How Much Does a Cashier Make?
The average base salary for a Cashier in the United States is $30,710 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Cashier Salary by Year
Compared to 2019 when Cashiers earned $24,370 per year, workers in this role earned an average annual salary of $30,710 in 2023. That’s an increase of 26% percent over the course of 5 short years.
[Source: BLS]
How Much Does a Cashier Make Monthly?
The average Cashier pay in the United States is $2,559 a month.
How Much Does a Cashier Make Weekly?
Cashiers in the U.S. make $590 per week.
How Much Does a Cashier Make Hourly?
The hourly national wage for a Cashier is currently $14.77 per hour. However, the salary can vary depending on various factors, such as geographical location and job experience.
As a result, certain Cashiers make $17.88 an hour (90th percentile), while the vast majority earn $10.86 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. Earning $37,190 a year puts you in the top 10% of earners among Cashiers. Meanwhile, if you’re in the 10th percentile, it means you’re earning $22,580 a year and you’re in the bottom 10% of earners among Cashiers.
Cashier Salary by State
Check out this map below to see the salary ranges across the United States.
[Source: BLS]
This map is interactive. Hover your mouse over different parts of the map to see detailed data.
Cashiers in Washington State earn the highest national salary at $38,320 per year. However, it’s worth noting that the district of Washington has always been ahead of the U.S. salary trends. Salaries have been rising steadily for years, excluding the 2008-2009 Great Recession period.
Conversely, Cashiers earn the lowest national salary in the southern part of the United States, such as in the state of Mississippi. Based on the lower costs of living as well as high unemployment rates, employers in Mississippi offer an average salary for Cashiers of $23,430 per year.
Cashier Salary in Major U.S. Cities
The best-paying city for Cashiers is, without a doubt, Los Angeles. According to Los Angeles County, as of July, 2024, the minimum wage has increased to $17.27 per hour, which is significantly higher than the Department of Labor’s national hourly rate of $7.25 per hour.
Annual mean wage $29,310 Number of Employees 56,110
Annual mean wage $36,750 Number of Employees 173,030
Annual mean wage $32,970 Number of Employees 89,090
Annual mean wage $37,180 Number of Employees 125,060
[Source: BLS]
Among these four major U.S. cities, Miami is in last place when it comes to Cashier salaries. Due to the state’s “low-wage mentality”, employees in Miami are frequently ranked amongst the lowest-paid workforce in the country.
Factors Affecting the Salary of a Cashier
Many different factors affect a Cashier’s salary. This includes things like location, industry and level of professional experience.
Industry
The type of industry can influence salary levels. For example, the “Natural Gas Distribution” industry stands out as the best paying for Cashiers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports earnings of up to $76,250 per year, which is more than double the industry average ($30,710).
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 United States, 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.
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.
How To Estimate Your Take-Home Pay as a Cashier
If you’re currently employed as a Cashier, or you’re looking to start a new career, use this simple yet effective paycheck calculator to calculate the amount of money you take home after tax deductions.
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 consider 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
It is estimated that the average American spent $8,466 in 2023 on commuting. Considering the rising prices of public transportation in the United States, 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.
How Much Do Similar Careers to Cashiers Get Paid?
On average, Cashiers make more than Fast Food Workers but less than Dishwashers and Hosts/Hostesses. The good news is that the potential to earn more via performance bonuses is always there.
| Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast-Food Worker | |
| Host/Hostess | |
| Dishwasher |
Cashier Salary FAQs
Unlike Bussers or Baristas, it’s not very typical for customers to tip Cashiers. However, the tipping culture in the United States is widely practiced. According to one study, in the most generous states, Americans tip 20.54%.
Basically, at the end of the day, it’s entirely up to the customer to decide, but you can substantially increase your chances of getting a tip if you provide them with good service.
You can earn a higher salary as a Cashier by getting promoted. To be considered for the promotion, you should ensure a couple of things.
First, you should never get into arguments with your customers.
Second, you should be a great asset to your team. This includes excellent teamwork and ensuring everything goes smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
Lastly, you should handle payments in an accurate way, leaving no space for errors.
Private businesses in the U.S. usually pay bi-weekly according to data available at BLS.
You should also consider state laws when it comes to official paydays since the United States didn’t regulate this on the federal level.
This means that, similar to other positions, you might be receiving your salary weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly or monthly.
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.
