Cashier Hourly Pay, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 36,744 US job postings by 1,906 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for cashiers: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 36,744 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for cashiers in US job postings is $16.50 an hour (7,361 postings from 445 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $15.00 to $18.25 an hour.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $17.00 an hour (596 postings).
- The skills that most set cashier postings apart are customer service, friendly, cash register.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 1 year of experience.
Cashier job postings in the US, October 2026
- $16.50/hr
- Median advertised pay (7,361 postings)
- $15.00–$18.25
- Middle 50% of postings
- $17.00/hr
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 36,744
- US job postings from 1,906 employers
How much does a cashier make an hour?
The median advertised pay is $16.50 an hour, from 7,361 US job postings by 445 employers that state pay. That is about $34,000 a year at 2,080 hours.
Advertised pay in 7,361 US cashier job postings: median $34,000 a year ($16.50 an hour), middle half $31,000 to $38,000.
- Median: $34,000 ($16.50/hr)
- 25th percentile: $31,000
- 75th percentile: $38,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.5% |
| $20K–$30K | 16.8% |
| $30K–$40K | 69.0% |
| $40K–$50K | 12.1% |
| $50K–$60K | 1.4% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $16.50 | $15.00–$18.25 | 2,022 |
| All pay postings, annualised | $34,000 | $31K–$38K | 7,361 |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of Cashiers (41-2011) at $33,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for a cashier?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $17.00 an hour (596 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $17.00/hr | 596 |
| 2-4 years | withheld | 195 |
| 5+ years | withheld | 7 |
Highest-paying cashier jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashier (general) | $16.50/hr | 4,977 | 353 |
Cashier pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $18.50/hr | $17.50–$20.00 | 766 | 9.6% |
| Massachusetts | $18.25/hr | $17.00–$18.50 | 197 | 1.6% |
| Washington | $18.06/hr | $17.43–$21.25 | 123 | 1.4% |
| Colorado | $18.00/hr | $17.00–$19.66 | 170 | 1.7% |
| New York | $17.50/hr | $16.65–$18.16 | 455 | 3.8% |
| Oregon | $17.50/hr | $17.00–$18.15 | 106 | 1.2% |
| New Jersey | $17.18/hr | $16.54–$18.46 | 120 | 1.5% |
| Maryland | $17.00/hr | $16.25–$18.25 | 130 | 1.2% |
| Illinois | $16.50/hr | $15.50–$17.50 | 319 | 3.4% |
| Wisconsin | $16.25/hr | $14.62–$16.25 | 107 | 2.1% |
| Minnesota | $16.25/hr | $15.38–$17.00 | 137 | 1.4% |
| Florida | $16.00/hr | $15.00–$16.25 | 200 | 4.0% |
| Tennessee | $16.00/hr | $13.75–$16.25 | 115 | 3.0% |
| Missouri | $15.50/hr | $15.50–$16.25 | 111 | 1.7% |
| Virginia | $15.38/hr | $14.00–$16.25 | 128 | 2.9% |
| North Carolina | $15.00/hr | $13.13–$16.25 | 148 | 3.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $15.00/hr | $13.75–$16.25 | 143 | 3.0% |
| Michigan | $15.00/hr | $13.73–$16.25 | 128 | 2.4% |
| Nevada | $15.00/hr | $14.50–$16.75 | 113 | 1.5% |
| Ohio | $14.37/hr | $13.25–$16.25 | 143 | 2.7% |
| Texas | $13.65/hr | $12.50–$15.69 | 370 | 8.6% |
Skills employers ask for in cashier job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Customer service | 38% |
| Communication | 28% |
| Attention to detail | 15% |
| Friendly | 12% |
| Interpersonal skills | 10% |
| Positive attitude | 8% |
| Dependable | 8% |
| Team player | 7% |
| Cash register | 7% |
| Reliable | 7% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set cashiers apart
- Customer service3.9× as often as in all postings · 38%
- Friendly9.3× as often as in all postings · 12%
- Cash register44.9× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Cash handling16.6× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Basic math skills7.3× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Reliable4.2× as often as in all postings · 7%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a cashier job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a cashier do?
| Duty | Share of employers |
|---|---|
| Operate the register and process transactions accurately | 41% |
| Greet customers in a friendly, welcoming manner | 41% |
| Keep the workspace clean and organized | 26% |
| Answer customer questions and assist with their needs | 26% |
| Accept cash, check and credit card payments | 19% |
| Provide exceptional customer service | 16% |
| Issue receipts and refunds to customers | 14% |
| Handle customer complaints and escalate when needed | 12% |
From the bullet lists of 1,095 postings by 935 employers; items grouped by meaning and counted once per employer.
