Bank tellers are the face of local bank branches. When you visit a bank in person, tellers welcome you in with a smile and help you with your transaction — whether you’re depositing a check or withdrawing cash from your savings account.
What are the job responsibilities like, and how much does a bank teller make an hour? Our in-depth guide to bank teller salaries and skills will help you determine if it’s the right career for you.
What Does a Bank Teller Do?
A bank teller’s job is to help customers complete financial transactions with their bank accounts. Tellers work in person at bank branches and can help with things like opening and closing accounts, and depositing and withdrawing funds.
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Bank Teller Job Responsibility Examples
What might a bank teller do in their day-to-day? Here are a few examples:
• Greet customers as they enter the bank or credit union
• Complete transactions through the bank drive-through
• Help customers open a new checking or savings account
• Answer calls and emails to offer customer service
• Prepare money orders, savings bonds, and traveler’s checks for customers
• Record transactions throughout their shift
• Count the cash in their drawers at the beginning and end of a shift
• Explain the various financial products offered by the bank
Bank Teller Skills
Here are some of the skills you’ll need to be a successful bank teller:
• Positive attitude
• Patience
• Customer service
• Clear communication
• Math and money management
• Sales
• Technology
• Willingness to learn
How Much Do Starting Bank Tellers Make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average hourly wage for a bank teller is $17.69, but those just starting out should expect to make less. According to Indeed, bank tellers with less than a year of experience make $15.89 an hour on average, but that varies by location.
What Is the Average Salary for a Bank Teller?
The average salary for a bank teller is $36,800, but this varies by level of experience and by location. For instance, the BLS breaks down mean bank teller salaries by state:
• How much does a bank teller make in California? $42,120 a year
• How much does a bank teller make in Texas? $33,820 a year
• How much does a bank teller make in Florida? $37,920 a year
Bank tellers earn the highest average annual salary in Washington state ($43,500) and the lowest average annual salary in West Virginia ($29,600). Check out the table below for insight into how much bank tellers make a year, or switch gears and research the highest paying jobs by state.
| State | Average Bank Teller Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $43,500 |
| California | $42,120 |
| Connecticut | $41,850 |
| Massachusetts | $41,390 |
| Rhode Island | $41,160 |
| New York | $40,930 |
| Colorado | $40,450 |
| Alaska | $39,590 |
| New Jersey | $39,500 |
| Maryland | $39,500 |
| Delaware | $39,180 |
| Nevada | $38,910 |
| Arizona | $38,640 |
| Oregon | $38,580 |
| Hawaii | $37,970 |
| Florida | $37,920 |
| Vermont | $37,840 |
| North Carolina | $37,730 |
| North Dakota | $37,670 |
| Illinois | $37,630 |
| Minnesota | $37,400 |
| Virginia | $37,330 |
| Wisconsin | $36,600 |
| New Hampshire | $36,500 |
| Michigan | $36,450 |
| Maine | $36,310 |
| Ohio | $36,070 |
| Idaho | $35,960 |
| South Carolina | $35,460 |
| Indiana | $35,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,010 |
| Utah | $34,820 |
| Nebraska | $34,620 |
| Georgia | $34,600 |
| Montana | $34,530 |
| Iowa | $34,200 |
| South Dakota | $33,990 |
| Texas | $33,820 |
| Tennessee | $33,820 |
| New Mexico | $33,660 |
| Wyoming | $33,500 |
| Alabama | $33,260 |
| Louisiana | $33,230 |
| Kansas | $33,190 |
| Kentucky | $32,300 |
| Missouri | $31,730 |
| Arkansas | $31,420 |
| Oklahoma | $30,680 |
| Mississippi | $30,670 |
| West Virginia | $29,600 |
| Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2022 data | |
💡 Quick Tip: Income, expenses, and life circumstances can change. Consider reviewing your budget a few times a year and making any adjustments if needed.
Pros and Cons of a Bank Teller Salary
A job as a bank teller has some pros, but there are a number of cons, like a low salary, to consider:
Pros
• Career growth: The average hourly rate of a bank teller may not be as competitive as other entry-level salaries, but there’s plenty of room for advancement as a bank teller. Some tellers move up to head teller positions. Others move on to supervisory positions, become loan officers, or transition to sales.
• Benefits: Although employees may not earn super competitive pay, bank tellers who work full-time can enjoy nice benefits from the bank, including health care, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Regular schedule: Many entry-level jobs, as in retail and restaurants, have unpredictable hours. Banks operate under normal business hours and are closed on Sundays (and bank holidays!). That means you’ll enjoy a more consistent schedule as a bank teller.
Recommended: Should We Raise the Minimum Wage?
Cons
• Salary: While bank tellers can make good money — the top 10% make an average of $46,350 — the overall average falls below what the typical person with a high school diploma makes in a year in the U.S. Here are some of the best jobs without a college degree.
• Job outlook: The BLS is predicting a 12% decline in job opportunities from 2021 to 2023. As more financial institutions switch to predominantly online banking experiences and shut down branches, job insecurity for bank tellers could be further undermined.
• Draining job: Bank tellers must deliver an excellent customer experience every day. When customers are dealing with finances, it’s easy for them to become frustrated or upset — which can be draining for bank tellers who are trying to help. To be clear, this is not a job for antisocial people!
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The Takeaway
Bank tellers can make decent money, though there may be other jobs that require the same level of experience and education but pay more. However, hard-working bank tellers can often move up within the company and command better salaries.
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FAQ
Which bank pays the most for tellers?
According to data from Indeed, the financial institutions that pay the most for tellers include Bank of America, Logix Federal Credit Union, Avadian Credit Union, Investors Bank, and Chase.
What is the highest teller salary?
The top 10% highest paid bank tellers make an average annual salary of $46,350 — that’s $22.29 an hour. Bank tellers in Washington state, California, and Connecticut are the highest paid, on average.
Is it hard to be hired as a bank teller?
Because of the rise in online banking, it’s becoming more challenging to be hired as a bank teller. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that bank teller employment will decline 12% between 2021 and 2031.
That said, you don’t need a college degree to become a teller, and training is all on the job. This makes breaking into the career field easier for those without a secondary or vocational education.
Photo credit: iStock/Fly View Productions
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