Teller salary in California
Tellers in California earn a median of $46,900 a year ($22.55 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,660 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $43,030. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for tellers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.4 tellers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $47,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tellers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,030 | $18.29 |
| 25th percentile | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| Median | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| 75th percentile | $49,380 | $23.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| Average (mean) | $47,790 | $22.97 |
Half of tellers 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 | $3,908.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,954.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,803.85 |
| Weekly | $901.92 |
| Hourly | $22.55 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Teller salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,090 | 1,030 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,370 | 2,810 |
| Napa, CA | $49,260 | 100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,060 | 330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,690 | 1,450 |
| Vallejo, CA | $47,600 | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,550 | 2,110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,490 | 440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $47,320 | 200 |
| Salinas, CA | $47,200 | 220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,980 | 350 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $46,840 | 80 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $46,670 | 420 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $46,370 | 180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,350 | 8,790 |
| Modesto, CA | $46,190 | 320 |
| Chico, CA | $46,050 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $45,880 | 2,510 |
| El Centro, CA | $45,550 | 100 |
| Redding, CA | $45,460 | 130 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,350 | 200 |
| Merced, CA | $44,950 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $44,830 | 560 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,750 | 860 |
| Yuba City, CA | $44,560 | 90 |
Highest-paying states for tellers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $47,670 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 |
| California | $46,900 |
| Massachusetts | $46,900 |
| Alaska | $46,770 |
| Connecticut | $46,320 |
| Colorado | $46,060 |
| Maryland | $46,010 |
| District of Columbia | $45,590 |
| Florida | $45,580 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $65,340 | $31.41 |
| Bill and Account Collectors | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| Procurement Clerk | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $58,100 | $27.93 |
| Gambling Cage Worker | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,100 | $21.20 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-3071. 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 teller make in California?
The median salary for tellers in California is $46,900 a year, or $22.55 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tellers make in California?
The top 10% of tellers in California earn at least $58,660 a year. The top 25% earn $49,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for tellers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,030 a year, and a quarter of tellers earn $44,690 or less.
How many tellers work in California?
About 25,230 tellers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.