{"id":1711,"date":"2021-10-13T00:48:48","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T00:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=181394"},"modified":"2021-10-13T00:48:48","modified_gmt":"2021-10-13T00:48:48","slug":"budtending-by-the-numbers-heres-where-the-jobs-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1711","title":{"rendered":"Budtending by the numbers: Here\u2019s where the jobs are"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>  <title>Budtending by the numbers: Here&#8217;s where the jobs are &#8211; Leafly<\/title>     <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. This script needs to setup it's interjection stuff before GAM loads. --> <!-- End Index Exchange --> <!-- Quotes = strings--><!-- No quotes = boolean-->\t   <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.1.2 (Yoast SEO v17.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->                  <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- BEGIN Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Sailthru Horizon Meta Information -->  <!-- Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- End Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --><br \/>\n <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) -->   <title>Leafly<\/title>     <title>Leafly \u00ae<\/title>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              <title>Loading\u2026<\/title>     <\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-white fixed flex hidden inset-0 items-start md:h-auto md:items-center overflow-auto\" id=\"age-gate-container\">\n<div class=\"bg-white md:h-auto mx-auto p-lg text-sm w-full\" id=\"age-gate\">\n<p><label for=\"select-country\">Where are you from?<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"age-gate__info\">\n<p><button class=\"button\" data-testid=\"age-gate-no-button\" id=\"tou-cancel\">no<\/button><button class=\"button ml-md\" data-testid=\"age-gate-yes-button\" id=\"tou-continue\">yes<\/button><\/p>\n<p><label class=\"checkbox__label my-xl\"><span class=\"text-xs\" id=\"remember-user-label\">Remember me for 30 days. <br \/>I confirm that this is not a shared device.<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--underage hidden\">Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p>Legal cannabis is America\u2019s fastest-growing industry, with more than 321,000 jobs across dozens of states. If you\u2019re curious about starting a cannabis career\u2014or just want a job with decent pay and cool co-workers\u2014budtending is an excellent way to learn the trade. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-left\">\n<p>Dispensaries in Eastern states are booming, and that means they\u2019re hiring.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Leafly\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/industry\/cannabis-jobs-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021 Cannabis Jobs Report<\/a> found 321,000 full-time jobs in America\u2019s legal cannabis industry. That report was published in Feb. 2021, and since then tens of thousands of jobs have been created in booming states like Michigan, Massachusetts, Missouri, Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that nearly all of those states are east of the Mississippi River. America\u2019s cannabis boom began in the West, but today\u2019s hiring boom is happening in the East.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at budtending by the numbers.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-budtender-wages\">Budtender wages<\/h2>\n<p>This varies from state to state and city to city. But wages generally start in the $13 to $16 per hour range, and rise to the $18 to $20 per hour range.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-budtender-benefits\">Budtender benefits<\/h2>\n<p>The cannabis hiring company <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.vangst.com\/reports\/2019-salary-guide.pdf?_ga=2.27399932.1397011601.1634053208-218378819.1626793616\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vangst reports<\/a> that nearly 80% of cannabis companies now offer paid time off to their employees, while 70% offer health insurance benefits (with most including dental and vision).<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-career-building\">Career building<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to make $50 an hour, budtending isn\u2019t your gig. But there are few better jobs to use as a stepping-stone into a career in America\u2019s fastest-growing industry. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center\">\n<p>Experienced budtenders are going to be in high demand in New York and New Jersey when those states open their adult-use stores next year.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As a budtender you\u2019re gaining valuable experience on the front lines, learning what customers care about in terms of product modalities and quality, experiencing the rhythm of the retail day and week, spotting trends, gaining an understanding of distribution channels, and sharing your passion with customers who are genuinely excited to be shopping at your store. <\/p>\n<p>Top budtenders typically rise to become assistant managers, retail managers, or product buyers, but really there\u2019s no limit. As a budtender you\u2019ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the entire industry, and from there you can pursue your passion\u2014whether it\u2019s growing, product development, manufacturing, or any one of a hundred different roles in the industry.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s also this tried-and-true strategy: Budtenders who gain experience in a mature retail market like Colorado, Washington, California, or Oregon, may find their knowledge and skills highly valued by startup cannabis retailers in newly legal states like Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/industry\/cannabis-jobs-report\" class=\"wp-block-leafly-blocks-leafly-single-inline-block leafly-inline-related-story\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"border border-deep-green-alt border-l-0 border-r-0 my-xl p-md font-bold\">\n<p>Related<\/p>\n<p>The US cannabis industry now supports 321,000 full-time jobs<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-who-s-hiring-now\">Who\u2019s hiring now?<\/h2>\n<p>Nearly every cannabis company is hiring. This is an industry that sees double-digit growth every single year. But right now there are a number of emerging states that are hiring at blinding speed.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Florida<\/strong>: Medical sales just keep on growing, up 30% since the start of the year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Illinois<\/strong>: This adult-use state is just getting started. More stores are on their way, and sales are up 45% since January.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maine<\/strong>: After a long wait to open retail stores, Mainers (and visitors) are now embracing legal sales in a big way. Sales have quadrupled since January.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Michigan<\/strong>: Total cannabis sales are up nearly 60% from the start of 2021.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Missouri<\/strong>: Sales in this new medical state doubled between January and July of this year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New Jersey<\/strong>: The state is about to license up to 15 more medical dispensaries, and is expected to start full adult-use sales in 2022. Pro tip: Check out opportunities at a <span><a href=\"https:\/\/events.nj.com\/e\/career-expo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Jersey Cannabis Career Fair<\/a><\/span> on Nov. 17 at Stockton University in Galloway.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New York<\/strong>: State regulators just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/politics\/new-york-dispensaries-can-now-sell-cannabis-flower-but-whos-got-it-in-stock\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span>announced<\/span><\/a> that medical dispensaries can now sell cannabis flower, which could set off a boom in sales. That\u2019s even <em>before<\/em> adult-use sales kick off in later 2022. Budtenders will be needed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ohio<\/strong>: This medical state is expected to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cincinnati.com\/story\/news\/2021\/02\/22\/ohio-add-medical-marijuana-dispensaries-after-first-two-years-of-sales\/4369356001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span>triple<\/span><\/a> the number of licensed dispensaries in 2022. That means a lot of budtender hiring.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pennsylvania<\/strong>: The Keystone State doubled its medical sales in 2020. Adult-use legalization is expected soon, and that means experience gained now will be valuable to rec store hiring managers down the road. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/budtending-by-the-numbers-heres-where-the-jobs-are.jpg\" alt=\"Bruce Barcott's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Bruce Barcott<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Leafly Senior Editor Bruce Barcott oversees news, investigations, and feature projects. He is a Guggenheim Fellow and author of Weed the People: The Future of Legal Marijuana in America.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/bruce-barcott\">View Bruce Barcott&#8217;s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat -->  <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2021-10-12 17:48:54 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Budtending by the numbers: Here&#8217;s where the jobs are &#8211; Leafly Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You&#8217;re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Legal cannabis is America\u2019s fastest-growing industry, with more than 321,000 jobs across dozens of states. If you\u2019re curious about starting a cannabis career\u2014or just want a job with decent pay and cool co-workers\u2014budtending is an excellent way to learn the trade. Dispensaries&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana_information"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/budtending-by-the-numbers-heres-where-the-jobs-are.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}