Cashier Salary in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide

How Much Does a Cashier Make in the United States?

The average base salary for a Cashier is $14.76 per hour.

Some Cashiers can earn as little as $10.86 (10th percentile) per hour, while others may earn as much as $17.88 (90th percentile) per hour.

[Source: BLS]

This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data. 

If you’re in the 90th percentile, you earn more than 90% of all the Cashiers in the U.S.

Earning $37,190 a year puts you in the top 10% of earners among Cashiers.

Meanwhile, if you’re in the 10th percentile, you earn less than 90% of the group.

Earning $22,580 a year then places you in the bottom 10% of earners among Cashiers.

Annual Mean Wage of Cashiers by State

The map below provides insights into the different salaries for Cashiers across the United States.

[BLS]

This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data. 

Factors That Affect Average Cashier Salary

Many different factors affect a Cashier’s salary. This includes geographical location, the industry they’re employed with and their level of experience.

Industry

The type of industry can influence salary levels. According to the BLS, the “Natural Gas Distribution” industry pays Cashiers the highest at $76,250 per year.

Here are other industries that offer relatively higher salaries for Cashiers.

[Source: BLS]

This graph is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the graph to see detailed data. 

Cost of Living

The cost of living also affects salary. Cost of living refers to the average amount needed to pay for daily essential expenses while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

For example, a Cashier working in Hawaii, which has the highest cost of living in the United States, would earn a significantly higher salary than those living in Mississippi. The high cost of housing, transportation and other essentials means that employers need to offer higher salaries to attract and retain talent.

Additionally, Hawaii’s status as a tourist destination results in workers in the hospitality and restaurant industries, including Cashiers, being able to command higher salaries, as they are in demand in this area.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Cashiers in Hawaii enjoy a higher standard of living compared to those in Mississippi, as the elevated cost of housing, food and transportation often offset the higher salaries.

Years of Experience

Cashiers who are more experienced can also command a higher salary than those who are just starting in the job.

This is because employers prefer individuals who require little to no training or who can quickly adapt to the role to optimize productivity.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, it’s worth considering enrolling in specific training programs.

These certifications aim to improve your skills, which you can then showcase on your CV or resume.

Moreover, enhancing your skills through these programs can empower you to negotiate a higher salary.

• Direct Contact Service Professional (DCSP): This certification is offered by the National Customer Service Association. DCSP requires taking an online examination using a study guide on how to maximize customer loyalty.

• Certified Customer Experience Professional: This course is divided into 8 modules, highlighting what customer-focused service means and understanding customer expectations and perceptions.
• Certified Retail Marketing Professional: This program aims to provide all retail professionals with the necessary knowledge of the concepts and processes involved in retail management.

Cashier Salary in Major US Cities

Among these four major U.S. cities, Los Angeles is the top-paying city for Cashiers followed by New York City, Chicago and Miami.

[Source: BLS]

Non-Monetary Benefits and Perks for Cashiers

While salary is important, there are other factors worth considering when it comes to taking a job.

According to a study, 53% of employees say that benefits are important in making them feel satisfied in their jobs.

As Cashier work is demanding, requiring hours on your feet and interactions with different people, negotiating for non-monetary benefits or perks is essential.

Some of the benefits you can negotiate include the following:

Flexible Hours

Flexible hours allow employees to create their own schedule that works for them. Many Cashier job ads feature part-time or shift-based positions, providing Cashiers with the flexibility to balance work and personal commitments effectively.

Employee Discounts

Cashiers working in restaurants and retail stores are often given discounts so they can buy the products or services offered by their employers. This benefit helps them save money, particularly on essential items such as food, groceries or clothing.

Commuter Assistance

Similar to employee discounts, commuter assistance helps Cashiers save money by offsetting transportation costs. This benefit helps make commuting more manageable, leading to a more positive work experience.

Health and Wellness Program

Health and wellness programs offered by employers usually include gym memberships and assistance programs. This benefit helps Cashiers lead a healthier lifestyle by providing support for their physical, emotional and financial needs.

When employees are healthy, the company or organization they work for also benefits, as employees are more productive and turnover rates are lower.

According to a report, employees who are burned out are 63% more likely to be absent and more than twice as likely to move on to another job.

Paid Time Off

Paid time off or PTO includes different types of time off from work, including sick leave, parental leave and bereavement leave. As a Cashier, this will allow you to take leaves without worrying about your salary being affected.

Career Development Opportunities

It’s easy to overlook this type of benefit, but being offered training programs can greatly benefit you in the long run by developing your skills and enabling promotions to higher-level positions, ultimately leading to salary increases.

Top 5 Skills Needed for Cashiers

Cashiers need the following skills to ensure their success in their role.

• Multitasking

Cashiers often need to handle multiple tasks simultaneously while providing exceptional customer service. They are expected to address customer inquiries or complaints while accurately processing other people’s purchases.

Good multitasking skills allow Cashiers to be efficient and capable of handling the demands of their job.

• Basic Math

Being comfortable with numbers helps Cashiers count money quickly and accurately to give customers change, calculate the new total after applying discounts from coupons and balance their cash drawers.

• Retail

Retail skills refer to a person’s ability to sell to customers.

Cashiers need to possess this skill to recommend additional products or services that complement the customer’s purchase. Retail skills also involve being able to provide a smooth checkout process.

• Interpersonal 

Cashiers’ interpersonal skills contribute to fostering a friendly and welcoming environment.    Moreover, demonstrating politeness and active listening skills is essential for handling challenging situations, such as dealing with an impatient customer during long wait times.

• Attention to Detail

Part of a Cashier’s responsibility is to process transactions and provide customers with the correct change; failure to do this properly can result in financial loss and customers not returning.

Education Requirements for Cashiers

According to a survey conducted by the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), a website developed by the U.S. Department of Labor that offers comprehensive data on occupations, 68% indicated that entry-level Cashiers need to have a high school diploma.

[Source: O*NET]

This chart is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the chart to see detailed data. 

Meanwhile, 30% stated that a high school diploma isn’t required, and 1% reported that a Post-secondary certificate is required.

Labor Laws and Taxes for Cashiers

As a Cashier, you need to be aware of the minimum wage, tipped wage credit, overtime pay and leave policies in your state.

Check out the guides below or view more labor laws:

• New York Labor Law Guide
• Illinois Labor Law Guide
• California Labor Law Guide
• Florida Labor Law Guide

To easily calculate federal, state and local taxes in your state, use our free Paycheck Calculator.