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How to hire a restaurant cashier

Restaurant cashier hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring restaurant cashiers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a restaurant cashier is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new restaurant cashier to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a restaurant cashier, step by step

To hire a restaurant cashier, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire a restaurant cashier, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step restaurant cashier hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a restaurant cashier job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new restaurant cashier
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a restaurant cashier do?

A restaurant cashier is primarily in charge of processing payments at restaurants. They operate cash registers, process credit and debit card payments, accept cash payments, and resolve customer issues and concerns should there be any. There are also instances where they assist customers by answering inquiries and offering promotions, help staff with their tasks, and report to managers. Moreover, restaurant cashiers must be alert for any pricing inconsistencies and be knowledgeable of menus and procedures for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Learn more about the specifics of what a restaurant cashier does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The restaurant cashier hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A restaurant cashier's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, restaurant cashiers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents restaurant cashier salaries for various positions.

    Type of Restaurant CashierDescriptionHourly rate
    Restaurant CashierCashiers process payments from customers purchasing goods and services.$8-15
    Server And HostessA server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order... Show more$10-17
    Food ServerA Food Server specializes in helping customers attain a pleasant dining experience while ensuring to meet all food handling and health regulation standards. Most of the responsibilities revolve around greeting customers and directing them to comfortable seats, responding to their inquires and taking their orders, and courteously suggesting options... Show more$8-16
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Cleanliness
    • Customer Service
    • Cash Registers
    • POS
    • Cash Handling
    • Basic Math
    • Excellent Guest
    • Fast Service
    • Guest Complaints
    • Drive-Thru
    • Reservations
    • Food Safety
    • Food Orders
    • Culinary
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage floor plans, conduct reservations over the phone as well as in person.
    • Drop fries, make coffees, and smoothies.
    • Work as a cashier in the dine-in area and the drive-thru area.
    • Book reservations for large parties, greet and sit guests upon arrival.
    • Execute transactions on the POS system in timely fashion to ensure guests satisfaction.
    • Collect students' lunch money and run the dishes through a dish machine.
    More restaurant cashier duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your restaurant cashier job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A restaurant cashier salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, restaurant cashiers' average salary in mississippi is 37% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level restaurant cashiers earn 45% less than senior-level restaurant cashiers.
    • Certifications. A restaurant cashier with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a restaurant cashier's salary.

    Average restaurant cashier salary

    $12.08hourly

    $25,120 yearly

    Entry-level restaurant cashier salary
    $18,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 13, 2025

    Average restaurant cashier salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$32,456$16
    2California$29,543$14
    3New York$28,684$14
    4Colorado$28,070$14
    5Arizona$26,992$13
    6Minnesota$26,886$13
    7Illinois$26,629$13
    8Ohio$25,769$12
    9Nevada$24,722$12
    10Utah$24,607$12
    11Florida$23,824$11
    12Kansas$23,182$11
    13Tennessee$23,058$11
    14Alabama$22,793$11
    15Pennsylvania$22,270$11
    16Texas$21,984$11
    17South Carolina$21,967$11
    18Georgia$21,177$10
    19North Carolina$20,443$10

    Average restaurant cashier salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Erickson Senior Living$31,828$15.302
    2Nordstrom$31,602$15.19100
    3Bob's Red Mill$30,783$14.80
    4Compass Group USA$29,527$14.20282
    5Macy's$29,308$14.096
    6TravelCenters of America$29,224$14.05534
    7Legend Holdings$28,793$13.849
    87-Eleven$28,332$13.621
    9Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City$28,170$13.54
    10Raising Cane's$28,163$13.54438
    11Odawa Casino$28,158$13.54
    12Legends Hospitality$28,114$13.52
    13Maria's Italian Kitchen$27,999$13.46
    14Panera Bread$27,434$13.19820
    15Aramark$27,235$13.09104
    16Buffalo Wild Wings$27,025$12.99198
    17Grand Casino$26,910$12.94
    18Club$26,877$12.9213
    19Cache Creek Casino Resort$26,709$12.843
    20Tuscany Suites & Casino$26,451$12.726
  4. Writing a restaurant cashier job description

    A restaurant cashier job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a restaurant cashier job description:

    Restaurant cashier job description example

    Job DescriptionJob Description

    Panera Bread in Westborough is looking for cashiers to join us for our closing shifts (2PM- 11PM)! Shifts available Wednesday - Sunday. Pay starting at $16/hr! Full-time opportunity only, 40 hours/week. Apply today for immediate interview!

    WHO WE ARE

    PR Management Corp. knows there's only one way to become New England's best restaurant organization: a passion for being the very best. We're the region's leading franchisee of Panera Bread, and every day - in our top-performing bakery-cafes across New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine - we're raising the bar through the delicious food we create, the strong relationships we build, and the exceptional careers we offer.

    HOW WE'RE DIFFERENT

    We're committed to setting a higher standard for excellence in every facet of our business — and as a Cashier, you'll play a key role in bringing that ideal to life by creating an amazing experience for every customer who walks through our doors.

    You'll support our operations across the café, gaining valuable experience and providing unparalleled service as you train with our barista, food preparation, and dining room teams. Your optimism and cheerful demeanor will make our Panera restaurant the perfect spot for customers to find both delicious food and a welcoming environment where they'll always feel right at home.

    That's how PR Management Corp. rises above the rest, and in return we help you do the same — with a real commitment to promoting from within, exceptional training and career growth programs, and a truly welcoming and caring working culture. If you're ready to see how our Higher Standards can fuel the best experience of your career, connect with us today!

    WHAT YOU'LL DO

    • Provide the highest-quality customer service to our guests
    • Successfully work as a key part of a dynamic team
    • Follow the direction of your supervisors
    • Maintain safety standards at all times, while adhering to our policies and procedures

    WHAT YOU'LL NEED

    • A friendly, positive attitude, and the ability to communicate clearly with our customers and colleagues
    • The ability to stand for prolonged periods of time, and repeated walking, bending, stretching and occasional lifting (up to 50lbs), with or without reasonable accommodation
    • You must be 16 years of age or older, and able to work a varied schedule that may include nights and weekends
    • Experience in a restaurant or food service environment is preferred, but personality and cultural fit matters even more!
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right restaurant cashier for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your restaurant cashier job on Zippia to find and recruit restaurant cashier candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit restaurant cashiers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new restaurant cashier

    Once you've selected the best restaurant cashier candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new restaurant cashier. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a restaurant cashier?

There are different types of costs for hiring restaurant cashiers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new restaurant cashier employee.

The median annual salary for restaurant cashiers is $25,120 in the US. However, the cost of restaurant cashier hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a restaurant cashier for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $8 and $15 an hour.

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