Cashier job description

Cashiers process sales of goods in retail shops, supermarkets and department stores.

They make sure customers have a pleasant shopping experience by answering their enquiries processing payments and acting in a professional and friendly manner.

This guide includes a full cashier job description and discusses everything you need to know about cashiers, including typical salaries, job requirements, opportunities for progression and more.

 

Guide contents

  • Cashier job description
  • How much do cashiers earn?
  • What does a cashier do?
  • Requirements, skills and qualifications
  • Who employs cashiers?
  • Which junior jobs progress to cashier roles?

 

 

Cashier job description

Cashier | Shop Local Co

 

About Shop Local Co

Shop Local Co is a leading UK retailer serving millions of customers every week in our local, nationwide stores and online.

 

About the role

We are looking for a hard-working cashier/till operator to provide exceptional customer service whilst handling transactions with customers using our EPOS system, by scanning goods and collecting payment.

 

Responsibilities

  • Processing customer transactions through the till with a polite, friendly and helpful attitude
  • Maintaining a clean work environment by keeping the till area clean for incoming customers
  • Promoting offers and loyalty schemes to customers in order to generate repeat business and sales
  • Helping to ensure the efficient operation of the store by helping other team members out if needed
  • Resolving customer queries and complaints, guiding customers to products and providing relevant information
  • Supporting stock replenishment during quiet periods

 

Location & commitments

  • Part-time role – 25 hours per week guaranteed, with regular overtime available
  • Shifts to include weekends, evenings and early mornings
  • Based at our busy Wilmslow superstore
  • Must be flexible in regards to shifts and working hours

 

Candidate requirements

Essential:

  • GCSEs in Maths, English and IT at Grade D or above
  • Great communication skills and able to speak and write basic English
  • Friendly, polite and patient demeanour when working with customers
  • Happy to work in a fast-paced and often stressful environment
  • Strong work ethic

Desirable:

  • Previous experience in a customer-facing role

 

Contact us to apply

Fancy joining the team? Send your CV and cover letter over to recruitment@shoplocal.com and tell us why you’d make the perfect new member of our team.

 

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How much do cashiers earn?

Cashiers typically start on a fairly low wage, with an average salary of £22,750 in the UK. However, with experience, workers can progress within the retail industry and achieve higher salaries.

 

Cashier salaries in the UK

  • Low: £18,579
  • Average: £22,570
  • High: £26,406

Source: TotalJobs

 

Cashier salaries will vary hugely depending on:

  • The size of the employer – Larger companies are likely to pay more than smaller businesses – for example, Aldi is known to pay above-average hourly rates, but a small shop in a local town may only be able to afford minimum wage
  • The products being sold – If the products being sold require cashiers to develop specialist product or industry knowledge, such as electronics, employers may offer a slightly higher rate
  • General salary factors – Cashiers with more experience may receive a slightly higher rate, while cashiers in London often receive a London salary weighting

 

For example, a cashier who’s previously worked in customer service for several years may receive a higher hourly rate than a school-leaver who’s working in their first cashier role.

Additionally, a cashier working for a highly specialist retailer may receive a higher rate than a cashier working in a general supermarket, as the role will require additional training and product expertise.

The average figures above are taken from job advert samples and therefore do not factor in extra benefits such as commission, overtime and bonuses.

 

What does a cashier do?

A typical cashier job description will include the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Operating tills – Using a till, cash register or computerised payment system to record sales and payments
  • Answering customer enquiries – Answering questions and queries from customers and advising them on what product(s) is best for them
  • Scanning items – Scanning items the customer has chosen using a till and barcode scanner
  • Entering prices – Entering barcodes and prices into the till if they are not recognised by the scanner
  • Checking prices – Double-checking the pricing on any products that have missing or damaged labels
  • Removing security tags – Removing and deactivating security tags using tools
  • Packing items – Carefully packing products into bags for those who need assistance
  • Wrapping items – Wrapping up fragile products in order to ensure safe transport
  • Processing payments – Asking customers for the correct amount of money and taking payment by cash or card
  • Operating chip and pin machines – Entering the correct amount of money into chip and pin machines and passing them to customers
  • Giving change and receipts – Giving the right amount of change to customers and handing them their receipt
  • Checking identification – Checking the ID of customers who look under 25 if they are attempting to purchase age-restricted items
  • Processing exchanges and returns – Issuing refunds for returned items or processing product exchanges in the till system
  • Thanking customers – Thanking customers for their purchases and saying goodbye
  • Cashing up – Counting up money in the till at the end of the shift and comparing the final sum with the till system to identify any discrepancies

 

 

What do cashiers need?

candidate requirements

Cashier roles are typically entry-level and require minimal qualifications or prior experience.

With that said, most employers will still expect some general education (such as GCSEs), as well as a good work ethic, the desire to learn and various soft skills.

Specific requirements will vary from role to role, depending on the type of shop and what products are being sold. However, speaking generally, here is what is often required:

 

Experience

Cashier jobs are entry-level roles and typically do not require any prior experience. Most companies provide full till and customer service training.

Team leader cashier jobs normally require around 2–3 years of experience within a cashier or customer service role.

 

Cashier skills

Although cashier jobs are typically entry-level and accessible without experience, employers will still be on the lookout for candidates with the following soft skills:

  • Customer service: Answering customer queries, being polite, helpful and friendly and ensuring that all customers have a great shopping experience
  • Product knowledge: Developing knowledge of the product the company sells, in order to effectively answer customer queries and make recommendations
  • Communication: Communicating with customers in a clear, concise, confident and polite manner
  • Working under pressure: Working during busy periods and remaining calm in stressful situations
  • Teamwork: Helping out colleagues where needed and maintaining a positive, collaborative environment
  • Basic numeracy: Confidently handling money and giving the correct amounts of change
  • Flexibility: Adapting to changes in shift times and schedules and mucking in for other departments if needed
  • IT: Using computerised tills, apps and barcode scanners effectively

 

Cashier qualifications

Cashier jobs don’t have any strict academic requirements.

