Take in a deposit
Count the cash and checks, match the total to the deposit slip, record it, and print a receipt.
Career profile
Teller
Tellers help bank customers deposit money, withdraw cash, and handle everyday transactions without mistakes.
You switch between a customer's request and the numbers on your screen. Consider it if you like helping people and spotting small mistakes.
A day in the life
Cash a check
Check the ID and signature, match the written-out amount to the figures, and confirm the balance covers it.
Track down a cash shortage
Compare your cash with the transaction records, and if they don't match, recount and look for the error.
Pass along bigger questions
Hear the customer out, explain the next steps, and call a banker over for detailed product questions.
Quick facts
High school + job training
United States · 2025–2035
$43,030/year
United States · May 2025
13.2% fewer jobs
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + job trainingA high school diploma or equivalent and short-term training after hiring are typical.
Pay
$43,030/yearNational median pay, equivalent to $20.69 an hour.
Outlook
13.2% fewer jobsEmployment is projected to shrink, with about 26,800 openings a year nationwide.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like checking numbers until they agree.
- You can explain a next step without making someone feel rushed.
- You stay attentive even when the process repeats.
Things to weigh
- The work can be repetitive, and some customers arrive upset. You still need to check the details carefully.
- Some schedules include evenings or weekends.
Where AI may help
Mobile check deposits and automated teller machines handle transactions that once required a counter visit.
What people still lead
You help untangle customer concerns and recognize when a banker needs to join the conversation.
What we can’t predict yet
How much routine service moves to machines will shape both staffing and the mix of problems tellers handle.
Pay in context
Earnings
The national median was $43,030 a year, or $20.69 an hour, in May 2025. That is a midpoint, not a starting offer.
The national spread
The 10th-percentile wage was $34,360 a year; the 90th-percentile wage was $49,680. These mark the lower and upper ends of the middle 80% of wages, not beginner and experienced pay levels.
Pay by employer industry
Median annual pay was $42,920 in credit intermediation, which includes banks and credit unions, and $44,860 in management of companies and enterprises.
Openings despite fewer positions
Employment is projected to fall 13.2%, but about 26,800 openings are expected annually. These replace people leaving the occupation or workforce.
Getting started
Apply directly after high school
- What the route involves
- After hiring, learn transactions from an experienced teller.
- What it can lead to
- You build the skills to run your own teller station.
- What to check
- A diploma or equivalent is typical; college usually is not required. A background check may be required.
Bring customer-service experience
- What the route involves
- Build experience helping customers and handling transactions, then apply to teller roles that value those skills.
- What it can lead to
- This can meet an employer's experience requirement without previous bank employment.
- What to check
- Requirements differ; some employers accept equivalent education or training.
You can enter without prior banking experience. Individual employers may ask for customer-service experience.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the bank's software and make balancing your drawer a reliable habit.
Handle more questions
Build confidence resolving routine concerns and recognizing when to call in a more experienced colleague.
Become a head teller
With experience, you may help other tellers, handle harder problems, and organize work schedules.
Where you can work
Bank branch
You work face to face with customers and alongside branch colleagues. Conversations can include showing digital banking options and introducing a banker.
- Indoors
- Office
Video teller center
At some banks, you serve customers at several branches through live video machines from one office. You also help people use the machine, so clear spoken directions matter.
- Indoors
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Make a pretend cash drawer with paper money. Record five deposits and withdrawals, then compare the remaining cash with your record. Ask someone to alter one entry and try to find it. Notice whether checking a mismatch feels satisfying or frustrating.
Stay safe: Use invented transactions and account details.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Tellers — Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine. 43-3071.00 — Tellers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: 43-3071.00 — Tellers. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Wells Fargo. Teller Denver CO — R-578040. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- West Gate Bank. Current Job Openings — Video Teller. Accessed 2026-10-03.