Cashiers
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Cashiers: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. Usually involves use of electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. Often involved in processing credit or debit card transactions and validating checks.
Cashiers held about 3.5 million jobs in 2004. Of these, 29,000 were employed as gaming change persons and booth cashiers. Although cashiers are employed in almost every industry, 27 percent of all jobs were in food and beverage stores. Gasoline stations, department stores, other retail establishments, and restaurants also employed large numbers of these workers. Outside of retail establishments, many cashiers worked in amusement, gambling, and recreation industries, local government, and personal and laundry services. Because cashiers are needed in businesses and organizations of all types and sizes, job opportunities are found throughout the country.
Many cashiers start at the Federal minimum wage, which was $5.15 an hour in 2005. Some State laws set the minimum wage higher, and establishments must pay at least that amount. Wages tend to be higher in areas in which there is intense competition for workers.
Median hourly earnings of cashiers, except gaming in May 2004 were $7.81. The middle 50 percent earned between $6.72 and $9.10 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $5.91, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $11.30 an hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of cashiers in May 2004 were:
| Grocery stores | $7.90 |
| Department stores | 7.89 |
| Other general merchandise stores | 7.85 |
| Health and personal care stores | 7.68 |
| Gasoline stations | 7.54 |
Median hourly earnings for gaming cashiers in May 2004 were $9.87. The middle 50 percent earned between $8.23 and $11.74 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.07, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $13.51 an hour.
Benefits for full-time cashiers tend to be better than those for cashiers working part time. In addition to typical benefits, those working in retail establishments often receive discounts on purchases, and cashiers in restaurants may receive free or low-cost meals. Some employers also offer employee stock-option plans and education-reimbursement plans.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Cashiers)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Cashiers | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 60 mean earnings: $16,680 (def) (IG) | $13,700 | $14,770 | $16,550 | $18,910 | $21,140 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 50 mean earnings: $16,320 | $13,570 | $14,550 | $16,210 | $17,970 | $20,740 |
| Utilities employment: 2,370 mean earnings: $25,270 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,920 | $17,670 | $24,490 | $31,390 | $37,230 |
| Utilities employment: 2,370 mean earnings: $25,270 | $13,920 | $17,670 | $24,490 | $31,390 | $37,230 |
| Construction employment: 720 mean earnings: $18,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $11,910 | $13,480 | $16,510 | $21,550 | $29,370 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 150 mean earnings: $13,400 | $11,220 | $11,830 | $12,850 | $13,870 | $17,150 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 120 mean earnings: $16,020 | $11,680 | $12,850 | $15,020 | $17,840 | $21,830 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 440 mean earnings: $20,690 | $13,740 | $15,650 | $18,350 | $25,010 | $31,700 |
| Manufacturing employment: 14,940 mean earnings: $17,050 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,590 | $14,200 | $16,400 | $19,100 | $22,610 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 13,270 mean earnings: $16,930 | $12,640 | $14,240 | $16,360 | $18,820 | $22,430 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 610 mean earnings: $19,110 | $12,550 | $14,210 | $17,260 | $22,500 | $29,020 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $15,560 | $12,700 | $14,230 | $15,650 | $17,180 | $18,400 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $15,510 | $11,520 | $12,540 | $14,090 | $17,620 | $23,020 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 50 mean earnings: $17,010 | $12,300 | $14,280 | $16,600 | $19,830 | $22,430 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $16,390 | $12,870 | $13,660 | $14,960 | $18,190 | $22,640 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 170 mean earnings: $17,890 | $13,080 | $15,490 | $18,360 | $20,500 | $21,800 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,290 | $12,200 | $14,170 | $18,230 | $21,540 | $28,220 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 120 mean earnings: $18,940 | $13,510 | $15,590 | $17,320 | $20,750 | $27,210 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 27,370 mean earnings: $18,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,640 | $14,340 | $16,870 | $21,190 | $26,700 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 5,560 mean earnings: $19,700 | $12,960 | $14,900 | $18,550 | $22,960 | $27,570 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 18,750 mean earnings: $18,060 | $12,470 | $14,090 | $16,580 | $20,730 | $26,590 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 3,060 mean earnings: $17,670 | $13,390 | $15,070 | $16,650 | $18,350 | $24,390 |
