How much does a cashier make?
The median cashier in the United States earns $32,880 per year, about $15.81 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all cashiers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-2011.
Cashier salary range
Pay for cashiers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $24,530 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $40,410. The average (mean) wage of $33,180 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $24,530 | $11.79 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $28,720 | $13.81 | |
| Median (50th) | $32,880 | $15.81 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $36,330 | $17.47 | |
| 90th percentile | $40,410 | $19.43 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cashiers (SOC 41-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cashier salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cashiers earn the most in District of Columbia at $38,880 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $26,370. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $38,880 | 6,060 |
| Washington | $38,720 | 61,050 |
| California | $37,100 | 336,110 |
| Colorado | $36,870 | 51,670 |
| Hawaii | $36,780 | 10,780 |
| Alaska | $36,130 | 5,810 |
| Vermont | $35,720 | 7,030 |
| Connecticut | $35,550 | 30,920 |
| Massachusetts | $35,520 | 58,880 |
| New York | $35,500 | 158,890 |
| Oregon | $35,300 | 37,660 |
| Maine | $34,930 | 14,240 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | 9,260 |
| Minnesota | $34,620 | 58,190 |
| Arizona | $34,600 | 72,570 |
| New Jersey | $34,590 | 107,680 |
| Illinois | $34,490 | 139,630 |
| Maryland | $34,390 | 49,910 |
| Montana | $34,190 | 12,170 |
| New Hampshire | $33,840 | 17,250 |
| Delaware | $33,490 | 11,450 |
| Utah | $31,600 | 22,940 |
| North Dakota | $31,460 | 9,510 |
| Wisconsin | $30,880 | 65,380 |
| Wyoming | $30,810 | 5,840 |
| Virginia | $30,580 | 83,890 |
| Florida | $30,530 | 201,370 |
| Missouri | $30,520 | 69,430 |
| Idaho | $30,370 | 17,200 |
| Nebraska | $30,250 | 20,650 |
| New Mexico | $30,120 | 19,020 |
| Nevada | $29,870 | 30,160 |
| South Dakota | $29,780 | 12,860 |
| Michigan | $29,740 | 92,930 |
| Indiana | $29,670 | 68,350 |
| Ohio | $29,260 | 103,020 |
| Texas | $29,230 | 245,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,220 | 110,950 |
| Georgia | $29,070 | 97,540 |
| Iowa | $28,970 | 41,450 |
| North Carolina | $28,880 | 106,440 |
| Kansas | $28,800 | 33,080 |
| Kentucky | $28,590 | 44,550 |
| Tennessee | $28,590 | 63,350 |
| South Carolina | $28,530 | 56,550 |
| Alabama | $28,250 | 46,420 |
| Oklahoma | $28,180 | 41,140 |
| Arkansas | $27,670 | 28,270 |
| Louisiana | $26,750 | 46,350 |
| Mississippi | $26,390 | 30,490 |
| West Virginia | $26,370 | 17,360 |
State median wages for cashiers (SOC 41-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for cashiers
The BLS projects employment of cashiers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 6.5%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 3,106,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 2,905,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 521,300 openings a year for cashiers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a cashier
The typical entry-level education for cashiers is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a cashier earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $38,880) and the lowest (West Virginia, $26,370) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 3,089,410 people work as cashiers in the United States. At $32,880 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Cashier salary FAQ
How much does a cashier make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a cashier is $15.81. The middle half of cashiers earn between $13.81 and $17.47 per hour.
What is the highest cashier salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cashiers earn more than $40,410 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a cashier make a year?
The median annual salary for a cashier is $32,880. The average (mean) wage of $33,180 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a cashier a well paid job?
At $32,880 a year, a cashier earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 3,089,410 people work as cashiers in the United States.
Which state pays cashiers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for cashiers at $38,880 a year. Washington ($38,720) and California ($37,100) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a cashier a good career?
Employment of cashiers is projected to shrink 6.5% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 521,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a cashier?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for cashiers as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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