Americans who work in the marijuana industry are the happiest in the country

A new report reveals that Americans working in the marijuana industry are the happiest in the country, beating out traditional sectors like catering, coffee, and retail.

While smoking marijuana can make you hungry, it turns out that working with it could make you happy.

According to Deputy’s 2025 Shift Pulse Report, the Tobacco, E-cigarette & Marijuana sector topped the list for worker happiness, with a staggering 91.87% of shift workers reporting positive sentiment about their jobs.

“This may reflect stronger workplace culture and wage competitiveness in newer, regulated industries that prioritize employee retention as they scale rapidly,” Deputy noted in the report.

Trailing just behind were Catering (90.90%) and Cafes / Coffee Shops (89.73%), sectors known for fast-paced work environments but also camaraderie, flexibility, and a sense of purpose.

The report, based on over 1.5 million survey responses between April 2024 and April 2025, and tracked job sentiment across 10 major hourly sectors. Overall, happiness among US workers has declined slightly year-over-year, dipping to 78.5% from 80% in 2024.

WebMD

Marijuana workers are happier than delivery drivers

At the bottom of the list were Pharmacies & Chemists, where nearly 14% of workers reported dissatisfaction. Delivery & Postal Services (13.82%), Animal Health (12%), and Doctor’s Offices (12%) followed close behind, suggesting high-stress environments and rigid schedules may be contributing to burnout.

“This year’s happiest industry sectors reveal a growing trend: purpose, predictability, and a sense of control over one’s workday matter just as much—if not more—than prestige or pay alone,” the report says.

Deputy emphasized that location also plays a major role in worker sentiment, urging policymakers to tailor solutions based on local realities.

“For employers and policymakers, this is a call to action: where people live still heavily influences how they feel about the work they do — and no single national strategy will solve for sentiment without considering these local realities,” the report concluded.

With cannabis continuing to expand as a legal and regulated industry in the US, it’s not just the customers who are lighting up, it’s the workers, too.