Cashiers: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Education Required
Although most jobs for cashiers have no specific education requirements, some employers prefer applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent. Cashiers should have a basic knowledge of mathematics, because they need to be able to make change and count the money in their registers.
Training Required
Cashiers receive on-the-job training, which may last a few weeks. An experienced worker typically helps new cashiers learn how to operate equipment such as scanners or registers.
Job Outlook
The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: -1% (Little or no change)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)
Advancement
Working as a cashier is often a means to advance to other careers in retail. For example, with experience, cashiers may become customer service representatives or retail sales workers.
Median pay: How much do Cashiers make?
$20,180 Annual Salary
$9.70 per hour

Cashiers process payments from customers purchasing goods and services.

What do Cashiers do?

Cashiers typically do the following:

  • Greet customers
  • Scan or register customers purchases
  • Accept payments from customers and give change and receipts
  • Bag or wrap customers purchases
  • Process returns and exchanges of merchandise
  • Answer customers questions and provide information about store policies
  • Help customers sign up for store rewards programs or credit cards
  • Count the money in their register at the beginning and end of each shift

In some establishments, cashiers have to check the age of their customers when selling age-restricted products, such as alcohol and tobacco. Some cashiers may have duties not directly related to sales and customer service, such as mopping floors, taking out the trash, and other custodial tasks. Others may stock shelves or mark prices on items.

Cashiers use scanners, registers, or calculators to process payments and returns or exchanges of merchandise.

Careers for Cashiers

  • Cash register operators
  • Check out cashiers
  • Fare collectors
  • Grocery checkers
  • Hotel dining room cashiers
  • Snack bar cashiers
  • Toll booth operators
  • Toll collectors

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