Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Cashier
- Checker
- Sales Associate
- Store Clerk
Alternate Job Titles
- Auction Clerk
- Bottle Booth Attendant
- Box Office Attendant
- Bridge Toll Collector
- Cage Cashier
- Cart Attendant
- Cash Checker
- Cash Office Worker
- Cash Person
- Cash Register Operator (Cash Register Op)
- Cashier
- Cashier Associate
- Cashier Host
- Cashier Hostess
- Cashier Stocker
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Clarity
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Speech Recognition
- Selective Attention
- Time Sharing
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Social Orientation
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Apple Safari
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- Mozilla Firefox
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Belt conveyors
- Cardboard balers
- Cash registers
- Credit card readers
- Desktop computers
- Electronic cash registers
- Electronic food scales
- Electronic funds transfer EFT terminals
- Food scales
- Gas pump controllers
- Handheld bar code scanners
- Laptop computers
- Laser printers
- Lottery ticket machines
Work Environment
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
- Spend Time Standing
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $23,070 |
| Median | $31,190 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $38,220 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 3,148,030
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Counter and Rental Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,540
Tellers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $39,340
Customer Service Representatives
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $42,830
Retail Salespersons
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,580
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $47,320
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

