifying individuals in cannabis come to fruition every day.

As the cannabis industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, it’s important to ensure we are building a diverse and inclusive industry. So Vangst set out to determine how many female-identifying individuals are employed in the industry, and how many are in positions of leadership to see where the industry stands today.  

[Download the free Women in Cannabis Report](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2019-women-in-cannabis-report.pdf).

**READY TO START YOUR CANNABIS CAREER?**

[CONNECT WITH VANGST](https://vangst.com) TODAY.





Vangst 2019 Women in Cannabis Report

Explore your potential in the cannabis industry by checking out the 2018 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide. We break down the numbers to keep you informed.

The Cannabis Industry’s First Salary Guide is [HERE](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2018-salary-guide.pdf).

The cannabis industry is rapidly taking off, and cannabis companies continue to compete to recruit and retain the best talent.

We believe that hiring and holding onto the best talent is the differentiating factor between good cannabis companies and great cannabis companies.


We used internal data and surveyed over 1,200 cannabis companies around the US to compile salary data for the most hired positions in the cannabis industry:
- Director of Extraction
- Director of Cultivation
- Compliance Manager
- Dispensary Manager
- Outside Sales Representatives
- Budtenders
- Trimmers

[View the Vangst 2018 Cannabis Industry Salary Guide.
](https://assets.vangst.com/reports/2018-salary-guide.pdf)

Cannabis Industry Reports & Guides