Tellers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Tellers in the United States earn a median salary of $43,030 per year — about $21 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 347K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -13%.
AI & Automation Risk
Tellers face high exposure because their core tasks—processing routine financial transactions and verifying information—are digital in nature and highly susceptible to automation through AI and advanced self-service technology. While the physical handling of cash provides a slight buffer, the rapid shift toward mobile banking, AI-driven fraud detection, and interactive video kiosks is significantly reducing the need for human intervention in these roles.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NCBEST VALUE | $46,060 | Below avg (92.0) | $50,042 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $44,180 | Below avg (88.3) | $50,014 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $43,820 | Below avg (87.6) | $50,005 |
| Rochester, MN | $45,200 | Below avg (90.8) | $49,768 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $45,450 | Below avg (91.7) | $49,563 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $43,840 | Below avg (88.5) | $49,558 |
| Greenville, NC | $43,630 | Below avg (88.4) | $49,354 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $43,110 | Below avg (88.0) | $48,982 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $44,890 | Below avg (92.0) | $48,805 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $44,430 | Below avg (91.1) | $48,797 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $45,360 | Below avg (93.3) | $48,638 |
| Cleveland, OH | $45,560 | Below avg (93.9) | $48,508 |
| Ames, IA | $43,060 | Below avg (88.8) | $48,475 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $47,220 | Average (97.5) | $48,408 |
| Toledo, OH | $44,160 | Below avg (91.5) | $48,286 |