Cashier Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) cashier in the US earns $15.81 an hour, or $32,880 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 3,089,410 jobs (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,720 and $36,330 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $40,410.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $28,599 a year ($2,383 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($32,762 a year) and lowest in West Virginia ($22,711).
Cashier pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $11.79 | $24,530 | $21,811 |
| 25th percentile | $13.81 | $28,720 | $25,256 |
| Median (half earn more) | $15.81 | $32,880 | $28,599 |
| 75th percentile | $17.47 | $36,330 | $31,371 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $19.43 | $40,410 | $34,649 |
The average (mean) is $33,180 a year ($15.95 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 41-2011. Source
Cashier salary by state
The highest median pay for cashiers is in District of Columbia ($38,880), Washington ($38,730), California ($37,110), Colorado ($36,860), Hawaii ($36,770). The lowest is in West Virginia ($26,370), Mississippi ($26,400), Louisiana ($26,750).
The most cashiers work in California (336,110), Texas (245,730), Florida (201,370).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($32,762), Alaska ($31,030), California ($31,002), Colorado ($30,255), Hawaii ($30,187). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $13.58 | $28,250 | $23,781 | 46,420 |
| Alaska | $17.37 | $36,130 | $31,030 | 5,810 |
| Arizona | $16.64 | $34,610 | $29,297 | 72,570 |
| Arkansas | $13.30 | $27,660 | $23,850 | 28,270 |
| California | $17.84 | $37,110 | $31,002 | 336,110 |
| Colorado | $17.72 | $36,860 | $30,255 | 51,670 |
| Connecticut | $17.09 | $35,550 | $29,716 | 30,920 |
| Delaware | $16.10 | $33,490 | $27,774 | 11,450 |
| District of Columbia | $18.69 | $38,880 | $33,420* | 6,060 |
| Florida | $14.68 | $30,530 | $26,711 | 201,370 |
| Georgia | $13.98 | $29,080 | $24,843 | 97,540 |
| Hawaii | $17.68 | $36,770 | $30,187 | 10,780 |
| Idaho | $14.60 | $30,370 | $25,828 | 17,200 |
| Illinois | $16.58 | $34,490 | $28,330 | 139,630 |
| Indiana | $14.26 | $29,660 | $24,587 | 68,350 |
| Iowa | $13.93 | $28,970 | $24,891 | 41,450 |
| Kansas | $13.85 | $28,810 | $24,495 | 33,080 |
| Kentucky | $13.75 | $28,600 | $24,277 | 44,550 |
| Louisiana | $12.86 | $26,750 | $23,210 | 46,350 |
| Maine | $16.79 | $34,920 | $29,102 | 14,240 |
| Maryland | $16.54 | $34,400 | $27,611 | 49,910 |
| Massachusetts | $17.08 | $35,530 | $29,144 | 58,880 |
| Michigan | $14.30 | $29,740 | $25,063 | 92,930 |
| Minnesota | $16.65 | $34,630 | $28,252 | 58,190 |
| Mississippi | $12.69 | $26,400 | $23,039 | 30,490 |
| Missouri | $14.67 | $30,510 | $26,201 | 69,430 |
| Montana | $16.44 | $34,200 | $28,802 | 12,170 |
| Nebraska | $14.54 | $30,240 | $25,666 | 20,650 |
| Nevada | $14.36 | $29,870 | $26,180 | 30,160 |
| New Hampshire | $16.27 | $33,840 | $29,370 | 17,250 |
| New Jersey | $16.63 | $34,590 | $29,077 | 107,680 |
| New Mexico | $14.48 | $30,120 | $25,707 | 19,020 |
| New York | $17.07 | $35,510 | $29,175 | 158,890 |
| North Carolina | $13.89 | $28,890 | $24,743 | 106,440 |
| North Dakota | $15.12 | $31,450 | $27,450 | 9,510 |
| Ohio | $14.07 | $29,270 | $25,205 | 103,020 |
| Oklahoma | $13.55 | $28,180 | $24,088 | 41,140 |
| Oregon | $16.97 | $35,300 | $27,961 | 37,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $14.05 | $29,220 | $24,741 | 110,950 |
| Rhode Island | $16.76 | $34,860 | $28,537 | 9,260 |
| South Carolina | $13.71 | $28,520 | $24,512 | 56,550 |
| South Dakota | $14.32 | $29,790 | $26,116 | 12,860 |
| Tennessee | $13.74 | $28,580 | $25,144 | 63,350 |
| Texas | $14.06 | $29,240 | $25,674 | 245,730 |
| Utah | $15.19 | $31,600 | $26,375 | 22,940 |
| Vermont | $17.17 | $35,710 | $29,950 | 7,030 |
| Virginia | $14.70 | $30,580 | $25,807 | 83,890 |
| Washington | $18.62 | $38,730 | $32,762 | 61,050 |
| West Virginia | $12.68 | $26,370 | $22,711 | 17,360 |
| Wisconsin | $14.85 | $30,890 | $25,963 | 65,380 |
| Wyoming | $14.81 | $30,800 | $26,928 | 5,840 |
Overtime and pay rules for cashiers
Cashiers who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a cashier's pay
On the median $32,880, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 13.0% of pay for a single filer: $1,766 of income tax and $2,516 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $16,780, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($1,644 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $197, so it costs about $1,447 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed cashiers are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| EMT | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Home Health Aide | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,410 | $17.03 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $16 an hour is how much a year.
Cashier salary questions
How much does a cashier make?
The median pay is $15.81 an hour, or $32,880 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $24,530 and the top 10% more than $40,410.
How much does a cashier make after taxes?
About $28,599 a year, or $1,100 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In West Virginia, at that state's own median pay, it is about $22,711.
How much does a cashier make a month?
About $2,740 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $2,383 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays cashiers the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $38,880 a year ($18.69 an hour). Next are Washington ($38,730) and California ($37,110). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a cashier make an hour?
The median is $15.81 an hour. The middle half earn $13.81 to $17.47, and the top 10% more than $19.43.
Do cashiers get paid overtime?
Cashiers who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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