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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The top-paying city for this role might not be where you expect. The national median salary for Bank Tellers in 2026 is $43,064, with entry-level positions averaging $31,006 and senior roles reaching $61,151. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $78,440, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Office & Admin within the broader Administrative industry, Bank Tellers typically hold High school diploma. The employment landscape is shaped by declining, and the day-to-day is branch-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$47,730 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Bank Teller in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $78,440 — $47,730 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($30,710). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Bank Tellers average $31,006, the median sits at $43,064, and senior earners pull in $61,151. That $30,145 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $37,303 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $73,260 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $30,957. That $42,303 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Bank Teller in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $78,440 — $47,730 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($30,710). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $31,006 | $43,064 | $61,151 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £17,043 | £23,670 | £33,611 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$24,950 | CA$34,653 | CA$49,207 |
| Australia | 13 | A$27,326 | A$37,953 | A$53,894 |
| Sweden | 24 | 175,954 kr | 244,381 kr | 347,021 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $37,423 | $51,976 | $73,806 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $36,164 | $50,228 | $71,323 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $35,964 | $49,950 | $70,929 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $33,300 | $46,250 | $65,675 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $32,900 | $45,695 | $64,887 |
| Washington | 8 | $32,268 | $44,816 | $63,639 |
| New York | 5 | $30,369 | $42,180 | $59,895 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $30,370 | $42,180 | $59,896 |
| Florida | 22 | $30,140 | $41,860 | $59,442 |
| Colorado | 11 | $29,619 | $41,137 | $58,415 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $29,570 | $41,070 | $58,319 |
| Nevada | 5 | $29,517 | $40,996 | $58,214 |
| Arizona | 12 | $29,371 | $40,793 | $57,925 |
| Oregon | 5 | $29,304 | $40,700 | $57,794 |
| Idaho | 3 | $29,215 | $40,577 | $57,619 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $28,984 | $40,256 | $57,164 |
| Utah | 4 | $28,904 | $40,145 | $57,006 |
| Virginia | 7 | $28,429 | $39,484 | $56,068 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $28,061 | $38,973 | $55,342 |
| Alaska | 1 | $27,972 | $38,850 | $55,167 |
| Illinois | 5 | $27,652 | $38,406 | $54,536 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $26,966 | $37,452 | $53,182 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $26,640 | $37,000 | $52,540 |
| Montana | 1 | $26,640 | $37,000 | $52,540 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $26,551 | $36,877 | $52,365 |
| Texas | 40 | $26,420 | $36,695 | $52,107 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $26,374 | $36,630 | $52,015 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $26,241 | $36,445 | $51,752 |
| Georgia | 6 | $26,152 | $36,322 | $51,577 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $26,107 | $36,260 | $51,489 |
| Kansas | 4 | $25,974 | $36,075 | $51,227 |
| Michigan | 6 | $25,885 | $35,952 | $51,051 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $25,575 | $35,520 | $50,439 |
| Maryland | 1 | $25,574 | $35,520 | $50,438 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $25,308 | $35,150 | $49,913 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $25,308 | $35,150 | $49,913 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $24,642 | $34,225 | $48,600 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $24,509 | $34,040 | $48,337 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $24,176 | $33,578 | $47,680 |
| Missouri | 4 | $24,176 | $33,578 | $47,680 |
| Alabama | 5 | $24,083 | $33,448 | $47,496 |
| Indiana | 3 | $23,710 | $32,930 | $46,761 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $23,710 | $32,930 | $46,761 |
| Iowa | 2 | $23,443 | $32,560 | $46,235 |
| Ohio | 6 | $23,399 | $32,498 | $46,148 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $22,378 | $31,080 | $44,134 |
The state salary map for Bank Tellers: California at $51,976, Massachusetts at $50,228, Hawaii at $49,950 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($31,080), Ohio ($32,498), Iowa ($32,560) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $20,896.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($78,440 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $37,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $78,440 | 212 | $37,000 | $49,697 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $73,260 | 198 | $37,000 | $46,742 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $68,080 | 184 | $37,000 | $43,787 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $66,970 | 181 | $37,000 | $43,153 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $65,860 | 178 | $37,000 | $42,520 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $65,490 | 177 | $37,000 | $42,309 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $65,490 | 177 | $37,000 | $42,309 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $64,010 | 173 | $37,000 | $41,465 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $64,010 | 173 | $37,000 | $41,465 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $62,530 | 169 | $37,000 | $40,620 |
Career economics for Bank Tellers: entry level averages $31,006, mid-career hits $43,064, and experienced professionals reach $61,151. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires High school diploma, and the work is branch-based. The outlook: declining. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Bank Tellers is $43,064 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $31,006, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $61,151.
The highest-paying city for Bank Tellers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $78,440. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($78,440), Santa Clara ($73,260), Irvine ($68,080). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Bank Teller salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $30,710. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Bank Tellers (10th percentile) average $31,006 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $56,477. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Bank Tellers average $61,151 nationally — $30,145 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Bank Tellers can earn up to $111,385.
The top-paying states for Bank Tellers are California ($51,976 median), Massachusetts ($50,228 median), Hawaii ($49,950 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Bank Teller involves High school diploma. The field is in the Administrative sector (Office & Admin), and the career outlook is declining. Work style is typically branch-based.
With a national median of $43,064 and representation across 288 metro areas, Bank Teller offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $30,145 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: declining.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.