Walmart Cashier Job Description

Walmart was the largest retailer and second largest company in the world in 2012, according to CNN Money. Their cashiers stay extremely busy helping customers purchase groceries, clothes, home appliances, sporting goods, toys and many other products. If you are are highly personable and patient with good customer-service skills, you may enjoy working part- or full-time as a Walmart cashier.

Walmart cashiers operate cash registers at the front of the stores, greeting customers warmly as they make purchases. They scan all items, process cash, check and credit card transactions and deactivate security devices on bags and items purchased. During busy periods, baggers are usually available to help the cashier pack and load customers' purchases in carts; otherwise, you must do the honors. As a Walmart cashier, you maintain the required amounts of cash in your registers and request price checks when necessary. You also verify customers' ages when they buy restricted merchandise such as beer or wine. Cleaning work areas and returning merchandise to shelves and racks are other responsibilities of the Walmart cashier.

As a Walmart cashier, you must count your register drawer at the beginning of your shift, under the supervision of a manager. You then reconcile your drawer at the end of your shift by subtracting your beginning register balance from the total amount collected in cash, checks and credit cards. This amount should equal the total purchases recorded on the long register receipt. If you are an experienced Walmart cashier, you may train new cashiers on operational policies and procedures.

Walmart cashiers work mornings, afternoons or evenings, depending on their typical hours. As a Walmart cashier, you may alternate days and evenings during the week, or work an occasional holiday. Cashier work can be exhausting and stressful, as you're constantly standing and assisting hordes of demanding customers each shift. You may often find yourself yearning for that first break of the day.

There are no formal educational requirements for Walmart cashiers, though some stores may prefer applicants with high school diplomas or GEDs. The main requirements are basic math skills such as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. The hiring manager might have you demonstrate some of these skills before you get the job. Training is done mostly on the job, and as a new cashier you may start out during nonpeak periods while you learn the scanning and cash register procedures.

Walmart cashiers earned an average annual income of $20,000 as of 2012, according to Careerbliss, a work life advice website. This income correlates highly to May 2011 cashier salaries reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: $20,230 per year, or $9.73 per hour. Your hourly wages may vary depending on the state you live in. While Walmart does not report job outlook percentages, the BLS indicates that jobs for cashiers are expected to decline 7 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Cashiers earned a median annual salary of $20,180 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, cashiers earned a 25th percentile salary of $18,450, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $23,570, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 3,555,500 people were employed in the U.S. as cashiers.