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What is a teller and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A teller is a bank employee who handles financial transactions that require strong math skills and attention to detail. They are responsible for providing customer service, verifying account information, counting cash, and balancing their drawer. Tellers may also be responsible for identifying fraudulent activity and following security protocols to protect bank assets. Overall, tellers play a crucial role in ensuring that banking operations run smoothly while providing a positive experience for customers.

ScoreTellerUS Average
Salary
2.5

Avg. Salary $32,171

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.5

Growth Rate -12%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.61%

Asian 7.15%

Black or African American 9.47%

Hispanic or Latino 21.21%

Unknown 3.41%

White 58.15%

Gender

female 77.04%

male 22.96%

Age - 36
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 - 36
Stress Level
8.5

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.9

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Teller?

Pros

  • Gain valuable customer service skills

  • Consistent work schedule and set hours

  • Access to banking and financial products and services

  • Paid time off and benefits packages available

  • Opportunity to learn about banking regulations and compliance

Cons

  • Can be repetitive and monotonous work

  • Pressure to meet sales goals and quotas

  • May require standing for long periods of time

  • Limited career growth potential outside of the banking industry

  • May require working weekends or holidays

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Teller career paths

Key steps to become a teller

  1. Explore teller education requirements

    Most common teller degrees

    Bachelor's

    40.6 %

    High School Diploma

    25.7 %

    Associate

    23.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific teller skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Cash Handling12.88%
    Customer Service12.51%
    Financial Transactions8.47%
    Math6.05%
    Bank Products5.85%
  3. Complete relevant teller training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tellers 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 teller based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real teller resumes.
  4. Gain additional teller certifications

    Teller certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific teller certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for tellers include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research teller duties and responsibilities

    • Process commercial transaction including deposits, withdrawals and loan payments selling monetary instruments.
    • Compile with the bank secrecy act.
    • Process treasury, tax and loan payments.
    • Receive coin and currency from arm trucks.
  6. Prepare your teller resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your teller resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a teller resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Teller Resume templates

    Build a professional Teller resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Teller resume.
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  7. Apply for teller jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a teller job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Teller Job

Geedlyn Labininay

Teller

I worked in the bank for more than four years, three of those years in the credit/lending sector.

When I started my career, my first job was a teller. Since I was a fresh graduate at that time, I had to undergo an extensive training provided by company.

We learned how to utilize the system and make daily activities easier, like deposits, withdrawals, paying bills, and opening new accounts, as part of the training.

Regarding soft skills, you need to be patient and deliver excellent customer service because these will enhance the company's reputation.

Average teller salary

The average Teller salary in the United States is $32,171 per year or $15 per hour. Teller salaries range between $26,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average Teller Salary
$32,171 Yearly
$15.47 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do tellers rate their job?

-/5

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Teller reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

I am not a sales/production driven individual. That aspect of the job- needing to worry about how many accounts I open or getting a certain amount booked in loans does not appeal to me. I enjoy the work, I like being challenged and busy, but I hate being a set of production scores.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Dealing different people and moving one place to another

Cons

Roving teller is a very risky jobs


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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