| Retail Trade employment: 2,887,480 mean earnings: $17,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,470 | $14,100 | $16,280 | $19,010 | $23,040 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 32,930 mean earnings: $19,780 | $13,690 | $15,780 | $18,950 | $22,550 | $27,390 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 24,370 mean earnings: $17,970 | $13,220 | $15,050 | $17,080 | $20,290 | $23,470 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 24,080 mean earnings: $18,360 | $13,570 | $15,250 | $17,260 | $20,620 | $24,330 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 137,050 mean earnings: $18,720 | $13,670 | $15,570 | $18,250 | $21,350 | $24,810 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 928,480 mean earnings: $18,110 | $12,490 | $14,020 | $16,410 | $20,230 | $27,160 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 231,330 mean earnings: $17,030 | $12,610 | $14,080 | $16,250 | $19,090 | $22,570 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 541,780 mean earnings: $15,950 | $12,170 | $13,790 | $15,770 | $17,600 | $20,830 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 134,440 mean earnings: $16,650 | $12,350 | $13,830 | $15,940 | $18,150 | $22,040 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 124,640 mean earnings: $16,320 | $12,510 | $14,070 | $16,030 | $17,890 | $21,370 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 550,760 mean earnings: $17,040 | $12,470 | $14,240 | $16,290 | $18,570 | $22,440 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 150,430 mean earnings: $16,410 | $12,400 | $14,040 | $16,070 | $18,050 | $21,580 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 7,190 mean earnings: $16,960 | $12,470 | $14,290 | $16,360 | $19,060 | $22,460 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 10,710 mean earnings: $30,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,680 | $16,120 | $22,290 | $48,690 | $53,560 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 30 mean earnings: $23,930 | $12,070 | $13,970 | $16,920 | $38,980 | $43,610 |
| Water Transportation employment: 120 mean earnings: $21,980 | $14,870 | $16,190 | $19,030 | $23,910 | $34,070 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 480 mean earnings: $19,480 | $11,740 | $12,890 | $14,990 | $19,040 | $45,250 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 930 mean earnings: $20,880 | $14,130 | $16,080 | $19,450 | $23,450 | $29,740 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 890 mean earnings: $19,420 | $13,680 | $15,480 | $17,620 | $21,110 | $26,200 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 1,480 mean earnings: $18,360 | $13,060 | $14,330 | $17,030 | $21,110 | $26,050 |
| Postal Service employment: 3,690 mean earnings: $50,300 | $45,720 | $47,550 | $50,590 | $53,640 | $55,460 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 350 mean earnings: $22,890 | $12,680 | $15,320 | $19,960 | $26,850 | $40,870 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 2,680 mean earnings: $20,620 | $12,760 | $14,740 | $16,870 | $21,600 | $38,210 |
| Information employment: 24,700 mean earnings: $16,520 (EC) (def) (IG) | $11,920 | $13,210 | $15,210 | $17,660 | $22,570 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 190 mean earnings: $22,300 | $14,360 | $16,180 | $20,470 | $26,410 | $34,280 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 23,130 mean earnings: $16,030 | $11,880 | $13,140 | $15,020 | $17,430 | $21,580 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 420 mean earnings: $21,970 | $15,210 | $16,510 | $19,070 | $26,840 | $33,170 |
