Tellers
Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.
Also called: Account Representative, Bank Representative, Bank Teller, Banker, Bilingual Spanish Teller, Bilingual Teller
Median pay
$43,030
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$34,360 – $49,680
People employed
329,480
Holland code
CES
Conventional · Enterprising · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 2.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 3.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 4.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 5.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 6.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 7.Do you prefer working indoors?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Tellers pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What tellers do
- 01Balance currency, coin, and checks in cash drawers at ends of shifts and calculate daily transactions, using computers, calculators, or adding machines.
- 02Receive checks and cash for deposit, verify amounts, and check accuracy of deposit slips.
- 03Monitor bank vaults to ensure cash balances are correct.
- 04Cash checks and pay out money after verifying that signatures are correct, that written and numerical amounts agree, and that accounts have sufficient funds.
- 05Count currency, coins, and checks received, by hand or using currency-counting machine, to prepare them for deposit or shipment to branch banks or the Federal Reserve Bank.
- 06Enter customers' transactions into computers to record transactions and issue computer-generated receipts.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from tellers
- Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks91% · +16%
- New Accounts Clerks89% · +11%
- Brokerage Clerks86% · +53%
- Office Clerks, General86% · +5%
- Customer Service Representatives85% · +4%
Change into tellers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Cashiers93% · $32,880
- New Accounts Clerks91% · $47,670
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners89% · $34,980
- Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers88% · $36,220
- Customer Service Representatives85% · $44,770
Majors that lead here
- Banking and Financial Support Services
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.