Career & application guide

Cashiers

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

Explore this guide

What do cashiers do?

Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Cage Cashier
  • Cashier
  • Center Aisle Cashier
  • Central Aisle Cashier
  • Checker
  • Customer Assistant
  • Sales Associate
  • Store Attendant

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
  • Greet customers entering establishments.
  • Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
  • Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.
  • Monitor checkout stations to ensure they have adequate cash available and are staffed appropriately.
  • Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.
  • Answer incoming phone calls.
  • Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.
  • Request information or assistance, using paging systems.
  • Help customers find the location of products.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

Ready to plan your search?

Start with cashiers as your target. You can change your role in the quiz and tell us your location and work preferences.

Explore related occupations