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When you’re passionate about cannabis for recreational or medicinal use, getting a job in the cannabis industry can be an exciting venture.
But with cannabis being a relatively new legal industry in many states throughout the United States, it can be difficult to find the right career path for you.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the different types of cannabis jobs, the skills and education required to land those jobs, where you can find jobs near you, and the top remote positions available now!
What are the different types of cannabis jobs?
Entry-level jobs in the cannabis industry can be a great way to kickstart your career doing something you love.
Like any industry, the cannabis industry has multiple positions to make it run efficiently. Some of these positions are entry-level, while others require more education and experience.
Let’s take a look at the different types of cannabis jobs that are typically available in a cannabis business.
1. Sales representatives
Sales representatives are the face of all cannabis companies. They’re the main point of contact for customers and are a key player in generating sales and increasing the revenue of the cannabis business.
If a store carries multiple cannabis products from various brands, the sales rep should be knowledgeable about all of the products and what differentiates the quality of one brand from another.
A sales representative should also be able to identify a customer’s needs and pair them with the best cannabis product.
What skills are needed to succeed as a cannabis sales representative?
Each employer will have their own set of requirements for the position, but generally, you will need the following:
A positive, helpful attitude.
In-depth knowledge about the products you’re selling.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Computer skills.
Time management skills.
The ability to work in a team or independently.
A high school education or a Bachelor’s degree (preferred).
How much do sales representatives make?
According to ZipRecruiter, “The majority of Sales Representative wages currently range between $22.36 … to $43.27.”
That equates to approximately $43,000 to $83,078 each year. Keep in mind that your salary expectations depend on where you live and your experience.
How to become a salesperson—5 tips to succeed, Grant Cardone2. Cannabis Harvesters
If you like the idea of working with cannabis plants directly and prefer physical work over a desk job, working as a cannabis harvester may be for you.
Cannabis harvesters do exactly as it sounds: they harvest cannabis plants to prepare for processing.
As a cannabis harvester, you may also find yourself de-sticking and trimming plants, processing dried cannabis, cleaning your equipment, and working with a team of harvesters and supervisors to meet production goals.
What skills are needed to succeed as a cannabis harvester?
To be a cannabis harvester, you will more than likely have to be age 21 or older.
Besides your age, you will also need the following:
Moderate physical fitness to stand on your feet all day, crouch, and physically process plants.
The ability to work with a team of other harvesters.
A positive attitude.
A strong work ethic to meet the demand of the business.
The ability to work in warm temperatures and in bright and dark flower rooms.
How much do cannabis harvesters make?
According to Indeed, the “Average Cannabis Company Harvester hourly pay in the United States is approximately $15.12.”
That hourly rate equates to around $29,184 a year.
Being a harvester may not be a long-term career for you, but this entry-level position can definitely move you up the ladder with hard work and dedication.
3. Packaging supervisor
This is a good option if you’ve been in the manufacturing or cultivation business before or have worked as a marijuana packer previously.
Packing supervisors are responsible for the end-of-production processes of cannabis products.
Their primary responsibility is ensuring that cannabis and cannabis products are appropriately labeled and packaged sanitarily.
A packaging supervisor also supervises cannabis packers to ensure they’re meeting the standards.
What skills are needed to succeed as a packaging technician?
Though the skills and education required will be different for each company, you will generally be required to have:
1 or more years of packaging experience in the marijuana industry.
Strong communication skills.
Moderate physical fitness to stand during the day and lift packages.
Leadership skills.
A good eye to catch discrepancies in products or packaging failures.
How much do packaging supervisors make?
According to Zippia, “The average packaging supervisor salary in the United States is $55,729.”
This, of course, depends on the market and your location.
The lowest income expectation for this position is around $38,000/year, while the highest income you can expect as a packaging supervisor is around $79,000/year.
4. Delivery driver
Delivery drivers in the marijuana industry are responsible for delivering medical marijuana or marijuana products to customers in a timely and legal manner.
A delivery driver may also be responsible for loading the delivery vehicle with products, creating an efficient route for delivery, and completing compliance, weight, and item checks before delivery.
What skills are needed to succeed as a delivery driver?
To be a delivery driver for marijuana, you’ll first need to be 21 years of age or older. Then, you will need the following:
Knowledge of how to lawfully deliver marijuana products as per the state cannabis agency.
Driver’s license and clean driving record.
High school education or GED.
The ability to drive for extended periods of time.
The ability to lift moderate amounts of weight.
How much do delivery drivers make on average?
