Cannabis0% remote-eligible+14% YoY growth

Budtender Salary
by City (2026)

Assist customers in selecting cannabis products and provide product education. National median: $36K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$36K

Top 10% earn

$58K

Entry level

$28K

Salary growth

+14%/yr

Budtender salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$42K	$54K	$69K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$41K	$52K	$67K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$39K	$51K	$65K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$39K	$50K	$63K	185	9.3%
Cambridge, MA	$39K	$50K	$64K	185	5%
Washington, DC	$39K	$50K	$63K	152	8.5%
Pearl City, HI	$39K	$50K	$64K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$38K	$49K	$62K	175	None ✓
Jersey City, NJ	$38K	$49K	$62K	162	10.75%
Irvine, CA	$37K	$48K	$61K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$36K	$47K	$60K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$36K	$47K	$60K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$36K	$47K	$60K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$36K	$47K	$60K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$36K	$47K	$60K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$36K	$47K	$60K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$36K	$46K	$59K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$36K	$46K	$59K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$36K	$46K	$58K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$35K	$45K	$58K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$35K	$45K	$58K	155	11%
Long Beach, CA	$34K	$44K	$56K	155	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$34K	$44K	$56K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$35K	$44K	$57K	150	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$34K	$44K	$56K	145	5.75%
Rockville, MD	$34K	$44K	$56K	148	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$34K	$44K	$56K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$33K	$43K	$55K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$33K	$42K	$54K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$33K	$42K	$54K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$33K	$42K	$54K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$33K	$42K	$54K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$33K	$42K	$54K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$32K	$41K	$53K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$32K	$41K	$53K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$32K	$41K	$53K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$32K	$41K	$53K	118	4.55%
Dallas, TX	$31K	$40K	$51K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$31K	$40K	$51K	105	None ✓
Miami, FL	$31K	$40K	$52K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$31K	$40K	$52K	128	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$31K	$40K	$51K	99	5.75%
Worcester, MA	$31K	$40K	$52K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$31K	$40K	$52K	110	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$31K	$40K	$51K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$31K	$40K	$51K	105	4.85%
Baltimore, MD	$31K	$40K	$52K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$31K	$40K	$51K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$31K	$40K	$51K	118	6.99%
Honolulu, HI	$31K	$40K	$52K	192	11%
McKinney, TX	$30K	$39K	$50K	108	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$30K	$39K	$50K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	4.55%
Lowell, MA	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	5%
Raleigh, NC	$30K	$39K	$50K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$30K	$39K	$50K	100	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	4.25%
St. Paul, MN	$30K	$39K	$50K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	6.99%
Portland, ME	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	7.15%
Manchester, NH	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	None ✓
Nashua, NH	$31K	$39K	$50K	120	None ✓
Concord, NH	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$30K	$39K	$50K	118	5.99%
Warwick, RI	$30K	$39K	$49K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$30K	$39K	$50K	128	None ✓
Irving, TX	$29K	$38K	$48K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$29K	$38K	$48K	108	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$29K	$38K	$48K	102	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$30K	$38K	$49K	112	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$29K	$38K	$48K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$29K	$38K	$48K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$29K	$38K	$48K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$29K	$38K	$48K	108	2.5%
Fort Collins, CO	$30K	$38K	$49K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$29K	$38K	$48K	108	4.55%
Charlotte, NC	$29K	$38K	$48K	100	4.75%
Cary, NC	$30K	$38K	$49K	112	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$29K	$38K	$48K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$29K	$38K	$48K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$29K	$38K	$48K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$29K	$38K	$48K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$29K	$38K	$48K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$29K	$37K	$48K	91	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$29K	$37K	$47K	93	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$28K	$37K	$47K	102	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$29K	$37K	$47K	105	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$29K	$37K	$47K	100	None ✓
Springfield, MA	$29K	$37K	$47K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$29K	$37K	$47K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$29K	$37K	$47K	105	None ✓
Reno, NV	$29K	$37K	$47K	108	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$29K	$37K	$47K	105	5.8%
Missoula, MT	$28K	$37K	$47K	102	6.75%
Arlington, TX	$28K	$36K	$46K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$28K	$36K	$46K	91	None ✓
Denton, TX	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	9.3%
Albany, NY	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$28K	$36K	$46K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$28K	$36K	$46K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$28K	$36K	$46K	90	3.07%
Rochester, MN	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$28K	$36K	$46K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$28K	$36K	$46K	105	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	5.7%
Nampa, ID	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$28K	$36K	$46K	98	7.15%
Dover, DE	$28K	$36K	$46K	100	6.6%
Grand Prairie, TX	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$27K	$35K	$45K	92	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	9.3%
Tallahassee, FL	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	4.95%
Joliet, IL	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$27K	$35K	$44K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$27K	$35K	$45K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$27K	$35K	$45K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$27K	$35K	$45K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$27K	$35K	$45K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$27K	$35K	$44K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$27K	$35K	$44K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$27K	$35K	$45K	102	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$27K	$35K	$45K	92	6.8%
Huntsville, AL	$27K	$35K	$44K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$28K	$35K	$45K	95	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$27K	$35K	$45K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$27K	$35K	$45K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$27K	$35K	$44K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$27K	$34K	$44K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$27K	$34K	$44K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$27K	$34K	$44K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	4.75%
Winston-Salem, NC	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$27K	$34K	$44K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	5%
Lafayette, LA	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	6%
Des Moines, IA	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	4.82%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$27K	$34K	$44K	88	None ✓
Fayetteville, AR	$26K	$34K	$43K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$26K	$33K	$43K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$25K	$33K	$42K	78	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$26K	$33K	$42K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	4.95%
Pueblo, CO	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$25K	$33K	$42K	78	3.99%
Akron, OH	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	3.23%
Evansville, IN	$25K	$33K	$42K	78	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$26K	$33K	$42K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	4.75%
Shreveport, LA	$25K	$33K	$42K	78	6%
Davenport, IA	$26K	$33K	$43K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$26K	$33K	$42K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$25K	$33K	$42K	78	5%
Gulfport, MS	$26K	$33K	$42K	80	5%
Charleston, WV	$25K	$33K	$42K	78	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$25K	$32K	$40K	84	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$25K	$32K	$41K	75	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$25K	$32K	$41K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$25K	$32K	$40K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$25K	$32K	$40K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$25K	$32K	$40K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$25K	$32K	$40K	85	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$25K	$32K	$41K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$25K	$32K	$41K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$25K	$32K	$40K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$25K	$32K	$40K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$25K	$32K	$40K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$25K	$32K	$41K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$25K	$32K	$40K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$25K	$32K	$40K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$25K	$32K	$41K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$25K	$32K	$41K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$24K	$31K	$39K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$24K	$31K	$40K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$24K	$31K	$39K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$23K	$30K	$38K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$23K	$30K	$38K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$22K	$28K	$36K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $36K Budtender salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Budtender Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Budtender is $36,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $28,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $46,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Budtenders nationally earn $58,000+.

Education and requirements

High school diploma; cannabis product knowledge; state handler permit. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Budtender compensation is growing at 14% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Budtenders significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Budtender salary FAQ

How much does a Budtender make?

The median Budtender salary in the US is $36,000 per year — about $17/hour. Most earn between $28,000 (25th percentile) and $46,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Budtender?

Entry-level Budtender positions typically start around $28,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Budtenders earn?

The top 10% of Budtenders earn $58,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Budtenders the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Budtender salary at $54K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Budtender salaries going up?

Yes — Budtender pay is growing about 14% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Budtender Salaryby City (2026)