How to become a Cashier

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
    Average age
    21 years
  • Future Growth
    Future Growth
    Stable
  • Gender Share
    Gender Share
    75% female
  • Average full-time
    Average full-time
    40 hours
  • Weekly Pay
    Weekly Pay
    $900
  • Skill level rating
    Skill level rating
    Entry level
  • Unemployment
    Unemployment
    Average unemployment
  • Full-Time Share
    Full-Time Share
    14% Full-Time
  • Employment Size
    Employment Size
    155,700 workers
  • Employment Size
    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%
  • Employment Size
    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%
  • Employment Size
    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%
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