Tellers Salary
The median tellers salary in the United States is $43,030 per year ($20.69/hour). Salaries range from $34,360 at the entry level to $49,680+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 329,480 tellers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 12.9% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Tellers Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for tellerss.
Tellers are the front-line of retail banking β handle deposits + withdrawals + check cashing + refer complex needs. Entry $34-42k; experienced tellers $40-52k; head tellers + lead $48-62k. Path is limited within teller role but excellent stepping stone to Personal Banker + Loan Officer + Branch Manager + investment advisor tracks. PSLF + tuition reimbursement common. High turnover industry β those who stay 2-3 years generally move up.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Tellers
- 1Get high school diploma or GEDMost banks hire tellers without degree. Some banks require associate's or in-progress bachelor's for career track.
- 2Apply directly to banksMajor banks (Chase + BofA + Wells + Regional banks) run online applications + assessments + in-person interviews. Credit unions also hire tellers.
- 3Complete initial training + certifications3-6 weeks bank-provided training on systems + procedures + BSA + customer service.
- 4Build referral track record + tenure12-24 months to Head Teller. Cross-train on multiple functions + build referral pipeline to specialists.
- 5Move to Personal Banker or specialty trackPersonal Banker $42-65k with commission on loans + accounts. Or move to lending + operations + wealth management.
Career Progression
- β’Basic transactions
- β’Cash handling + drawer balancing
- β’Referrals to specialists
- β’Customer service
- β’Complex transactions + wires
- β’Train new tellers
- β’Own referral targets
- β’Cash management
- β’Supervise teller line
- β’Open accounts + originate loans
- β’Sales quotas + referrals
- β’Branch operations
- β’P&L for branch
- β’Team of 5-25
- β’Sales goals + community relationships
- β’Audit + compliance
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Why do you want to be a teller?behavioral
Q2. How would you handle a customer who's short of ID for a transaction?situational
Q3. Tell me about a time you handled a difficult customer.behavioral
Q4. How do you balance accuracy with speed?situational
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β Entry Teller (0-2 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈProcessed 180+ transactions daily with 99.7% accuracy over 18 months + zero cash overages/shortages > $50.
- βΈReferred 65+ customers to Personal Bankers generating $2.4M in new mortgage + wealth relationships.
- βΈCompleted 45+ hours BSA + AML + compliance training + zero compliance issues.
- βΈCross-trained on 6 branch positions (Teller, Personal Banker support, safe deposit, ATM balancing).
What Gets You Rejected
- βCash handling issues or drawer variances.
- βCant maintain accuracy under volume pressure.
- βCompliance issues or missed CTRs.
- βWeak customer service + rude affect.
- βNo referral generation.
- βAttendance + reliability issues.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βTeller pay banded tightly at large banks β limited base negotiation.
- βSign-on bonuses $500-2,500 common at large banks.
- βTuition reimbursement 100% of qualifying credits toward Bachelor's.
- βShift differential + Saturday premiums.
- βReferral bonuses per successful mortgage/wealth referral.
- βCareer track promotions are the leverage: Teller β Personal Banker = $10-25k jump.
- βMetro premium at large banks: 10-15% at Chase/Wells in NYC/SF/LA/Boston.
Tellers Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired tellerss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Tellers Career Kit β $19
- β All 15 interview questions with expert answers
- β 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 7 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
Sample reviews β real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.
βThe interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.β
β Anonymous, Financial Analyst
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β Anonymous, Software Developer
βThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.β
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Tellers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,670 | +10.8% |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | +9.7% |
| California | $46,900 | +9.0% |
| Massachusetts | $46,900 | +9.0% |
| Alaska | $46,770 | +8.7% |
| Connecticut | $46,320 | +7.6% |
| Colorado | $46,060 | +7.0% |
| Maryland | $46,010 | +6.9% |
| District of Columbia | $45,590 | +5.9% |
| Florida | $45,580 | +5.9% |
Tellers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,090 | +16.4% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $49,880 | +15.9% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,370 | +14.7% |
| Napa, CA | $49,260 | +14.5% |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,700 | +13.2% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $48,310 | +12.3% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,060 | +11.7% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,690 | +10.8% |
| Bellingham, WA | $47,630 | +10.7% |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,600 | +10.6% |