### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Tellers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			tellers imageTellers process transactions such as cashing checks, depositing money, and collecting loan payments.							
						Quick Facts:     Tellers2023     Median Pay
            						$37,640     per year
										$18.10     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    364,100Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    -15% (Decline)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    -52,900What Tellers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Tellers are responsible for accurately processing routine transactions at a bank.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Most tellers work in bank branches.
            
                                                How to Become a Teller
                                                
                        
Most tellers have a high school diploma and receive about 1 month of on-the-job training. Some banks do background checks before hiring a new teller.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for tellers was $37,640 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of tellers is projected to decline							 15 percent from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite declining  employment, about 29,000 openings for tellers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for tellers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of tellers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about tellers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Tellers Do 
            

			TellersTellers verify a customer’s identity and financial information before processing a transaction.			
Tellers are responsible for accurately processing routine transactions at a bank. These transactions include cashing checks, depositing money, and collecting loan payments.
Duties
Tellers typically do the following:
Count the cash in their drawer at the start of their shift
Accept checks, cash, and other forms of payment from customers
Answer questions from customers about their accounts
Prepare specialized types of funds, such as traveler’s checks, savings bonds, and money orders
Exchange dollars for foreign currency
Order bank cards and checks for customers
Record all transactions electronically throughout their shift
Count the cash in their drawer at the end of their shift and make sure the amounts balanceTellers are responsible for the safe and accurate handling of the money they process. When cashing a check, they must verify the customer’s identity and make sure that the account has enough money to cover the transaction. When counting cash, tellers must be careful not to make errors. If a customer is interested in financial products or services, such as certificates of deposits (CDs) and loans, tellers explain the products and services offered by the bank and refer the customer to the appropriate personnel.
In most banks, tellers record account changes using computers that give them easy access to the customer’s financial information. Tellers also can use this information when recommending a new product or service.
***Head tellers*** manage teller operations. Besides doing the same tasks as those done by other tellers, they perform some managerial duties, such as setting work schedules or helping less experienced tellers. Because of their experience, head tellers may deal with difficult customer problems, such as errors in customer accounts. Head tellers also go to the vault (where larger amounts of money are kept) and ensure that other tellers have enough cash to cover their shift.
 Work Environment
			Tellers Most tellers work in bank branches.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Tellers held about 364,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of tellers were as follows:
        Credit intermediation and related activities
                97%Management of companies and enterprises
                1The depository credit intermediation industry includes commercial bank branches, where tellers are primarily employed.
Work Schedules
Most tellers work full time.
 How to Become a Teller

			TellersTellers must be friendly, helpful, and patient when interacting with bank customers.			
Most tellers have a high school diploma and receive about 1 month of on-the-job training. Some banks do background checks before hiring a new teller.
Education
Tellers usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. Some tellers may take some college courses, but a degree is rarely required for a job applicant to be hired.
Training
New tellers usually receive brief on-the-job training, typically lasting about 1 month. Normally, a head teller or another experienced teller trains them. During this training, tellers learn how to balance cash drawers and verify signatures. They also learn the computer software that their bank uses and the financial products and services the bank offers.
Advancement
Experienced tellers can advance within their bank. They can become head tellers or move to other supervisory positions. Some tellers can advance to other occupations, such as loan officer. They can also move to sales positions.
Important Qualities
***Customer-service skills.*** Tellers spend their day interacting with bank customers. They must be friendly, helpful, and patient. They must be able to understand customer needs and explain service options to their customers.
***Detail oriented.*** Tellers must be sure not to make errors when dealing with customers’ money.
***Math skills.*** Because they count and handle large amounts of money, tellers must be good at arithmetic.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                TellersMedian annual wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$48,060  Financial clerks$45,790  Tellers$37,640Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for tellers was $37,640 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,950.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for tellers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Management of companies and enterprises
                $39,100Credit intermediation and related activities
                37,600Most tellers work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                TellersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Financial clerks-7%  Tellers-15%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of tellers is projected to decline				 15 percent from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite declining  employment, about 29,000 openings for tellers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Historically, job growth for tellers was driven by the expansion of bank branches, where most tellers work. However, the number of bank branches has been in decline due to technological change. As more people use online banking tools, such as mobile check deposits, fewer bank customers will visit the teller window. This should result in decreased demand for tellers.
In addition, automation is expected to lead to fewer tellers per bank branch. For example, video kiosks that allow customers to interact with tellers through webcams at ATMs will allow tellers to service a greater number of customers from one location, reducing the number of tellers needed for each bank.
“Enhanced ATMs” are another form of automation technology. These machines are expected to perform an increasing range of customer service and clerical tasks currently done by tellers, such as issuing debit cards or detecting counterfeit currency. The use of these machines will improve teller productivity and allow workers to focus on only the most complex customer service tasks, which in turn is expected to lower demand for these workers.
			

                        Employment projections data for     tellers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Tellers**
			43-3071
			364,100
			311,100
			-15
			-52,900
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Tellers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of tellers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks**
            Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations and check financial records for accuracy.
            Some college, no degree
            $47,440**Cashiers**
            Cashiers process payments from customers purchasing goods and services.
            No formal educational credential
            $29,720**Customer Service Representatives**
            Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,680**Information Clerks**
            Information clerks perform routine clerical duties, maintain records, collect data, and provide information to customers.
            See How to Become One
            $40,540**Loan Officers**
            Loan officers evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of loan applications.
            Bachelor's degree
            $69,990**Receptionists**
            Receptionists do tasks such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing information about their organization to the public.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $35,840
 Contacts for More Information
								
For general information about the banking industry, visit
American Bankers Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Tellers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Tellers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/tellers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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