You can typically make anywhere from $15 to $20 an hour working as a delivery driver in the marijuana industry.
That comes out to between $28,800 to $38,400 each year.
5. Cannabis content creator
A content creator can be an independent contractor or an employee that specializes in social media marketing, website design, blog writing, and more.
For the sake of this post, we’re going to cover the content writer position for this industry.
Typically, content writers are required to research marijuana-related topics for new blog posts for the company’s site, social media posts, and email marketing.
What skills are needed to succeed as a cannabis content creator?
Content creators will generally need the following to succeed:
Excellent written communication skills.
The ability to effectively proofread and edit written work.
The ability to conduct industry and keyword research.
Experience in the marijuana business.
A bachelor’s degree in marketing, English, or journalism (not always required).
How much do content creators make on average?
According to Hubspot, “The salary range [for content creators] is $36,000 to $58,500,” with the average being around $44,192/year.
The average salary for content creators comes out to about $22/hour.
Where can I find cannabis jobs near me?
Linkedin, one of the many professional networking platforms
Whether you’ve been in the marijuana business for years or are new to the scene, finding jobs near you is easier than you might think!
These sites are a great place to start and can help you land a job you’re passionate about:
LinkedIn
Indeed
ZipRecruiter
Monster Jobs
Upwork
You can also contact the company you’d like to work for, inquire about available positions, and see if you can apply to the company directly.
What remote cannabis jobs are currently available?
If you’re looking for remote work, here are some cannabis positions that you can do from home.
As of this writing, these positions are still available, so be sure to reach out and apply asap!
1. Remote cannabis sales associate
Work remotely as a sales representative for Farm2Lab, an up-and-coming California-based business.
This position allows you to choose your own work schedule and is available full-time or part-time.
Skills and experience:
At least 1 year’s experience in sales.
Have and efficiently operate your own computer and phone.
Provide excellent customer service and a positive attitude.
Knowledge of marijuana and popular brands.
Responsibilities:
Assist customers and answer questions.
Communicate effectively with a diverse audience.
Explain various medical marijuana products.
Stay up-to-date on products.
Pay: Commission based. $18.00 – $50.00 per hour, according to the company.
2. Cannabis blog writing job
If you’re based in Michigan or have an understanding of the legal marijuana landscape in the state, this remote freelancing writing job may be for you!
You’ll need to have strong written communication skills and a unique writing style for this position. It’s a long-term gig with more than 30 hours a week available for work.
Skills and experience:
A marijuana consumer with first-hand experience.
Knowledge of SEO and strong research skills.
A Michigan resident with knowledge of the local marijuana laws.
Responsibilities:
Create engaging, pro-marijuana content that remains politically neutral.
Review marijuana products and write about them.
Pay: $25 – $90/hour.
3. Cannabis content creator
Dive into the amazing world of marijuana content creation with this position. This is the perfect position for anyone that’s familiar with all aspects of social media influencing.
Skills and experience:
Uses social media daily with a focus on marijuana.
Skills in design, video editing, and social media copywriting.
Experience in creating content on Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Teamwork and collaboration skills.
Responsibilities:
Create content for marijuana brands.
Create clips, gifs, graphics, photos, stories, and copy.
Work with videos to create unique imagery.
Collaborate with the team to create content.
Pay: Contact the company for details.
How does Shoeboxed help those in the cannabis industry?
Shoeboxed is trusted by over 1 million business owners and users to digitize and organize receipts.
The cannabis industry is legal in many states, but marijuana and cannabis products are still considered illegal substances in 12 states.
For this reason, the legal states must strictly regulate the industry from seed to sale.
This is where digitizing every expense you receive as a business owner or as a worker in the cannabis industry comes in handy.
The last thing you want while working in the cannabis industry is to have no proof of your expenses!
Shoeboxed is a receipt-scanning app and service designed to simplify expense management and help ensure expenses are tax-ready. It’s the #1 way to keep a digital paper trail of your expenses should you be audited by the IRS.
So, how does Shoeboxed help cannabis business owners and workers? Let’s take a look at the features Shoeboxed offers in the sections below.
Shoeboxed and cannabis business owners
Bookkeeping for dispensaries is challenging and intimidating, especially with all of the regulations and paper trail requirements by the government.
As a cannabis business owner, you have to keep a record of every transaction in your business to stay within the confines of the law.
This includes transactions from distributors, suppliers, and customers.
From the grow house to the storefront, every penny must be accounted for should the government come knocking.
Shoeboxed offers business owners a quick and efficient way to digitize all of their receipts and business-related documents and safely store them in an online account.