Cannabis has gone past previous misconceptions of ‘grow rooms set up in concealed backrooms of questionable dealers’ to ‘a multi-billion dollar industry spinning exciting prospects at tech employees seeking new opportunities.’
Becoming a multi-billion dollar industry sure comes with its perks and privileges. New Frontier Data predicted that the cannabis industry will employ 743,000 people by the year 2025. Leafly’s 2021 annual cannabis industry jobs report also confirmed prior news by showing – a 32 percent year to year increase accompanying 321,000 full-time American jobs in the legal cannabis industry. Given unprecedented expansions, many job opportunities are in demand within the cannabis industry. Let’s see some of the high-paying tech jobs in this evergreen sector.
What are the High Tech Careers in Cannabis?
1. Cannabis Data Scientist
A data scientist gathers and analyzes vast sets of structured and unstructured data. Besides using big data generated from diverse sources within the cannabis industry to build models, data scientists help cannabis entrepreneurs, brands, and policymakers get actionable insights to expedite enhanced decision-making. Many start-ups within the cannabis industry are employing the expertise of data scientists to streamline supply chains, fast-track performances, create quality CBD products, and solve complex problems. It is undeniable that the synergy between the fastest-growing industry and the sexiest job of the 21st century will be both exciting and terrific.
For many aspiring and new data scientists looking for an opportunity to start their careers, the cannabis industry can be a great launching pad to success because jobs are fresh and very rewarding. In line with reports according to indeed, data scientists in the cannabis industry can earn an average base salary of $120,199 per annum. The data science role comprises skill sets that include programming languages, data mining, and statistical analysis. Hence, a bachelor’s degree in data science or a master’s degree in statistics, computer science, or engineering teaches the essential data science skills desirable for the career.
2. Cannabis Engineer
There is a high demand for experts at the various strata of engineering in the cannabis industry. Facility design is an emerging area in the cannabis industry handled entirely by cannabis facility engineers who know the nitty-gritty of setting up different facilities within a cannabis company. To become a facility engineer, a bachelor’s degree in engineering, in addition to 2 – 4 years of experience is needed.
With the cannabis niche opening up to technological advancements, automation and control engineers at the helm of developing inventions like robotics, monitoring devices, and control systems – to speed up production tasks have an edge at getting employed in cannabis’s tech sector. An excellent way of jumpstarting a career as an automation and controls engineer is a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering.
Chemical engineers validate THC content in edibles and extracts for quality control. They also develop new production processes for cannabis. Openings in cannabis’s applied chemical engineering space are also massive. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemical engineering provides the foundational knowledge required for a smooth sail as a cannabis chemical engineer. As various engineering fields in the cannabis industry have good job prospects, engineers can make from $80,000 up to $120,000 or more per annum.
3. Cannabis Master Grower
The entire cannabis industry relies on the expertise of master growers at the frontline of cannabis planting and production. The role of a master grower requires years and a wealth of experience in planting and managing cannabis legally. Job duties are – devising organizational strategies on cannabis planting to minimize costs, preventing pests and infections, supervising other subordinate staff, and interacting with compliance inspectors and law enforcement agents. The success of a cannabis business lies primarily in the expertise of a master grower.
So, cannabis production companies are on the lookout to hire the best grower they can afford. This is making the master grower role one of the most in-demand hires in the cannabis industry. Master Growers working with large cannabis companies can earn as high as $150,000 per year. A bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agronomy, horticulture, or any related field fulfills the requirement to begin a career in this role.
4. Cannabis Research Scientist
From discovering therapeutic potentials of the cannabis plant to unraveling new frontiers for research, all accolades go to research scientists whose grind has advanced the cannabis industry. According to STAT News, “the cannabis industry needs scientists both at the clinical and non-clinical stage of science.” For scientists looking at changing industries, the cannabis sector can be the perfect springboard to career satisfaction. According to PayScale, research scientists earn an average income of $81,593 per year. More experienced researchers can make more. A master’s degree or a Ph.D. is the preferred level of education for most research scientist job roles.
Cannabis sales and marketing representatives can earn from $250,000 to $300,000 per year. In the coming year, job roles for cannabis sales and marketing representatives will rise. Companies require a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, marketing, or economics in addition to sales experience when hiring for this role.
5. Honorable Mention – Sales and Marketing Representatives
So, sales and marketing isn't exactly the most highly technical role in the cannabis industry, however, based on income potential sales roles deserve an honorable mention in high-paying cannabis industry careers. The sale of cannabis is skyrocketing. It is estimated to reach $92 billion this year in the U. S. alone. All thanks to marketing representatives who market different cannabis products and work tirelessly to reposition the brand image of cannabis to cannabis consumers and businesses. Cannabis sales and marketing representatives lead positions – implementing sales strategies, meeting market goals, tracking sales reports, and managing marketing operations.
Cannabis sales and marketing representatives can earn from $250,000 to $300,000 per year. In the coming year, job roles for cannabis sales and marketing representatives will rise. Companies require a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, marketing, or economics in addition to sales experience when hiring for this role.
With so many different in-demand jobs to choose from, tech employees looking for high-paying opportunities in the cannabis industry should easily find their niche.
