Extraction technician

An extraction technician is the skilled worker at a cannabis manufacturer or processor who operates equipment to isolate cannabinoids and terpenes from biomass and refine them into concentrates, distillate, vape oil, and ingredient stocks. Core duties include biomass preparation, operating closed-loop hydrocarbon systems (Precision, ETS, Luna, using butane/propane in C1D1-rated rooms), CO₂ supercritical extractors, ethanol extraction systems (centrifugation, falling-film evaporation), and solventless equipment (rosin presses, ice-water hash). Post-processing includes winterization, filtration, solvent recovery, decarboxylation, short-path or wiped-film distillation, and THCa diamond crystallization. Strict adherence to OSHA standards, NFPA 58 (LP-gas), local fire codes, and C1D1 hazardous-location classifications is mandatory, as is engineer-certified closed-loop documentation. Education typically requires a high school diploma minimum, with a bachelor's in chemistry or chemical engineering preferred for senior roles. Salaries span $35,000–$111,000 (ZipRecruiter), with Extraction Manager/Lab Director roles reaching $80,000–$120,000+ at MSOs. A state agent card is universally required. → See also: Manufacturer, Processor, Residual solvent testing