Salary data · Bespree
Cashier Salary in New York City
Cashiers in the New York City area earn a median of $17.04/hr — based on BLS OEWS May 2024.
At median pay, that's roughly $35,443/year, $682/week, or $2,951/month (40-hour week, before taxes).
About cashiers
Job duties, work environment, and education based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What cashiers do
Cashiers handle payments from customers for goods and services. They operate point-of-sale systems, scan items, accept cash, checks, credit and debit cards, issue receipts, and provide change. Cashiers also answer customer questions about products, promotions, and store policies, bag merchandise, and handle returns and exchanges.
Work environment
Cashiers work in retail stores, grocery stores, gas stations, and other establishments. They stand for long periods, often on hard surfaces, and work at checkout counters. Schedules vary widely and often include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Part-time work is very common. The work pace varies from slow to very busy depending on the time of day and season.
How to become one
Cashier positions typically require no formal education, though a high school diploma is preferred. Training is usually provided on the job over a few weeks. Basic math skills and customer service ability are important. Some cashiers advance to supervisory positions or roles in departments like customer service or bookkeeping.
Similar occupations
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — bls.gov/ooh. BLS content is in the public domain.
Hourly wage ranges
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th) | $15.13 | $31,470 |
| 25th percentile | $15.84 | $32,947 |
| Median (50th) | $17.04 | $35,443 |
| 75th percentile | $17.96 | $37,357 |
| Top earners (90th) | $21.64 | $45,011 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 · Annual estimate = hourly × 2,080 hrs · Actual annual income varies by hours worked and schedule.
Cashiers — Hourly Pay Distribution
Percentile range from entry-level to top earners
How New York City compares
Cashiers pay by metro
| Metro | Median/hr |
|---|---|
| New York City | $17.04 |
| Los Angeles | $17.37 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford | $16.77 |
| New Haven | $16.36 |
| Chicago | $16.19 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $16.12 |
| Philadelphia | $15.13 |
| Miami | $14.08 |
| Houston | $13.68 |
Cashiers — Median Hourly Pay by Metro
Sorted by median pay, highest to lowest
Job outlook for Cashiers
National employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
🔴 Declining
-7.4% projected growth, 2024–2034
-241,900
2024–2034
~478,200
New + replacement
3,271,200
2024 estimate
No formal credential
Entry-level
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Published August 2025. National-level projections — local growth may differ.
Skills & qualifications
Key skills and knowledge areas from O*NET OnLine, plus representative tools compiled by Bespree for cashiers.
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
- Clerical
- Point-of-sale terminals
- Barcode scanners
- Cash registers
- Credit card machines
- Receipt printers
Skills and knowledge data from O*NET OnLine, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Bespree has selected and summarized a subset of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Tools & technology listed are representative examples compiled by Bespree.
Commute-adjusted effective wage
What you actually earn after subtracting the cost of getting to work.
Effective hourly wage after estimated commute costs, based on a 40-hr work week.
| Commute mode | Monthly cost | Hourly impact | Effective wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| No commute cost (baseline) | — | — | $17.04 |
| NYC Subway (unlimited monthly) | ~$132/mo | −$0.76/hr | $16.28/hr |
| Driving + parking (estimate) | ~$550/mo | −$3.17/hr | $13.87/hr |
Methodology: Commute cost is deducted from median hourly wage assuming 2,080 working hours per year (52 weeks × 40 hrs). Costs are directional estimates based on published transit fares or AAA average variable driving costs. Actual costs vary by distance, schedule, vehicle, and commute days.
NYC Subway (unlimited monthly): MTA 30-day unlimited pass, 2024 rate.
Driving + parking (estimate): AAA avg variable cost + typical NYC street/garage parking.
Local job market
—
No current paid openings on Bespree
Public-sector pay signals
—
No current imported salary signals for this role
BLS estimates 163,130 cashiers employed in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA area, or 3.1 per 1,000 jobs. (BLS OEWS May 2024)
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Data source: Wage data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, BLS OEWS May 2024. Job outlook data is from the BLS Employment Projections program (BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034). BLS data is in the public domain. Occupation profile content summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Skills and knowledge data from O*NET OnLine, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Bespree has selected and summarized a subset of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Tools & technology listed are representative examples compiled by Bespree. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after retrieval. Wage figures are estimates and do not constitute a guarantee of earnings. Actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, and hours worked. Weekly and monthly earnings shown assume a 40-hour work week and are pre-tax estimates. Commute cost figures are directional estimates based on published transit fares and AAA average variable driving cost data; actual commute costs vary.