Cashiers
Career Overview
Cashiers run cash registers, optical price scanners, computers or other equipment to record and accept payment for goods and services.
They are employed in stores, restaurants, theatres, recreational and sports facilities, currency exchange booths, government offices and other places of business.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, cashiers:
- Calculate the cost of goods, services or admission using a cash register, optical price scanner or other equipment
- Give correct change or process credit, debit, coupon and gift card transactions
- Wrap or place merchandise in bags
- Greet people and answer customer questions
- Calculate total payments received at end of work shift and reconcile with total sales
They may also:
- Help sports spectators and theatre patrons select seats
- Process foreign currency exchanges
- Accept reservations and take-out orders
- Organize merchandise, stock shelves and clean counter areas
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
40,565% Employed Full Time
23%Cashiers usually run cash registers in an indoor environment. Shifts include days, weekends, evenings and holidays. Hours tend to be irregular but flexible.
Cashiers generally stand for long periods of time and may need permission from a supervisor to sit or leave their tills. They may also be expected to lift and bag heavy goods.
Due to the repetitive nature of scanning goods, cashiers are at a heightened risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Compared to the total workforce, these workers are at a greater risk of robberies.
Career Pathways
With additional training or experience, cashiers may progress to supervisory positions such as head cashier or management positions.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Cashiers need to have strong oral communication and public relations skills, patience and be open to learning new technologies.
Cashiers are not expected to have any post-secondary training. However, they may need some secondary school education.
Other requirements may include:
- Fluency in both spoken and written English
- Basic math and money-counting to calculate customer transactions
- A gaming licence for cashiers working at casinos
- Being “bondable” or insurable
- Training on handling hazardous materials and cleaning supplies
Fluency in languages other than English may be an asset.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Adult Special Education
- Food/Beverage Services
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
40,565Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 1,470 | 3.6% |
| Kootenay | 1,285 | 3.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 24,195 | 59.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 785 | 1.9% |
| Northeast | 570 | 1.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 4,980 | 12.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 7,280 | 17.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
13,580Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 270 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | 280 | 0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 9,860 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 260 | 1.6% |
| Northeast | 160 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 1,240 | 0.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,500 | 0.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 10,280 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,830 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 480 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 280 |
| Manufacturing | 180 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
