How to become a teller

Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What tellers 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.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Monitoring
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Active Learning

Is teller a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 16% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Washington $47,670
• New Jersey $47,210
• California $46,900
• Massachusetts $46,900
• Alaska $46,770

Tellers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.