Bank Teller
Tellers process routine transactions, such as cashing checks and depositing money, at a bank or credit union.
What the job is
- The work
- Tellers process routine transactions, such as cashing checks and depositing money, at a bank or credit union.
BLS
Tellers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Tellers usually work in branches of banks or credit unions. Most work full time.
BLS
Tellers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Friendly, patient, accurate people who are comfortable handling cash and helping customers.
- Career cluster
- Financial Services
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (tellers).
- Median pay
- $43,030 a year ($20.69 an hour)
BLS
Tellers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 339,200
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Training after hire
- Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- −13%, which BLS calls "decline"
BLS
Tellers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- −44,700 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- 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.
BLS
Tellers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Tellers typically need a high school diploma and may need to pass a background check; a head teller or another experienced teller trains them after hiring. No license is needed.
- License
- None
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
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- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Bank teller: high school diploma, background check, training on the job
See the roadmap
Route 1: Diploma → background check → on-the-job training · Route 2: Teller → head teller, loan officer or sales
More careers in Financial Services
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.