How much does a teller make?
The median teller in the United States earns $43,030 per year, about $20.69 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all tellers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-3071.
Teller salary range
Pay for tellers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $34,360 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $49,680. The average (mean) wage is $42,350, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,360 | $16.52 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,040 | $17.81 | |
| Median (50th) | $43,030 | $20.69 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $46,580 | $22.39 | |
| 90th percentile | $49,680 | $23.88 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for tellers (SOC 43-3071), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Teller salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Tellers earn the most in Washington at $47,670 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $34,560. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,670 | 9,180 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | 10,270 |
| California | $46,900 | 25,230 |
| Massachusetts | $46,900 | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $46,770 | 1,020 |
| Connecticut | $46,320 | 3,220 |
| Colorado | $46,060 | 5,370 |
| Maryland | $46,010 | 3,860 |
| District of Columbia | $45,590 | 700 |
| Florida | $45,580 | 14,700 |
| Delaware | $45,340 | 1,400 |
| Rhode Island | $45,300 | 830 |
| Arizona | $45,250 | 3,770 |
| Virginia | $45,120 | 7,410 |
| Nevada | $44,980 | 1,850 |
| North Carolina | $44,830 | 5,260 |
| New Hampshire | $44,460 | 1,550 |
| Oregon | $44,440 | 2,990 |
| New York | $44,400 | 15,040 |
| Minnesota | $44,190 | 5,740 |
| Vermont | $44,030 | 930 |
| Hawaii | $43,910 | 1,760 |
| Maine | $42,890 | 2,410 |
| Idaho | $42,380 | 2,690 |
| South Carolina | $42,280 | 4,400 |
| Georgia | $41,690 | 7,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,200 | 14,800 |
| Ohio | $39,810 | 13,890 |
| Wisconsin | $39,640 | 9,030 |
| North Dakota | $39,300 | 1,990 |
| Michigan | $39,240 | 13,420 |
| Indiana | $38,730 | 8,400 |
| Illinois | $38,670 | 16,960 |
| South Dakota | $38,460 | 1,560 |
| Iowa | $38,450 | 5,470 |
| Utah | $38,370 | 4,790 |
| Wyoming | $38,290 | 970 |
| Nebraska | $38,140 | 4,590 |
| Montana | $38,080 | 1,660 |
| Texas | $38,050 | 25,860 |
| New Mexico | $37,680 | 2,330 |
| Alabama | $37,350 | 6,770 |
| Kentucky | $37,210 | 5,350 |
| Kansas | $36,840 | 4,720 |
| Mississippi | $36,810 | 3,750 |
| Tennessee | $36,750 | 7,560 |
| Missouri | $36,650 | 10,030 |
| Oklahoma | $35,840 | 7,230 |
| Arkansas | $35,710 | 4,250 |
| Louisiana | $35,680 | 4,900 |
| West Virginia | $34,560 | 2,620 |
State median wages for tellers (SOC 43-3071), 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 tellers
The BLS projects employment of tellers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 13.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 339,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 294,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 26,800 openings a year for tellers. 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 teller
The typical entry-level education for tellers is a high school diploma or equivalent, 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 teller earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $47,670) and the lowest (West Virginia, $34,560) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 329,480 people work as tellers in the United States. At $43,030 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Teller salary FAQ
How much does a teller make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a teller is $20.69. The middle half of tellers earn between $17.81 and $22.39 per hour.
What is the highest teller salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of tellers earn more than $49,680 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a teller make a year?
The median annual salary for a teller is $43,030. The average (mean) wage is $42,350, close to the median.
Is being a teller a well paid job?
At $43,030 a year, a teller earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 329,480 people work as tellers in the United States.
Which state pays tellers the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for tellers at $47,670 a year. New Jersey ($47,210) and California ($46,900) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a teller a good career?
Employment of tellers is projected to shrink 13.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 26,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a teller?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for tellers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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