State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Teller Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Tellers earn a median of $43,030 per year ($20.69/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 12.9% through 2034, with about 29,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 43-3071Office and Administrative SupportLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $43,030
- Projected growth
- -12.9%
- Openings a year
- 29,800
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Account Representative, Bank Teller, Branch Operations Specialist, Customer Relationship Specialist, Customer Service Associate (CSA), Financial Services Representative (FSR).
How much do Tellers make?
10th percentile$34,360
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$37,040
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$43,030
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$46,580
Upper quartile
90th percentile$49,680
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $43,030 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $20.69/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $42,350 |
| People employed | 329,480 |
Versus all US occupations
At $43,030, Tellers earn 16% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,950 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $48,500, this is 11% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $49,680 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,360, a gap of 1.4×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 14% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Washington posts the highest raw median ($47,670), but once local prices are taken into account North Carolina leads at $47,527 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Tellers the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,670 | $44,546 | 9,180 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | $43,390 | 10,270 |
| California | $46,900 | $42,359 | 25,230 |
| Massachusetts | $46,900 | $44,347 | 7,190 |
| Alaska | $46,770 | $45,692 | 1,020 |
| Connecticut | $46,320 | $44,706 | 3,220 |
| Colorado | $46,060 | $44,696 | 5,370 |
| Maryland | $46,010 | $43,836 | 3,860 |
| District of Columbia | $45,590 | $41,483 | 700 |
| Florida | $45,580 | $44,075 | 14,700 |
Is Teller a growing career?
Tellers-12.9%
All US occupations3.1%
-12.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Tellers to change -12.9% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 44,900 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 29,800 openings are projected each year, 8.6% of the 347,400 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
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.
How to become a Teller
No licence, no certification and no degree: BLS records a high school diploma and training on the job. The gate people do not expect is federal and it is absolute. Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act bars anyone convicted of a criminal offence involving dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering, or who entered a pretrial diversion programme in connection with such a prosecution, from participating in the affairs of an insured depository institution without the FDIC's prior written consent. Banks must make a reasonable, documented inquiry before you start, and you may not work there until they have determined you are not prohibited.
The credential path, step by step
- Finish high school
Tellers usually need a high school diploma or the equivalent. Some take college courses or hold a degree, but BLS records that this is not typically required to be hired.
- Expect the background check to be a real gate, not a formality
FDIC-supervised institutions may extend a conditional offer of employment contingent on a satisfactory background check, but the applicant may not work for, be employed by or otherwise participate in the affairs of the institution until the institution has determined that they are not prohibited under Section 19. The institution has its own obligation: it must not permit a prohibited person to engage in any conduct or continue any relationship barred by the section.
- Know precisely what Section 19 covers, because it is narrower than it sounds
A criminal offence involving dishonesty means one in which a person directly or indirectly cheats or defrauds, or wrongfully takes property belonging to another in violation of a criminal statute, or an offence that law defines as dishonest or for which dishonesty is an element. It expressly excludes offences involving possession of controlled substances, including simple possession and possession with intent to distribute, and excludes a misdemeanour committed more than one year before the consent application is filed. Breach of trust means a wrongful act, use, misappropriation or omission with respect to property or funds committed to a person in a fiduciary or official capacity.
- Check the exclusions before assuming you are barred
Section 19 does not apply if 7 or more years have passed since the offence occurred, or if the person was incarcerated and 5 or more years have passed since release. A conviction is not a conviction of record where an order of expungement, sealing or dismissal has been issued, or the conviction was expunged, sealed or dismissed by operation of law, and the intent is that the record be destroyed or sealed. Youthful offender and juvenile delinquency adjudications do not require an application. Acquittals and convictions reversed on appeal are not covered, but a conviction under appeal, and a conviction for which a pardon has been granted, both still require an application.
- Apply to the FDIC for consent if you are covered, then learn the job on the job
The application exists to let you show that, notwithstanding the prohibition, you are fit to participate in the affairs of an insured institution without posing a risk to its safety and soundness or impairing public confidence in it. The burden is on you to establish that the application warrants approval. Once hired, a head teller or another experienced teller trains you: balancing cash drawers, verifying signatures, the employer's software, and the products and services the bank or credit union offers.