Most employers will ask for a good basic standard of education, such as pass grades in GCSEs Maths and English. But aside from this, companies are typically willing to take on new staff with minimal qualifications and experience, as long as they’re friendly, happy to work hard and willing to learn on the job.

However, there are numerous vocational qualifications available that could help aspiring or established cashiers to land a role and speed up progression within the retail sector, including:

 

Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service

The Vision2Learn Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service can help workers to developer their core customer service skills, improve their communication skills and develop the key knowledge required to provide outstanding customer care. The skills gained are highly transferable across industries and can help cashiers to boost their performance in their role and speed up progression into higher-paying positions.

This course is fully-funded by the Skills Funding Agency for anyone who meets the following criteria:

  • Living in England
  • Aged 19 or over
  • A citizen of a European Economic Area country for the last three years
  • Not receiving any other government-funded training

Those who meet one the following criteria may also qualify for funding:

  • Employed and receiving a low wage
  • A family member of an EU national
  • A refugee or asylum seeker

 

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NVQ Certificate/Diploma in Customer Service

The NVQ Certification/Diploma in Customer Service is suitable for anyone who’s currently working in a customer-facing job who seeks to boost their skillset and progress within the industry.

The courses cover areas such as communicating using customer service language, maintaining a customer-friendly attitude and dealing with customers face-to-face. They must be studied whilst working in a relevant role and are usually gained via a combination of workplace assessment, online learning and tutoring.

The NVQ is available at four levels, including:

  • Level 1 – For those who are new to customer service
  • Level 2 – For those with some experience in customer service
  • Level 3/4 – For those with experience in customer service at a strategic level

 

Institute of Customer Service Qualifications

The Institute of Customer Service is the UK’s professional body for customer service and offers a range of courses and qualifications.

As the organisation is highly-regarded amongst employers, these qualifications are a great way to showcase high standards and a dedication to customer service — a good option for those who’d eventually like to progress into management.

The customer service qualifications on offer include:

  • The Communications Qualification
  • The Solutions Qualification
  • The Innovations Qualification
  • The Customer Service Coach Qualification

 

What is expected of cashiers?

Cashiers will typically be expected to commit to the following:

  • Full or part-time hours – Cashier roles are available on varying contracts; anything from 4 hours per week to 40+ hours per week
  • Irregular shift work – Jobs are likely to be on a shift basis — including evenings, weekends and bank holidays — and may vary from week to week
  • Regular overtime – Overtime is widely available, especially during busy periods such as the Christmas season
  • Location – Normally based at a single store, though those working for large stores and supermarkets may occasionally be asked to help out at other nearby branches

 

Cashier benefits

Full-time, permanently employed cashiers typically receive some benefits in addition to their hourly pay, such as:

  • Pension scheme
  • Paid holiday allowance
  • Sick pay
  • Training opportunities
  • Company discounts

Part-time cashiers will still be eligible for these benefits, but they’ll be applied on a pro-rata basis — for example, a cashier working 20 hours per week will receive half the holiday allowance of a cashier working 40 hours per week.

 

 

Who employs cashiers?

Employers

Cashiers work in shops, supermarkets, department stores and other retail settings.

Jobs are most regularly and widely advertised in large chain stores and supermarkets, such as Tesco and Asda. However, smaller, local shops and independent shops also hire cashiers, but typically have fewer roles available.

Employment opportunities are available all over the country, from the big cities to smaller towns and rural areas. Cashier roles may also be advertised as till operator, customer service assistant or sales assistant — though the latter two titles may include a larger variety of till and shop floor work.

Typical cashier employers include:

  • Supermarkets
  • Retail banks
  • Chain shops
  • Fashion shops
  • Department stores
  • Independent retailers
  • Fast food chains
  • Coffee chains
  • Petrol stations

 

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Which junior jobs progress to cashier roles?

As no prior experience is required, cashier jobs are entry-level/junior roles. School leavers or career changers alike can gain a role without any relevant work experience.

However, for those who struggle to get their foot in the door or wish to build upon their skill set, customer service or retail apprenticeship is a great way to learn on-the-job whilst receiving training and getting paid.

 

Which senior jobs do cashiers progress to?

Gaining experience as a cashier or till operator is a great way to kickstart a career within retail or customer service. After gaining experience, cashiers typically make good candidates for the roles of:

 

Customer service assistants/representative

Customer service assistants work to ensure that every customer who leaves a shop is happy and likely to return. They provide help and advice to customers, make product recommendations and may also work on the tills and shop floor. The role is similar to that of a cashier but is likely to involve more varied tasks, making it a great opportunity to develop more a more rounded set of retail skills and knowledge.

Team leader/supervisor

Team leaders and supervisors in a retail setting take the lead of a team of customer service assistants and cashiers. They’re responsible for delegating work, organising rotas and ensuring their team is working efficiently and effectively. These roles typically pay more than customer service or cashier jobs and provide the opportunity to develop valuable leadership and managerial skills.

 

Cashier job description – conclusion

A role as a cashier can make a great starting point for those looking to develop a career within retail or customer service.

Although roles typically pay the minimum wage, entry requirements are low and the job can open doors to various higher-paying opportunities.

Roles are available all over the country on a wide variety of part and full-time contracts.