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Career

Tellers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure

What they do

Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $43,030 Median per year · $20.69/hr Most earn $34,360–$49,680

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Process and maintain records of customer loans.
  • Enter customers' transactions into computers to record transactions and issue computer-generated receipts.
  • Order a supply of cash to meet daily needs.
  • Receive checks and cash for deposit, verify amounts, and check accuracy of deposit slips.
  • Issue checks to bond owners in settlement of transactions.
  • Prepare and verify cashier's checks.

Job outlook

United States
13% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 26,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Credit intermediation and related activities95.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

Teller is an entry-level job. You can often start with just a high school diploma, and most tellers learn the job through on-the-job training that usually takes up to about a month.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build strong math, reading, and customer-service skills, since tellers count money accurately and deal with the public every day.

  2. Teller

    0-1 month

    Learn the bank's cash handling, transaction, and record-keeping procedures on the job, which is the typical starting point for this career.

Where it can lead

  1. New Accounts Clerk

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    You move from handling everyday transactions to helping customers open new checking, savings, and other accounts, which adds paperwork and sales-style conversations; a certificate or apprenticeship is usually expected.

  2. Loan Interviewer and Clerk

    2 to 4 years of experience first

    You gather applicant information and help people apply for loans, which requires strong attention to detail and knowledge of lending rules and often a certificate or apprenticeship.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math classes, especially algebra and any business or accounting courseStrong math helps you count, check, and balance money quickly and accurately, which is the core of teller work.
  • Get a part-time job that handles cashA job such as a store or food counter gives you real experience counting change and dealing with customers.
  • Join a student club like DECA, FBLA, or a school business clubThese clubs teach money basics, professional communication, and sometimes give you a chance to practice skills in a fun setting.
  • Volunteer to count or track money for a school or community eventKeeping accurate records for a bake sale or fundraiser shows responsibility and gives you a real example to mention later.
  • Practice good customer serviceBeing polite, patient, and clear with people is a skill tellers use every day, and you can build it at any job or volunteer role.

In college

  • Take courses in accounting, business, or economicsThese classes teach how banks and financial records work, which helps you understand the teller's role and move up later.
  • Work a campus job that involves cash or customer servicePositions like a campus bookstore, dining, or the student union cashier give you hands-on handling experience.
  • Look for a summer internship or part-time job at a bank or credit unionEven a short role in a branch shows you the daily work of tellers and can lead to a teller position after graduation.
  • Join a finance or business student organizationGroups like a finance club or business association help you build professional skills and meet people who work in banking.
  • Ask about a bank's teller training program during job interviewsKnowing how training works helps you prepare and shows employers you are interested in learning the job.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for banks, credit unions, or retailers that offer cash-handling training, and ask whether they train new hires on the job.
  • Show you are trustworthy and careful with money, such as by keeping a neat record of any cash you handle for a family business or school fundraiser.
  • Practice friendly, clear communication, because tellers spend most of their day helping people with their money.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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