Tellers
SOC code 43-3071 · O*NET-SOC 43-3071.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Tellers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$43,030
a year
Hourly
$20.69
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$42,350
$20.36 per hour
Middle 50%
$37,040 – $46,580
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$34,360 – $49,680
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
329,480
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $34,360
- $16.52/hr
- 25th percentile
- $37,040
- $17.81/hr
- Median percentile
- $43,030
- $20.69/hr
- 75th percentile
- $46,580
- $22.39/hr
- 90th percentile
- $49,680
- $23.88/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-13%
Declining
347,400
jobs in 2024
302,500
projected for 2034
About 44,900 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a teller do?
Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Balance currency, coin, and checks in cash drawers at ends of shifts and calculate daily transactions, using computers, calculators, or adding machines.
- Receive checks and cash for deposit, verify amounts, and check accuracy of deposit slips.
- Monitor bank vaults to ensure cash balances are correct.
- Cash checks and pay out money after verifying that signatures are correct, that written and numerical amounts agree, and that accounts have sufficient funds.
- Count 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.
- Enter customers' transactions into computers to record transactions and issue computer-generated receipts.
- Examine checks for endorsements and to verify other information, such as dates, bank names, identification of the persons receiving payments, and the legality of the documents.
- Resolve problems or discrepancies concerning customers' accounts.
How to become a teller
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 73% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)73%
- Some College Courses9%
- Bachelor's Degree8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5%
Common questions
How much does a teller earn?
The national median is $43,030 a year. The full range runs from $34,360 at the 10th percentile to $49,680 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a teller without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is teller in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 13% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.5/5
- Speaking3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Writing3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Economics and Accounting3.1/5
- Public Safety and Security3.0/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Administrative2.9/5
- Sales and Marketing2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Time Management.