Employers post these jobs as Greeter, Part Time Cashier, Retail Cashier, Cashier/Receptionist, Cashiers and other titles. The largest specializations are Greeter (3%), Cashier/Sales Associate (4%), Gas Station Clerk (under 1%), Bagger (0%).
The closest official occupation is Cashiers (41-2011.00). Its most important tasks:
- 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.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
What employers ask for in cashier job postings
| Requirement | Share of employers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 29% |
| Prior cashier, retail or customer service experience preferred | 22% |
| Ability to lift up to 50 pounds | 16% |
| Attention to detail | 13% |
| Ability to work well in a team | 13% |
| Ability to read, count, write and communicate clearly | 12% |
| Ability to multitask and stay organized in a busy environment | 12% |
| Passion for customer service and hospitality | 12% |
| Basic math and money-handling skills | 12% |
| Must be at least 18 years old | 12% |
| Communicate effectively with customers, coworkers and management | 11% |
| Friendly, positive personality | 11% |
From the bullet lists of 1,095 postings by 935 employers; items grouped by meaning and counted once per employer.
45% of postings state a lifting requirement; the median is 50 lbs (up to 25 lbs 22%, 26-50 lbs 64%, over 50 lbs 14%).
Benefits employers offer in cashier job postings
| Benefit | Share of employers |
|---|---|
| Career growth and advancement opportunities | 24% |
| Employee discounts | 22% |
| Flexible scheduling | 21% |
| Medical, dental and vision insurance | 17% |
| Competitive pay | 14% |
| 401(k) with employer match | 12% |
| Training and development | 11% |
| Fun and energetic work environment | 7% |
| Paid time off and vacation | 7% |
| Health insurance | 6% |
Counted only where the posting itself lists the benefit; many employers list benefits elsewhere.
How much experience do you need to be a cashier?
Among 495 postings that state a minimum, the median is 1 year. 5% say 0 years and 85% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 495 US cashier job postings: median 1 year, and 85% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 19% |
| 1 yr | 66% |
| 2 yrs | 11% |
| 3-4 yrs | 2% |
| 5-7 yrs | 1% |
| 8-9 yrs | 0% |
| 10+ yrs | under 1% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Part-time 57%, Full-time 43% of the 906 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a cashier: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Cashier | 1,346 (70.6%) |
| Greeter | 127 (6.7%) |
| Part Time Cashier | 59 (3.1%) |
| Retail Cashier | 46 (2.4%) |
| Cashier/Receptionist | 38 (2.0%) |
| Cashiers | 38 (2.0%) |
| Lead Cashier | 31 (1.6%) |
| Restaurant Cashier | 24 (1.3%) |
| Cashier PT | 19 (1.0%) |
| Seasonal Cashier | 19 (1.0%) |
| Receptionist/Cashier | 19 (1.0%) |
| Part-Time Cashier | 19 (1.0%) |
| Service Cashier | 18 (0.9%) |
| Customer Service Cashier | 17 (0.9%) |
| PT Cashier | 16 (0.8%) |
| Cashier/Customer Service | 16 (0.8%) |
| Head Cashier | 15 (0.8%) |
| Customer Service Associate | 15 (0.8%) |
| Cashier Part Time | 15 (0.8%) |
| Store Cashier | 14 (0.7%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Cashier job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greeter | 452 | 127 | – | – | customer service, communication, attention to detail |
Cashier compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $16.50/hr | 1 year | 36,744 | – |
| Server | $16.90/hr | 1 year | 28,843 | 18 |
| Bartender | $16.85/hr | 1 year | 12,786 | 19 |
| Retail Sales Associate | $17.24/hr | 1 year | 141,396 | 18 |
| Stocker | $17.50/hr | 1 year | 31,374 | 19 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Server | 18 | $16.90/hr |
| Bartender | 19 | $16.85/hr |
| Retail Sales Associate | 18 | $17.24/hr |
| Stocker | 19 | $17.50/hr |
| Recreation Attendant | 19 | $17.13/hr |
| Host | 17 | $16.58/hr |
Applying for cashier jobs?
- Cashier resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find cashier jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
What are the highest-paying cashier jobs?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 18 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.