Cashier career guide

A cashier checks out customers, takes payment, and makes sure every transaction is accurate. Cashiers work in grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, big-box retailers and many other places where people pay in person.

Pay data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Job content: O*NET 31.0. Updated 2026-10-26.

$32,880median annual wage (U.S.)
$15.81median hourly wage
3,089,410people employed in the U.S.
High School Diploma or the equivalentmost common required education

What a cashier does

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.

Typical tasks

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.

A typical day

Most of the shift happens at one register: scanning items, applying coupons, handling cash, cards and mobile payments, and bagging purchases. Between customers there is usually side work, such as restocking the area around the register or cleaning the counter. At the start and end of a shift, cashiers count their drawer so it balances.

Skills employers look for

These are the skills O*NET rates as most important for this occupation.

Active Listening
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Service Orientation
Social Perceptiveness
Coordination
Time Management

Knowledge areas

Customer and Personal Service
English Language
Sales and Marketing
Administration and Management
Mathematics

Tools and technology

Examples of technology used in this occupation, from O*NET: Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Windows, Mozilla Firefox.

Education and training

When O*NET asked people in this occupation what education the job requires, the most common answers were:

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED): 44% of respondents
Less than a High School Diploma: 37% of respondents
Post-Secondary Certificate: 9% of respondents

Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Cashier pay

The median annual wage for cashiers was $32,880 in May 2025 ($15.81 an hour). Half of workers earned between $28,720 and $36,330.

Highest-paying states

District of Columbia: $38,880 median
Washington: $38,720 median
California: $37,100 median
Colorado: $36,870 median
Hawaii: $36,780 median

States with the most cashiers

California: 336,110 employed
Texas: 245,730 employed
Florida: 201,370 employed
New York: 158,890 employed
Illinois: 139,630 employed

Cashier pay in every state

How to get hired

Cashier jobs rarely require experience, which makes them a common first job. Employers look for accuracy with money, a polite manner and a schedule that fits theirs. If you have handled money anywhere, such as at a school event or a family business, say so.

Job titles you may see

Cashier, Checker, Sales Associate, Store Clerk.

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Related career guides

Cashier salary by state · Cashier job description and interview questions

Sources and methodology

Wage and employment estimates: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, cross-industry estimates for all ownerships. Figures are as published; BLS does not publish some estimates for some states. As defined by BLS, wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses, and exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and other premium pay. BLS OEWS

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Jobder has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET Database

Written and maintained by the Jobder team. Last updated 2026-10-26. Questions or corrections: support@jobder.pro.

Frequently asked questions

What does a cashier do?

How much does a cashier make?

The median annual wage for cashiers in the United States was $32,880 in May 2025, or $15.81 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $24,530 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $40,410.

What education do you need to become a cashier?

In O*NET's survey of people in this occupation, the most common answer for required education was "High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)" (44% of respondents). O*NET classifies the occupation as "Very Little to Some Preparation Needed".

Which state pays cashiers the most?

District of Columbia had the highest median annual wage for this occupation in May 2025, at $38,880, followed by Washington ($38,720) and California ($37,100).

How many cashiers are there in the U.S.?

BLS estimated 3,089,410 people were employed as cashiers in May 2025. California employed the most, with 336,110.