Cashiers: Career Profile
Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.
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What Tasks Do Cashiers Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of cashiers cover:
- Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
- Greet customers entering establishments.
- Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
- Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.
- Monitor checkout stations to ensure they have adequate cash available and are staffed appropriately.
- Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.
- Answer incoming phone calls.
- Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective cashiers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Cashiers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Auction Clerk
- Bottle Booth Attendant
- Box Office Attendant
- Bridge Toll Collector
- Cage Cashier
- Cart Attendant
- Cash Checker
- Cash Office Worker
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 494,623 cashiers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +13.9% over the projection horizon.
Cashiers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $38,626 |
| Hourly median | $18.57 |
| 10th percentile | $26,287 |
| 25th percentile | $32,457 |
| 75th percentile | $44,796 |
| 90th percentile | $50,965 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Cashiers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $37,540 |
| Washington | $37,300 |
| California | $36,270 |
| Alaska | $36,050 |
| Colorado | $35,760 |
| Vermont | $35,090 |
| New York | $35,030 |
| Hawaii | $34,930 |
| Massachusetts | $34,800 |
| Oregon | $34,220 |
| Connecticut | $34,030 |
| Maine | $33,900 |
| New Jersey | $33,200 |
| Arizona | $32,990 |
| Maryland | $32,870 |
| Minnesota | $32,570 |
| Illinois | $31,340 |
| New Hampshire | $31,230 |
| Rhode Island | $31,040 |
| Delaware | $30,920 |
| Montana | $30,620 |
| North Dakota | $30,610 |
| Utah | $30,290 |
| Idaho | $30,280 |
| Virginia | $29,840 |
| Wisconsin | $29,690 |
| Nebraska | $29,420 |
| Missouri | $29,400 |
| South Dakota | $29,330 |
| Florida | $29,320 |
| New Mexico | $29,230 |
| Michigan | $29,190 |
| Wyoming | $29,150 |
| Nevada | $29,080 |
| Iowa | $28,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,690 |
| Indiana | $28,640 |
| Ohio | $28,540 |
| Texas | $28,310 |
| Georgia | $28,020 |
| North Carolina | $27,930 |
| Tennessee | $27,860 |
| South Carolina | $27,590 |
| Kansas | $27,580 |
| Arkansas | $27,370 |
| Oklahoma | $27,130 |
| Kentucky | $26,970 |
| Alabama | $26,760 |
| Virgin Islands | $26,560 |
| West Virginia | $23,490 |
| Louisiana | $23,410 |
| Mississippi | $22,410 |
| Guam | $21,860 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,810 |
Where Cashiers Earn the Most
Pay for cashiers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $35,761 | 15.5% | 0.93 |
| New England | $33,833 | 4.6% | 1.00 |
| Rocky Mountains | $32,854 | 3.7% | 0.94 |
| Middle Atlantic | $32,711 | 13.9% | 0.93 |
| Plains States | $29,809 | 7.8% | 1.15 |
| Great Lakes | $29,579 | 14.4% | 1.02 |
| Southwest | $29,065 | 12.5% | 1.00 |
| Southeast | $27,721 | 26.5% | 1.09 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $41,890 | 16,430 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $39,520 | 40,350 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $39,370 | 30,030 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $37,860 | 1,510 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $37,840 | 1,560 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | CA | $37,780 | 5,210 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $37,370 | 1,220 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $37,240 | 3,660 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of cashiers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 2,619,890 | $31,200 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 327,250 | $29,580 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 51,320 | $32,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 25,620 | $31,540 |
| Manufacturing | 25,350 | $32,880 |
| Wholesale Trade | 17,890 | $31,880 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 12,710 | $30,930 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,420 | $34,290 |
Below are examples of industries where cashiers work:
Tools and Technology
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Microsoft Edge (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
Daily working conditions for cashiers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
- Spend Time Standing
How to Become Cashiers
Entry-level cashiers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Pharmacy Aides (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (Supplemental)
- Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers (Primary-Long)
- Counter and Rental Clerks (Primary-Short)
- Retail Salespersons (Primary-Short)
- Telemarketers (Supplemental)
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers (Supplemental)
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 41-2011.00 (Cashiers).
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