Cashiers: Job Description
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Cashiers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of cashiers span:
- 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.
What Cashiers Need to Know
Top cashiers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related 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
Job Outlook
There are roughly 494,623 cashiers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +13.9% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Cashiers
| 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.
Pay 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for cashiers shift depending on where you work. 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 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Cashiers
| 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 |
Top Industries Employing Cashiers
The bulk 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:
Software Cashiers Use
- 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
Education and Training
Most 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), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.