How much does a cashier make?
a year · about $16 an hour
A typical cashier in the United States makes $32,880 a year, about $16 an hour, below a typical US worker ($50,980) (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Cashiers scan items, total bills, take payments, handle returns, and may check IDs for age-restricted goods. Between customers, they might bag purchases, answer questions, restock shelves, or tidy the checkout area.
Did you know? In the United States, cashiers spend an average of 93% of their workday standing—so a checkout shift can mean hours on their feet!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $24,530 and $40,410How do you become one?
In the United States, cashier jobs usually do not require a particular level of schooling, though employers may prefer a high school diploma; basic math and customer-service skills help. Employers train new cashiers on the job, often for a few weeks, teaching them to use registers and scanners.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, cashier pay can vary with experience, location, the kind of employer, and extra tasks or responsibility. The number of hours worked changes total earnings, and schedules may include evenings, weekends, or overnight shifts.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($38,880), lowest in West Virginia ($26,370).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $24,530 | $32,880 | $40,410 | about 3.1 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $38,880 | about 6,000 |
| Washington | $38,720 | about 61,000 |
| California | $37,100 | about 336,000 |
| Colorado | $36,870 | about 52,000 |
| Hawaii | $36,780 | about 11,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers” (41-2012).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/cashiers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/41-2011.00
- www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/cashiers.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY