Tellers

What the job really is

Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

At a glance

• Sector: Office & Administrative
• O*NET-SOC code: 43-3071
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Balance currency, coin, and checks in cash drawers at ends of shifts and calculate daily transactions, using computers, calculators, or adding machines.
• Receive checks and cash for deposit, verify amounts, and check accuracy of deposit slips.
• Monitor bank vaults to ensure cash balances are correct.
• Cash checks and pay out money after verifying that signatures are correct, that written and numerical amounts agree, and that accounts have sufficient funds.
• Count currency, coins, and checks received, by hand or using currency-counting machine, to prepare them for deposit or shipment to branch banks or the Federal Reserve Bank.
• Enter customers' transactions into computers to record transactions and issue computer-generated receipts.
• Examine checks for endorsements and to verify other information, such as dates, bank names, identification of the persons receiving payments, and the legality of the documents.
• Resolve problems or discrepancies concerning customers' accounts.
• Prepare and verify cashier's checks.
• Process transactions, such as term deposits, retirement savings plan contributions, automated teller transactions, night deposits, and mail deposits.
• Answer telephones and assist customers with their questions.
• Identify transaction mistakes when debits and credits do not balance.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, 10-key calculators, Accounting software, Automatic teller machines ATMs, Cash advance terminals, Check encoders, Check validation printers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• New Accounts Clerks
• Cashiers
• Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
• Brokerage Clerks
• Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
• Bill and Account Collectors
• Billing and Posting Clerks

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Tellers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.