Job Outlook
Career Outlook: A Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity
The legal cannabis and plant-based wellness market is no longer a "niche" sector; it is a major economic engine. In 2025, the U.S. cannabis industry reached $19.8 billion in revenue and currently supports 167,000 professional roles. By 2030, the market is projected to grow to $26.1 billion, with employment expected to increase at an annual rate of 8.4% (Immerwahr, 2025).
At NMU, we prepare you to join this workforce with skills used by leaders across an industry that has grown at an average rate of 9.4% annually from 2020-2025 (Immerwahr, 2025).
Cannabis Operations (CO)
The Business & Strategy Track
As the industry matures, operators are prioritizing professional business standards and "compliance-first" management. This track is for those who want to lead retail, compliance, and supply chain logistics in a sector that reached $19.8 billion in revenue in 2025 (Immerwahr, 2025).
Dispensary Manager: $55,000 – $90,000+*
Compliance Officer: $60,000 – $75,000* (Essential for legal licensing)
Director of Operations: $85,000 – $140,000+*
Sector Insight: While federal rescheduling discussions continued as of late 2025, potential changes to cannabis’s federal classification could alter tax treatment under IRS Code 280E. Any such changes would depend on final regulatory and legislative actions.
Cannabis Agriculture (CA)
The Cultivation & Technology Track
Modern cultivation is part science and part facility management. This track focuses on high-tech indoor growing, post-harvest efficiency, and botanical quality control to manage production risks and combat climate-related volatility.
Master Grower / Director of Cultivation: $75,000 – $130,000+*
Horticultural Supervisor: $50,000 – $70,000*
Cultivation Analyst: $55,000 – $80,000*
Sector Insight: Cultivators are rapidly adopting precision hydroponics, AI-powered environmental monitoring, and climate-controlled systems. These technologies are critical for achieving the scale and operational efficiency needed to maintain profitability in mature, price-compressed markets. (Immerwahr, 2025).
Plant-Based Wellness (PBW)
The Holistic Health & Innovation Track
Plant-based wellness is a rapidly growing segment of the health and consumer goods economy, driven by increased interest in botanical products, functional ingredients, and science-informed approaches to everyday wellness. This track focuses on the development, formulation, and evaluation of plant-based products that support consumer preferences related to sleep, stress management, and overall quality of life. Emphasis is placed on evidence-informed practices, product innovation, and the responsible integration of traditional botanical knowledge with modern research and market trends.
Cannabis/Wellness Consultant: $50,000 – $85,000*
Product Formulation Specialist: $60,000 – $95,000*
Ethnobotanist / Research Liaison: $65,000 – $100,000+*
Sector Insight: Traditional herbal knowledge and ethnobotanical practices represent an important area of study within plant-based wellness education. International organizations highlight the value of preserving cultural plant knowledge, evaluating botanical materials responsibly, and distinguishing traditional use from regulated medical practice. Educational programs increasingly emphasize the role of ethics, sustainability, and regulatory awareness in preparing students to engage with plant-based wellness across research, education, and product-development contexts (World Health Organization, 2019; FAO, 2024).
The BAS Advantage: Leadership & Earnings
While a Certificate can facilitate entry into the industry, the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) is designed to support advancement into director and executive-level roles. As the industry faces "significant consolidation," larger firms are prioritizing candidates who can manage "economies of scale" and complex "compliance management platforms" (Immerwahr, 2025).
| Credential Level | Associated Role Level | Estimated Salary Range* |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Entry-Level / Technical | $35,000 – $55,000 |
| Associate Degree | Mid-Level / Supervisory | $50,000 – $75,000 |
| Bachelor's Degree | Leadership / Executive | $85,000 – $150,000+ |
Sector Insight: The industry average wage is currently $34,576, but total industry wages are projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.9% through 2030. This growth is driven by a critical need for "skilled labor" to manage high-tech cultivation and navigate "complex and often conflicting" federal and state regulations (Immerwahr, 2025).
*Salary ranges reflect national estimates synthesized from major employment and compensation databases, including ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and Indeed. Reported ranges vary by role, experience level, geographic location, and industry segment.
References
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2024). Medicinal plants: Traditional knowledge and sustainable use in food and agriculture. https://www.fao.org/agrovoc/concepts-of-the-month/medicinal-plants
Glassdoor. (n.d.). Salaries and compensation insights. https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/index.htm
Indeed Editorial Team. (n.d.). Career salary information. https://www.indeed.com/career/salaries
Immerwahr, V. (2025, November). Medical and recreational marijuana growing in the United States (Report No. OD4141). IBISWorld.
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Traditional medicine: Questions and answers. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/traditional-medicine
ZipRecruiter. (n.d.). Salary information by job title and location. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries
At NMU, we are dedicated to providing you with the technical mastery and tools needed to excel across plant-based and cannabis-related industries. Industry-wide economic data from IBISWorld provide context for overall market growth, while salary ranges presented here reflect estimates synthesized from major employment and compensation databases, including ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and Indeed. Individual career outcomes will vary based on factors such as prior experience, geographic location, regulatory environment, and chosen professional focus.