A new nationwide survey offers a peek under the hood of the nutraceutical and wellness CPG industries with verified compensation ranges for more than 95 roles, from CEO to process engineer, as well as a look at the most in-demand roles and benefits. Conducted by Kalon Executive Search, the survey data is available in a guide that includes supplement industry trends, data and insights from collaborators Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) and SPINS.
Overall, the guide points to the dietary supplement industry’s resilience amid economic uncertainty. Steady job growth in supplement manufacturing in recent years, for example, contributed to a ~2.7% average combined growth rate from 2021–2026, according to IBISWorld. And with 2.5% job growth projected for the industry in 2026, the nutraceutical industry compares favorably to the tech industry’s projected 2026 growth rate of just 1.9%.
Salary ranges at larger global corporations surpass those at smaller companies, as one would expect. The survey also revealed variation between sectors within the supplement industry.
For instance, brand managers at ingredient/raw materials companies make between $100,000 and $155,000, while the top range at finished products companies is higher at $180,000. For sales manager roles, salary ranges vary quite a bit: $170,000 to $210,000 (ingredient/raw Materials), $135,000 to $175,000 (Contract Manufacturing) and $120,000 to $160,000 (finished products).
For CEOs, the range is widest: $500,000 to $1,200,000 at both ingredients and finished product companies as compared to $350,000 to $800,000 at contract manufacturers.
By sector, the industry’s most in-demand roles are:
Ingredients/Raw Materials: vice president of research and development, regulatory affairs manager, sales manager
Contract Manufacturers: quality assurance/quality control manager, manufacturing engineer, business development director
Finished Products: vice president product development, performance marketing manager, drug/club/mass account manager
Additional insights:
Companies are bringing digital marketing and e-commerce roles in-house rather than outsourcing these functions to external agencies.
Remote work options, health insurance and flexible schedules are the most popular benefits.
Culture fit is increasingly important. Although recruiters use AI tools, they also rely on interviews to assess candidates.
To dig into more data, download the complimentary Nutraceuticals and Wellness CPG 2026 Salary Guide now.