| Telecommunications employment: 930 mean earnings: $24,600 | $12,830 | $14,330 | $20,700 | $31,380 | $48,060 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 18,000 mean earnings: $19,320 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,210 | $15,460 | $18,500 | $22,110 | $26,810 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,140 | $13,260 | $15,470 | $18,450 | $21,940 | $26,360 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 1,090 mean earnings: $21,310 | $12,530 | $14,750 | $18,980 | $26,720 | $33,800 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 220 mean earnings: $23,060 | $14,740 | $17,480 | $21,530 | $28,270 | $34,230 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 30 mean earnings: $19,110 | $15,920 | $16,980 | $18,950 | $21,390 | $22,860 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 24,190 mean earnings: $15,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,060 | $13,200 | $14,940 | $17,380 | $20,780 |
| Real Estate employment: 2,750 mean earnings: $17,590 | $12,660 | $14,610 | $16,600 | $19,470 | $23,530 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 21,440 mean earnings: $15,380 | $12,020 | $13,110 | $14,670 | $17,190 | $20,280 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 2,540 mean earnings: $19,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,520 | $15,270 | $17,480 | $21,850 | $27,050 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 2,540 mean earnings: $19,280 | $13,520 | $15,270 | $17,480 | $21,850 | $27,050 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 5,230 mean earnings: $19,070 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,990 | $15,020 | $17,300 | $21,530 | $27,710 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 5,230 mean earnings: $19,070 | $12,990 | $15,020 | $17,300 | $21,530 | $27,710 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 17,580 mean earnings: $18,570 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,100 | $14,930 | $17,060 | $20,630 | $25,240 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 17,350 mean earnings: $18,570 | $13,110 | $14,930 | $17,060 | $20,620 | $25,260 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 230 mean earnings: $18,190 | $12,800 | $14,790 | $17,580 | $21,020 | $23,780 |
| Educational Services employment: 12,680 mean earnings: $20,080 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,120 | $15,380 | $18,590 | $23,060 | $29,300 |
| Educational Services employment: 12,680 mean earnings: $20,080 | $13,120 | $15,380 | $18,590 | $23,060 | $29,300 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 14,140 mean earnings: $20,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,620 | $15,750 | $18,860 | $24,050 | $30,060 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,350 mean earnings: $20,970 | $14,640 | $16,690 | $19,940 | $23,610 | $30,280 |
| Hospitals employment: 8,220 mean earnings: $22,170 | $14,810 | $17,070 | $20,940 | $26,370 | $32,510 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 370 mean earnings: $17,290 | $13,010 | $14,480 | $16,450 | $18,880 | $23,440 |
| Social Assistance employment: 4,200 mean earnings: $17,190 | $12,480 | $14,030 | $16,300 | $18,580 | $24,040 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 53,210 mean earnings: $17,740 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,580 | $14,320 | $16,610 | $19,940 | $24,500 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 10,490 mean earnings: $20,250 | $13,250 | $15,300 | $17,970 | $22,590 | $31,490 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 3,530 mean earnings: $17,260 | $12,730 | $14,430 | $16,500 | $19,350 | $22,620 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 39,200 mean earnings: $17,110 | $12,440 | $14,090 | $16,320 | $19,150 | $22,700 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 289,650 mean earnings: $15,770 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,010 | $13,350 | $15,200 | $17,490 | $20,930 |
| Accommodation employment: 13,630 mean earnings: $19,930 | $14,080 | $15,970 | $18,880 | $22,800 | $27,940 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 276,020 mean earnings: $15,560 | $11,970 | $13,280 | $15,060 | $17,330 | $20,450 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 37,120 mean earnings: $17,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,790 | $14,500 | $16,610 | $19,550 | $23,110 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 12,480 mean earnings: $17,320 | $12,990 | $14,700 | $16,610 | $19,150 | $22,410 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 21,470 mean earnings: $17,340 | $12,670 | $14,350 | $16,580 | $19,720 | $23,500 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 3,170 mean earnings: $17,770 | $12,780 | $14,620 | $16,770 | $20,020 | $24,170 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 38,710 mean earnings: $26,600 (def) (IG) | $15,320 | $18,540 | $23,170 | $33,020 | $45,080 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 38,710 mean earnings: $26,600 | $15,320 | $18,540 | $23,170 | $33,020 | $45,080 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.