How to become a Cashier
Cashiers receive cash, cheques or credit/debit card payments, record these payments using cash registers or electronic equipment and provide change to customers.
Personal requirements for a Cashier
- Enjoy clerical and administrative tasks
- Able to work quickly and accurately
- Confidence in handling money
- Good communication skills
- Good customer service skills
Education & Training for a Cashier
You can work as a cashier without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job. You can also become a cashier through a traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.
Duties & Tasks of a Cashier
Cashiers:
- Receive goods selected by the customer and operate cash registers
- Talk with other staff where there is doubt about a particular price
- Receive payment for goods from customers and provide change as shown by the electronic cash register
- Weigh, wrap or pack goods and remove price tags and special security tabs
- Help customers find products in the store
- Price items with a price gun and rotate stock by bringing the old stock forward on the shelves during quieter times
- Process payment for accounts such as telephone or electricity bills and issue receipts
- Work out totals for cash and other takings at the end of each working day
- Count and prepare money for deposit in a bank or building society
- Keep records of amounts received and paid, and regularly check the cash balance against this record
- Operate automatic ticket-issuing machines and other computerised equipment.
Tasks
- Issuing sales dockets and giving change
- Cashing authorised cheques
- Receiving and processing payments for goods and services by cash, cheques, gift vouchers, credit and debit cards and other payment types
- Recording and balancing petty cash disbursements
- Counting and recording money received and balancing against register sales records, and preparing money for deposit in financial institutions
- Scanning, weighing and recording prices of goods
- Operating a computer terminal to administer the store's financial transaction system
- Maintaining supplies of change, wrapping and other materials used at checkout
Working conditions for a Cashier
Shiftwork and irregular hours may be involved. Most cashiers are employed on a part-time or casual basis. In most workplaces you will need to use computer systems for sales or payment processing.
Employment Opportunities for a Cashier
Cashiers work in department stores, supermarkets, variety stores and related establishments in city and country locations. With experience, cashiers may move into clerical, accounts or sales areas, or into supervisory roles.
Specializations
Office Cashier
An office cashier receives and banks takings and makes payments in an office. In addition to receiving payments from customers, they may prepare wages or arrange for electronic transfer of funds, count and record monies received, balance takings against register sales records and produce periodic sales reports.
Service Station Cashier
A service station cashier receives payments by cash, cheque and credit/debit cards for petrol and other merchandise at service stations, balances takings against register sales records and gives basic assistance and advice to customers.
Cashier
Cashiers receive cash, cheques or credit/debit card payments, record these payments using cash registers or electronic equipment and provide change to customers.
Office Cashier
An office cashier receives and banks takings and makes payments in an office. In addition to receiving payments from customers, they may prepare wages or arrange for electronic transfer of funds, count and record monies received, balance takings against register sales records and produce periodic sales reports.
Service Station Cashier
A service station cashier receives payments by cash, cheque and credit/debit cards for petrol and other merchandise at service stations, balances takings against register sales records and gives basic assistance and advice to customers.
Average age
27
Future Growth
N/A
Gender Share
78% female
Average full-time
42 hours
Weekly Pay
N/A
Skill level rating
Entry level
Unemployment
Average unemployment
Full-Time Share
20%
Employment Size
3,300
Employment by state
ACT: 1.5%
NSW: 27.7%
NT: 0.8%
QLD: 21.0%
SA: 8.4%
TAS: 2.1%
VIC: 25.9%
WA: 12.5%
Age brackets
15-19: 39.9%
20-24: 19.3%
25-34: 14.1%
35-44: 8.4%
45-54: 9.4%
55-59: 4.5%
60-64: 3%
65 and Over: 1.5%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 5.1%
Bachelor degree: 7.3%
Below Year 10: 7.4%
Certificate III/IV: 8.5%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 2.4%
Year 10 and below: 26.6%
Year 11: 13.8%
Year 12: 36.2%
Years 11 & 10: 36.1%
