Research Summary. Utilizing a blend of public government data, company reports, and insights from thousands of recent job postings, the Zippia data team has established average salary estimates for various teller positions across the United States. This analysis has identified the teller roles that offer the highest average annual salaries.
Here’s a summary of our findings for the highest-paying teller jobs:
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Banking Associate ranks as the highest-paid teller, with an average salary of $81,890 and an hourly rate of $39.37.
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The second highest-paying position is that of a Merchant, averaging $74,999 annually.
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The overall average teller salary is $34,000 per year, translating to an hourly wage of $16.35.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging. While salary should not be the sole factor in your decision, it plays a crucial role. If you are considering a career as a teller, understanding the highest-paying positions can significantly influence your career trajectory.
Here are the top salaries for different types of tellers:
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Banking Associate
Average Salary: $81,890
A banking associate focuses on building strong client relationships through various support tasks. Responsibilities include greeting clients, processing requests, verifying documentation, addressing inquiries, and promoting additional services and products. They may also produce financial reports, collaborate with team members, and liaise with external agencies. Handling customer concerns professionally while adhering to bank policies is essential.
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Merchant
Average Salary: $74,999
A merchant is responsible for selling products and services to boost revenue, engaging both existing and prospective customers. Merchants must have in-depth knowledge of the company’s offerings to effectively answer customer questions. They also manage inventory, generate purchase requests, and analyze sales performance while collaborating with marketing to enhance brand visibility.
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Assistant Head Teller
Average Salary: $47,293
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Head Teller
Average Salary: $46,820
A head teller oversees a team of bank tellers, ensuring smooth processing of financial transactions, such as cashing checks and processing loan payments. They manage cash availability in drawers, provide vault access, conduct audits, and train new tellers on bank procedures.
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Senior Teller
Average Salary: $45,334
A senior teller supervises banking operations, focusing on teller performance. They assign tasks, manage ATMs and cash drawers, provide vault access, and resolve discrepancies efficiently. Senior tellers also mentor junior tellers to enhance their productivity within the bank’s framework.
Below is a comprehensive table of the average salaries for various teller positions, followed by a detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Tellers
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banking Associate | |
| 2 | Merchant | |
| 3 | Assistant Head Teller | |
| 4 | Head Teller | |
| 5 | Senior Teller | |
| 6 | Banker | |
| 7 | Bank Specialist | |
| 8 | Lead Teller | |
| 9 | Teller Supervisor | |
| 10 | Finance Service Representative | |
| 11 | Personal Banker | |
| 12 | New Accounts Representative | |
| 13 | Universal Banker | |
| 14 | Retail Banker | |
| 15 | Bank Representative | |
| 16 | Personal Banking Representative | |
| 17 | Teller And A Sales Associate | |
| 18 | Vault Teller | |
| 19 | Float Teller | |
| 20 | Bank Teller |
Methodology
Zippia employs publicly available data from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to formulate its salary estimates.
Our data science team also analyzes job postings and company-released salary information for the latest figures related to teller positions.
After collecting the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title to derive the salary estimates. For more information on our methodology, please refer to our detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Teller Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid teller job?
The highest-paid teller job is that of a banking associate. Banking Associates earn an average salary of $81,890, which equates to $39.37 hourly.
A banking associate’s role involves building positive relationships with clients through various support tasks, including greeting clients, processing requests, and addressing inquiries. They also handle issues following bank policies while providing excellent customer service.
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What is a good salary for a teller?
A good salary for a teller is $34,000 or more. The average teller salary stands at $34,000, meaning those earning at least this amount are making above-average paychecks.
However, salaries can vary widely based on location and cost of living, so it’s essential to research local market rates for your experience level. Entry-level tellers can expect an average starting salary of around $30,000.
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Do teller jobs pay well?
No, teller jobs generally do not pay well. While some positions offer better compensation, the average teller salary of $34,000 is lower than the national average salary of about $48,000 per year.
Nevertheless, top performers can earn significantly more, with the top 10% of tellers averaging around $40,000 annually. Keep in mind that experience, industry, and location significantly affect salaries, so do your research and negotiate your pay accordingly.
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Where do tellers get paid the most?
Tellers earn the highest salaries in Rhode Island. In Rhode Island, tellers earn an average annual salary of $34,794 and an hourly rate of $16.73.
The states with the next highest-paying teller roles include New Hampshire, Maine, and New Jersey, with average salaries of $35,253, $34,399, and $36,832, respectively.
The cities with the top-paying teller salaries are:
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Manchester, NJ – $36,660
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Springfield, MA – $35,848
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Albany, NY – $35,501
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
