What Cashiers Do

Cashiers handle payments from customers purchasing goods and services.

Duties

Cashiers typically do the following:

• Greet customers
• Use scanners, cash registers, and calculators to ring up items that customers buy
• Accept payments from customers and give change and receipts
• Bag or wrap customers’ purchases
• Handle returns and exchanges of merchandise, including seeing if the items are in good condition and using the right procedure for cash, credit cards, or other types of payment
• Answer customers' questions and give information about the store's procedures and policies
• Help customers to sign up for store rewards programs and to apply for store credit cards
• Count how much money is in their register at the beginning and end of their shift

In some establishments, cashiers may have to check customers' age when selling age-restricted products, such as alcohol and tobacco. Some cashiers may have duties not directly related to sales and customer service, such as mopping floors, taking out the trash, and doing other custodial tasks. Others may stock shelves or mark prices on items.  

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition