How To Become A Customer Service Associate/Cashier: What It Is and Career Path

What is a customer service associate/cashier and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

A Customer Service Associate/Cashier is someone who interacts with customers at a cashier's desk of a store. They greet customers and scan purchases after identifying the product. They collect money in the cash register and return the appropriate amount of change to the customers.

Cashiers represent their store in this position, so they are required to maintain a neat and groomed appearance. They are expected to deliver a friendly service to the buyers, maintain a clean working environment, and comply with safety regulations, paying special attention to keeping the cash register locked and secure whenever unattended.

Cashiers might work in several different shifts, depending on the opening hours of the store they work in. Part-time options are also available, and this is an entry-level position with usually sufficient on-hire training to get the job done.

What general advice would you give to a customer service associate/cashier?

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

Associate Professor, San Diego Mesa College

Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.

ScoreCustomer Service Associate/CashierUS Average

Salary

2.1

Avg. Salary $26,933

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.9

Growth rate -4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 6.51%

Black or African American 12.51%

Hispanic or Latino 20.87%

Unknown 5.28%

White 54.14%

Gender

female 75.61%

male 24.39%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

5.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a customer service associate/cashier

Explore customer service associate/cashier education requirements

Most common customer service associate/cashier degrees

High School Diploma

40.5 %

Bachelor's

23.7 %

Associate

20.9 %

Start to develop specific customer service associate/cashier skills

Skills	Percentages
Front End	12.32%
Cash Handling	12.08%
Customer Service	11.93%
Math	10.48%
Basic Math	9.28%

Complete relevant customer service associate/cashier training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New customer service associate/cashiers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a customer service associate/cashier based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real customer service associate/cashier resumes.

Research customer service associate/cashier duties and responsibilities

Manage cash balances and inventory stock accurately; ensure cleanliness of all work stations and guarantee excellent customer service.
Ring up of sales, including cash, checks, credit cards, payment transactions on the POS system.
Operate cash register and POS, provide customers with excellent an experience of the store and information on products.
Greet customers, cash out customers, bag groceries, help customer with bags to car, and clean work area.

Prepare your customer service associate/cashier resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your customer service associate/cashier resume.

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