Cashier Salary in the United States
Cashier salaries depend heavily on where you work and your experience.
Note on data: To provide the most comprehensive picture of national averages, we utilized the broad occupational category for Cashiers (SOC 41-2010). However, when breaking wages down by individual states, official BLS reporting shifts focus specifically to detailed retail and service cashiers (SOC 41-2011). Because retail cashiers make up over 99% of the total workforce, the state-by-state data remains incredibly accurate for standard cashier roles."
The average Cashier salary in the U.S. is $33,220 per year. Find out what factors affect your salary and how you can earn more by reading this comprehensive guide.
Additionally, you can compare how much you make as a Cashier with our salary comparison tool below.
How Much Do Cashiers Make in the US?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cashiers in the US make $33,220 annually.
The annual data highlights a clear path of income progression across the workforce.
Cashiers in the lowest 10th percentile take home $24,520 a year, whereas mid-career or specialized Cashiers hitting the 50th percentile (median) earn $32,930.
For those reaching the top 10% of the field (90th percentile), annual earnings climb to $40,670, out-earning 90% of all peers nationwide.
[Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)]
How Much Does a Cashier Make Monthly?
The average monthly Cashier salary in the U.S. is $2,768.33.
How Much Does a Cashier Make Weekly?
The average weekly Cashier salary in the U.S. is $639.
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How Much Does a Cashier Make Hourly?
Cashiers are typically paid hourly wages.
That said, the average hourly Cashier wage is currently $15.97.
However, their pay can vary depending on various factors, such as geographical location and job experience.
As a result, top-earning Cashiers make $19.55 an hour (90th percentile), while those starting out or in lower-cost areas earn $11.79 per hour (10th percentile), which is below the national average.
If you're in the 90th percentile, you earn more than 90% of all Cashiers in the U.S.
Know Your Take-Home Pay as a Cashier
Now that you have a good idea about Cashier salary averages, discover how much you can earn at the end of the day — minus taxes and other deductions — with our Paycheck Calculator.
You can also use our Salary To Hourly Calculator below to know your hourly, weekly and monthly pay.
Cashier Salary by State
Cashier pay varies significantly across the country, with the lowest average earnings concentrated in the South.
Mississippi ranks as the lowest-paying state in the nation for this role, where cashiers earn an average annual salary of $26,200.
This lower wage floor is heavily influenced by regional economic factors, including a lower cost of living compared to the rest of the United States.
| State | Annual Mean Wage (USD) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,830 |
| Alaska | $37,160 |
| Arizona | $35,400 |
| Arkansas | $28,200 |
| California | $40,060 |
| Colorado | $38,220 |
| Connecticut | $36,900 |
| Delaware | $33,880 |
| District of Columbia | $42,370 |
| Florida | $32,170 |
| Georgia | $29,040 |
| Hawaii | $38,450 |
| Idaho | $31,430 |
| Illinois | $34,950 |
| Indiana | $30,310 |
| Iowa | $30,200 |
| Kansas | $29,070 |
| Kentucky | $28,720 |
| Louisiana | $26,860 |
| Maine | $35,090 |
| Maryland | $35,250 |
| Massachusetts | $36,860 |
| Michigan | $31,410 |
| Minnesota | $34,190 |
| Mississippi | $26,200 |
| Missouri | $32,810 |
| Montana | $33,420 |
| Nebraska | $31,750 |
| Nevada | $32,630 |
| New Hampshire | $33,380 |
| New Jersey | $36,370 |
| New Mexico | $32,170 |
| New York | $37,540 |
| North Carolina | $29,390 |
| North Dakota | $32,700 |
| Ohio | $30,160 |
| Oklahoma | $27,980 |
| Oregon | $36,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,880 |
| Rhode Island | $36,640 |
| South Carolina | $28,840 |
| South Dakota | $31,320 |
| Tennessee | $28,690 |
| Texas | $29,920 |
| Utah | $32,640 |
| Vermont | $35,950 |
| Virginia | $32,140 |
| Washington | $41,930 |
| West Virginia | $26,550 |
| Wisconsin | $31,800 |
| Wyoming | $31,810 |
| Guam | $22,950 |
| Puerto Rico | $24,080 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,710 |
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Factors Affecting the Salary of a Cashier
Many different factors affect a Cashier's salary. This includes things like location and level of professional experience.
Cost of Living
The cost of living also significantly affects a Cashier's salary. For instance, Cashiers in Hawaii earn higher salaries than Cashiers in Mississippi.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean that Cashiers in Hawaii enjoy a higher standard of living compared to those in the Southern U.S., as the elevated cost of housing, food and transportation often offset the higher salaries.
On the other hand, Hawaii is known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. As a result, the hospitality sector attracts a wide range of clients. This makes the job of a Cashier highly competitive, putting Cashiers in a position to negotiate their salaries and increase their hourly rates.
While state averages give us a great baseline, metropolitan reality can look very different. Check out this video breakdown tackling whether a standard Target cashier wage of $17.75/hr is enough to make ends meet in New York City.
Years of Experience
Cashiers who are more experienced can also command a higher salary than those who are just starting out. Most employers prefer employees with previous working experience since they don't typically require any additional training.
As a Cashier, you're expected to have basic math abilities, be decent at accounting and possess some computer skills. It's also important that you're able to multitask and interact with customers as you handle transactions, as you will most often be their first and last point of contact.
Make sure to include your years of experience, together with the skills you built along the way, in your Cashier resume.
Perks and Benefits for Cashiers
Despite the fact that Cashiers are part of the entry-level workforce, just like other jobs, it's important to take into account various factors when searching for a job.
You want to make sure you're fairly compensated for your work and that the job meets your everyday needs. Other than that, you might also consider a job as a Cashier for other on-site perks and benefits such as:
Flexible hours
Cashiers usually work flexible hours that allows them to have some input in their own schedules. This means that you will get to do rotating shifts in agreement with other colleagues.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, you are also entitled to extra pay whenever you work overtime or on holidays.
Employee discounts
Cashiers working in restaurants and retail stores are often given store discounts so they can buy products or services offered by their employers at a lower rate. By making use of employee discounts, you will get to save money on essential items such as food and groceries.
Commuter assistance
Considering the rising prices of public transportation in the U.S., commuter benefits are invaluable for Cashiers as these programs help them save thousands of dollars.
Health and wellness program
These programs help the employees lead a healthier lifestyle by providing support for their physical, emotional and financial needs. When employees are healthy, the company they work for also benefits, as their employees are more productive and turnover rates are lower.
Career development opportunities
While some people genuinely enjoy being Cashiers, others use it as a means to advance in their careers. As a Cashier, you will learn a couple of greatly beneficial skills at work, such as providing excellent customer service while processing payments.
Paired with other valuable skills you will gain, this will help you advance to higher-level positions such as Hosts/Hostesses or Receptionists, which will ultimately lead to salary increases.
The best time to ask about these perks is during the interview process. Make sure to read our Cashier interview guide to prepare sufficiently.
How Much Do Similar Careers to Cashiers Get Paid?
Cashier Salary Data Methodology
At OysterLink, we strive to provide the most recent and accurate information. That is why we conduct our research using U.S. government official websites whenever possible. You can read more about our methodology in a separate article that we've published for your convenience.