Cashier salary in California
Cashiers in California earn a median of $37,100 a year ($17.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 336,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,950 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $32,880. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for cashiers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 18 cashiers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cashiers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| 25th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Median | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 75th percentile | $42,390 | $20.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,950 | $23.53 |
| Average (mean) | $40,060 | $19.26 |
Half of cashiers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,091.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,545.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,426.92 |
| Weekly | $713.46 |
| Hourly | $17.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cashier salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,960 | 16,530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $41,270 | 38,250 |
| Napa, CA | $38,500 | 1,540 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,440 | 5,030 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,810 | 3,630 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $37,390 | 2,530 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,080 | 4,020 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,020 | 30,420 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36,980 | 109,940 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $36,790 | 19,910 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $36,600 | 4,170 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $36,550 | 3,010 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,490 | 4,890 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $36,340 | 5,900 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,150 | 7,620 |
| Yuba City, CA | $35,790 | 1,410 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $35,700 | 35,730 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $35,420 | 1,130 |
| Merced, CA | $35,340 | 2,250 |
| Fresno, CA | $35,270 | 9,780 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $35,220 | 8,350 |
| Chico, CA | $35,210 | 2,090 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,090 | 1,960 |
| Redding, CA | $34,900 | 1,920 |
| Visalia, CA | $34,770 | 4,110 |
Highest-paying states for cashiers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $38,880 |
| Washington | $38,720 |
| California | $37,100 |
| Colorado | $36,870 |
| Hawaii | $36,780 |
| Alaska | $36,130 |
| Vermont | $35,720 |
| Connecticut | $35,550 |
| Massachusetts | $35,520 |
| New York | $35,500 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salesperson | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Parts Salesperson | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $80,850 | $38.87 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $76,120 | $36.60 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $124,220 | $59.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $81,140 | $39.01 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $57,560 | $27.68 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cashier make in California?
The median salary for cashiers in California is $37,100 a year, or $17.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cashiers make in California?
The top 10% of cashiers in California earn at least $48,950 a year. The top 25% earn $42,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for cashiers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,760 a year, and a quarter of cashiers earn $35,800 or less.
How many cashiers work in California?
About 336,110 cashiers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.