Basics

• Cafeteria cashiers need to know the prices of various items, from main courses to desserts to beverages, in order to accurately ring them up. They then take a payment, usually made with cash or credit cards (and, sometimes, personal check), then give customers change and receipts. Cafeteria cashiers also often have to answer questions related to food and service, particularly when it comes to price and what is available. On top of those things, cafeteria cashiers have to keep track of sales and make sure the money in their register accurately reflects the items sold at the end of their shift.
  
  

Skills

• Cafeteria cashiers must be experts in customer service, conducting themselves in a professional and courteous manner. They should be organized and motivated and possess a high amount of integrity, since their main responsibility consists of handling money. And while a cash register does much of the adding and subtracting for them, cafeteria cashiers should own at least basic math skills to assist with their jobs. Those who perform duties outside of just running a cash register will need to be able to multitask, juggling an array of tasks related to cleaning and food service.
  
  

Background

• Most cafeteria cashiers hold entry-level positions, meaning they can get hired with no prior experience and minimal training. Some establishments require that their cashiers carry at least a high school diploma (or the equivalent), while others might hire students on a part-time basis. Basically, when it comes to being a cafeteria cashier, a strong work ethic and positive approach to the job are almost always as important as a formal education.
  
  

Prospects

• Since cafeterias will always need someone to make sure a customer’s bill is paid, jobs for cashiers are likely to remain abundant. More specifically, jobs for cashiers overall are expected to increase by 4 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, employment of workers in the food service industry are projected to grow by 8 percent during the same decade, the BLS reported.
  
  

Earnings

• Wages for cafeteria cashiers tend to vary by establishment and level of employment (full or part-time). According to PayScale.com, cashiers in the food service industry earned anywhere from $7.15 to $8.50 per hour in June 2010.