Tellers
SOC Code: 43-3071.00
Office & Admin SupportBank tellers serve as the face of financial institutions, handling the everyday transactions that keep customers' financial lives running smoothly. They process deposits, withdrawals, transfers, and loan payments while maintaining meticulous records of each interaction. Tellers are often the primary point of contact between a bank and its customers, requiring both numerical accuracy and strong interpersonal skills. The role combines financial responsibility with customer service in a fast-paced branch environment.
Salary Overview
Median
$39,340
25th Percentile
$36,420
75th Percentile
$45,550
90th Percentile
$48,270
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
-12.9%
New Openings
29,800
Outlook
Decline
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Balance currency, coin, and checks in cash drawers at ends of shifts and calculate daily transactions, using computers, calculators, or adding machines.
- Receive mortgage, loan, or public utility bill payments, verifying payment dates and amounts due.
- Cash checks and pay out money after verifying that signatures are correct, that written and numerical amounts agree, and that accounts have sufficient funds.
- 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.
- Process transactions, such as term deposits, retirement savings plan contributions, automated teller transactions, night deposits, and mail deposits.
- Answer telephones and assist customers with their questions.
- Sort and file deposit slips and checks.
- Receive and count daily inventories of cash, drafts, and travelers' checks.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: High School Diploma
Related Careers
Top Career Pivot Targets
View all 11 →Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Tellers.
A Day in the Life
A teller's day begins with balancing their cash drawer and preparing their workstation before the branch opens. Throughout the day they greet customers, verify identities, and process a steady stream of transactions including check cashing, money orders, and account inquiries. Between customers, tellers reconcile transaction records and assist with vault duties or coin machine operations. They close out the day by balancing their drawer to the penny, resolving any discrepancies before handing off to supervisors.
Work Environment
Tellers work inside bank branches in climate-controlled environments, typically standing at teller windows or sitting at desks for extended periods. The atmosphere is professional and customer-facing, requiring neat appearance and courteous demeanor throughout the shift. Branches can be busy and noisy during peak hours such as lunch and end-of-month periods. Security measures including cameras and dual-control procedures are part of the daily working environment, and tellers must follow strict compliance protocols at all times.
Career Path & Advancement
Most tellers enter the field with a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training covering bank procedures, security protocols, and cash handling techniques. After demonstrating reliability and accuracy, many advance to head teller or lead teller roles with supervisory responsibilities over a small team. From there, motivated tellers often move into personal banker, loan officer, or branch operations positions. With additional education in finance or business, experienced tellers can pursue branch management or corporate banking careers.
Specializations
Some tellers specialize in commercial banking, handling large business deposits and complex currency transactions that require advanced cash-handling expertise. Others focus on foreign currency exchange at banks serving international clientele or located near border crossings. Drive-through tellers develop efficiency in processing high volumes of routine transactions quickly through pneumatic tube systems. Vault custodians handle the ordering, distribution, and reconciliation of large cash reserves and serve as a senior specialization within the teller track.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Stable employment with consistent hours at established financial institutions
- ✓Entry-level accessibility with minimal formal education requirements
- ✓Strong foundation for advancement into broader banking and finance careers
- ✓Regular customer interaction suits people-oriented personalities
- ✓Benefits packages at major banks often include health insurance and retirement plans
- ✓Develops precision and accountability skills valued across many industries
- ✓Opportunities to cross-train in other branch functions such as new accounts and loans
Challenges
- ✗Median salary of $39,340 is below average for full-time professional roles
- ✗Standing for long periods at teller windows can be physically tiring
- ✗High responsibility for cash accuracy with personal accountability for shortages
- ✗Repetitive transaction processing can become monotonous over time
- ✗Declining job growth due to automation and self-service banking technology
- ✗Exposure to security risks including robberies and fraud attempts
- ✗Limited remote work options since the role requires physical branch presence
Industry Insight
The banking industry is undergoing significant transformation as mobile banking, ATMs, and digital payment platforms handle an increasing share of routine transactions. While overall teller employment is projected to decline modestly, branches in community banks and credit unions continue to value human interaction for complex transactions and customer relationship building. Banks are retraining tellers as universal bankers who cross-sell financial products and provide advisory services alongside traditional cash handling. Tellers who develop skills in sales, financial products, and digital banking tools will find the most durable career paths.
How to Break Into This Career
Entry into teller roles typically requires a high school diploma or GED, with many banks preferring candidates who have some customer service or cash-handling experience. Retail cashier experience is highly transferable and frequently cited by hiring managers as a strong background for new tellers. Many community colleges offer banking and finance certificate programs that can give applicants a competitive edge. Demonstrating attention to detail, honesty, and a pleasant customer-facing manner during the interview process is critical to landing a first teller position.
Career Pivot Tips
Tellers develop highly transferable skills including cash reconciliation, regulatory compliance, data entry, and customer conflict resolution that are valued across financial services. Those transitioning out of banking often move naturally into accounts payable and receivable roles, retail management, or insurance customer service positions. The precision and trustworthiness demonstrated in teller work is compelling to employers in adjacent fields like payroll processing and bookkeeping. Pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree in finance while working as a teller can dramatically expand career pivot options into financial analysis or planning.
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