Cashiers
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.
Cashiers 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. The role reports a median annual salary of $31,190 in the US and is projected to decline by 10% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a No formal educational credential, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.70 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include customer service, operate cash register, use different communication channels, apply numeracy skills, process refunds.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £24,622 a year for Retail cashiers and check-out operators (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £21,251 to £27,456 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 7112). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Service and sales workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Cashiers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 5. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
A day in the life
You start your shift by counting the float in your till and checking that bags, receipt rolls and the card machine are ready. As customers arrive you greet them, scan their items, weigh loose fruit and apply any discount vouchers. You take payment by cash, card or phone, give the correct change and hand over receipts. When a customer questions a price, you check it quickly with the shelf label and fix the error politely. Mid-morning the queue grows, so you work steadily, keeping a friendly tone. After lunch you process a refund for a returned item and help an older customer who is confused about a promotion. Between customers you tidy your station and restock bags. At the end of your shift you count your cash drawer and make sure it balances with the day's sales. The work is repetitive and you stand for long periods, but a friendly word can brighten a customer's day.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Cashiers do?
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.
What does a typical day look like in Cashiers?
You start your shift by counting the float in your till and checking that bags, receipt rolls and the card machine are ready. As customers arrive you greet them, scan their items, weigh loose fruit and apply any discount vouchers. You take payment by cash, card or phone, give the correct change and hand over receipts. When a customer questions a price, you check it quickly with the shelf label and fix the error politely. Mid-morning the queue grows, so you work steadily, keeping a friendly tone.
How much does Cashiers earn?
The median annual salary for Cashiers in the US is $31,190.
What is the job outlook for Cashiers?
The role is projected to decline by 10% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 3,157,200 workers.
How do I become a cashiers?
The typical entry education is a No formal educational credential. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Cashiers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include customer service, operate cash register, use different communication channels, apply numeracy skills, process refunds, ensure client orientation. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Cashiers?
Our AI-durability model gives Cashiers a score of 0.70 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Cashiers has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.