- How long the training takes
No programme at all; training happens after hire
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually enough to be hired, and new tellers receive on-the-job training from a head teller or another experienced teller. The one thing that can lengthen the path is the Section 19 consent application, which is decided by the FDIC rather than the employer.
- Continuing education
Not required
None is required of tellers. Advancement is what adds obligations: BLS notes experienced tellers may become head tellers, move into supervisory or managerial positions, or move to other occupations such as loan officer, which carries its own registration or licensing and, if state licensed, an annual continuing education requirement.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state licenses tellers, and the rule that matters is identical in every state because it attaches to the institution's federal deposit insurance rather than to the occupation. Two adjacent points do vary. Section 19 covers institution-affiliated parties and others who participate in an insured institution's affairs, so its reach depends on the role rather than the job title; independent contractors are typically outside it unless they also influence or control the institution's management or affairs. And a teller who advances into originating residential mortgage loans steps into a completely different regime, either federal registration or state licensing through NMLS depending on the employer.
Who governs the credential
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) — Administers Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, decides consent applications from people with covered convictions or program entries, and sets the rules banks must follow when checking an applicant's history. It does not license tellers; it decides who may work at an insured institution at all.
Credential detail for tellers is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Tellers · checked August 23, 2026
- eCFR, 12 CFR part 303 subpart L: Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act · checked August 23, 2026
- FDIC: Section 19 rule brochure · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
To enter the occupation, tellers typically need a high school diploma; they also may need to pass a background check. Once hired, they receive training on the job.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Little or no preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as tellers.
- High School Diploma73.0%
- Some College Courses9.0%
- Bachelor's Degree8.3%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)5.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2.7%
What does a Teller do?
Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.
Tellers process routine transactions, such as cashing checks and depositing money, at a bank or credit union.
Day-to-day tasks
- Balance currency, coin, and checks in cash drawers at ends of shifts and calculate daily transactions, using computers, calculators, or adding machines.
- Receive checks and cash for deposit, verify amounts, and check accuracy of deposit slips.
- Cash checks and pay out money after verifying that signatures are correct, that written and numerical amounts agree, and that accounts have sufficient funds.
- Enter customers' transactions into computers to record transactions and issue computer-generated receipts.
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare and verify cashier's checks.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most tellers work full time during regular business hours. Some work schedules that include evenings or weekends.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where tellers work
| Credit intermediation and related activities | 96% |
|---|---|
| Management of companies and enterprises | 1% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening3.5/5
- Speaking3.3/5
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Writing3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Active Learning2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Instructing2.9/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Document management software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Teller?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.3
Investigative1.4
Artistic1.0
Social2.4
Enterprisingprimary4.2
Conventionalprimary6.9
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Teller: frequently asked questions
How much do Tellers make?
Tellers earn a median of $43,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 16% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $20.69/hr. The middle half earn between $37,040 and $46,580. The top 10% earn $49,680 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Teller?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Tellers. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 73.0% hold high school diploma.
Is Teller a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 12.9% over 2024–2034, a loss of 44,900 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 29,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Teller do?
Tellers process routine transactions, such as cashing checks and depositing money, at a bank or credit union. A core O*NET task: balance currency, coin, and checks in cash drawers at ends of shifts and calculate daily transactions, using computers, calculators, or adding machines. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Office suite software, Operating system software.
Which states pay Tellers the most?
The highest state medians for Tellers are Washington ($47,670), New Jersey ($47,210), California ($46,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Carolina moves to the top at $47,527.
What personality type suits a Teller?
O*NET scores Tellers highest on the Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Teller?
No programme at all; training happens after hire. A high school diploma or equivalent is usually enough to be hired, and new tellers receive on-the-job training from a head teller or another experienced teller. The one thing that can lengthen the path is the Section 19 consent application, which is decided by the FDIC rather than the employer.
Do you need a license to work as a Teller?
Not a state license. No state licenses tellers, and the rule that matters is identical in every state because it attaches to the institution's federal deposit insurance rather than to the occupation. Two adjacent points do vary. Section 19 covers institution-affiliated parties and others who participate in an insured institution's affairs, so its reach depends on the role rather than the job title; independent contractors are typically outside it unless they also influence or control the institution's management or affairs. And a teller who advances into originating residential mortgage loans steps into a completely different regime, either federal registration or state licensing through NMLS depending on the employer.