Cashier jobs: what the work is like and how to get hired

Cashier is a common first job. Stores need cashiers every day, often from early morning until late at night. Most of the training happens on the job, so you don't need experience to start.

The work teaches skills that help in any job: talking with customers, handling money carefully, and staying calm when the line gets long.

We checked the facts in this guide on October 12, 2026. Rules and rates change, so follow the links to the official pages for the latest details.

What a cashier does

Your main job is to help customers pay quickly and correctly. On a typical shift, you might:

Greet customers and scan or ring in their items
Take payment by cash, debit card, credit card, or gift card
Count change back to the customer
Bag items carefully, with heavy things on the bottom
Watch the self-checkout area and help customers who get stuck
Process returns and exchanges, if your store allows cashiers to do them
Keep your till area clean and stocked with bags and receipt paper
Answer questions, or find a coworker who knows the answer

When it is quiet, you may also face shelves, tidy displays, or help with stocking.

Where cashiers work

Grocery stores. You learn produce codes, scan a lot of items fast, and may run the self-checkout area. Our guide to grocery and pharmacy jobs explains how grocery chains hire.

Drugstores and pharmacies. Front store cashiers serve customers buying snacks, household items, and personal care products. Read Pharmacy assistant and beauty advisor jobs to learn about other drugstore roles.

Big-box and department stores. These stores may hire extra cashiers before busy times, like the December holidays. See Retail store associate jobs and Seasonal and holiday jobs.

Restaurants, cafés, and fast food. Front counter staff take orders and payments, and often help with food, too. Read Food service and barista jobs.

Gas stations and convenience stores. These stores are often open late. If you may work alone at night, read Overnight and night shift jobs first.

Skills employers look for

A friendly attitude. Smile, say hello, and thank each customer. A manager can teach you the register.
Patience. Some customers are in a hurry or upset. Stay calm and polite.
Basic math. The till does most of the work, but you still count cash and check that totals look right.
Honesty. You handle money all day. Employers need to trust you.
Attention to detail. Check prices, quantities, and the change you give.
Reliability. Come on time for every shift. Lines get long fast when a cashier is missing.
Languages. In Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area, many customers speak languages other than English. List every language you speak on your resume.

Speed comes with practice. In your first weeks, focus on being accurate. You will get faster.

Handling cash

Most stores follow similar steps:

At the start of your shift, you get a cash drawer with a set amount of money, called a float. Count it before you start, and tell your supervisor right away if it is wrong.
Count change back to the customer out loud, so you both can check it.
Keep your drawer closed between sales. Never leave it open or unattended.
Follow the store's steps for voids, refunds, and price changes. If you are not sure, ask a supervisor before you press the button.
At the end of your shift, you or a supervisor count the drawer again.

What if your drawer is short? Mistakes happen. The law limits what your employer can take from your pay:

BC: An employer can't deduct cash shortages from your wages. It also can't deduct money when a customer doesn't pay, or for stolen or damaged company property (BC deductions).
Ontario: An employer can deduct a cash shortage only if you were the only person with access to the cash and you agreed to the deduction in writing. It can't deduct for "faulty work," such as a mistake in a credit card transaction, even if you signed something (payment of wages).

Selling age-restricted products

Some stores sell products that customers must be old enough to buy. As a cashier, you help keep these sales legal.

Tobacco and vapour products. In both provinces, selling or giving tobacco or vapour products to anyone under 19 is against the law.

Ontario: A store can't sell these products to anyone who appears to be under 25 without asking for ID and being satisfied that the person is at least 19 (ontario.ca).
BC: Retailers must check government-issued identification, such as a passport, driver's licence, or photo ID card, to confirm a person's age (gov.bc.ca).

Alcohol. If your store sells beer or wine, extra training and age rules apply to the staff who sell it. Our grocery and pharmacy guide explains the rules in each province.

If you are not sure about a customer's ID, ask your supervisor. It is fine to say no to a sale.

How old do you have to be?

BC: The general working age is 16. If you are 14 or 15, you can do "light work" with written permission from a parent or guardian (Hiring young people). Cashier is on BC's light work list. But light work does not include work with age-restricted goods or services.
Ontario: The minimum age to work in a store is 14.

Pay

You must be paid at least the minimum wage:

BC: $18.25 an hour, since June 1, 2026. There is no lower rate for students.
Ontario: $17.95 an hour, since October 1, 2026. Students under 18 who work 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or who work during a school break or summer holidays, can be paid the student rate of $16.90 an hour.

Breaks, overtime, and holiday pay are covered in our rights guides for BC and Ontario.

How to get hired

Apply online. Large chains post jobs on their own careers websites. Our guide to applying for jobs online walks you through it.
Visit the store. Go at a quiet time, like mid-morning on a weekday. Ask if the manager is in, introduce yourself, and mention that you applied.
Offer open availability. Evenings, weekends, and holidays are when stores need cashiers most.
Show customer service from other places. Volunteering, school events, or helping in a family business all count. See Writing your first resume with no work experience.
Prepare for common questions. Managers often ask how you would handle an upset customer, or what you would do if your drawer did not balance. A good answer: stay calm, be honest, and ask a supervisor for help. Read Your first job interview for more.

Next steps

Cashier jobs in Metro Vancouver and the GTA
Learn about other store jobs: Retail store associate jobs
Still in school? Read Part-time jobs for students
Get ready: Your first job interview