Cashiers Salary
Cashiers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $35,470 a year, or about $17.05 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $45K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $32,577 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 91.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About cashiers
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Cashiers pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $33K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 91.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for cashiers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $34K | $32K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $29K | $30K |
| Richmond | $30K | $31K |
| Roanoke | $29K | $31K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level cashiers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $45K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Cashiers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Cashiers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $39K | +18% | 6,060 |
| Washington | $39K | +18% | 61,050 |
| California | $37K | +13% | 336,110 |
| Colorado | $37K | +12% | 51,670 |
| Hawaii | $37K | +12% | 10,780 |
| Alaska | $36K | +10% | 5,810 |
| Vermont | $36K | +9% | 7,030 |
| Connecticut | $36K | +8% | 30,920 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +8% | 58,880 |
| New York | $36K | +8% | 158,890 |
| Oregon | $35K | +7% | 37,660 |
| Maine | $35K | +6% | 14,240 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +6% | 9,260 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +5% | 58,190 |
| Arizona | $35K | +5% | 72,570 |
| New Jersey | $35K | +5% | 107,680 |
| Illinois | $34K | +5% | 139,630 |
| Maryland | $34K | +5% | 49,910 |
| Montana | $34K | +4% | 12,170 |
| New Hampshire | $34K | +3% | 17,250 |
| Delaware | $33K | +2% | 11,450 |
| Utah | $32K | -4% | 22,940 |
| North Dakota | $31K | -4% | 9,510 |
| Wisconsin | $31K | -6% | 65,380 |
| Wyoming | $31K | -6% | 5,840 |
| Virginia | $31K | -7% | 83,890 |
| Florida | $31K | -7% | 201,370 |
| Missouri | $31K | -7% | 69,430 |
| Idaho | $30K | -8% | 17,200 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -8% | 20,650 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -8% | 19,020 |
| Nevada | $30K | -9% | 30,160 |
| South Dakota | $30K | -9% | 12,860 |
| Michigan | $30K | -10% | 92,930 |
| Indiana | $30K | -10% | 68,350 |
| Ohio | $29K | -11% | 103,020 |
| Texas | $29K | -11% | 245,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $29K | -11% | 110,950 |
| Georgia | $29K | -12% | 97,540 |
| Iowa | $29K | -12% | 41,450 |
| North Carolina | $29K | -12% | 106,440 |
| Kansas | $29K | -12% | 33,080 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -13% | 44,550 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -13% | 63,350 |
| South Carolina | $29K | -13% | 56,550 |
| Alabama | $28K | -14% | 46,420 |
| Oklahoma | $28K | -14% | 41,140 |
| Arkansas | $28K | -16% | 28,270 |
| Louisiana | $27K | -19% | 46,350 |
| Mississippi | $26K | -20% | 30,490 |
| West Virginia | $26K | -20% | 17,360 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track cashiers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cashier afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 91.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cashiers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cashiers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,820/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 123% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cashier a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $33K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for cashiers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $33K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $33K — below the national median.
How much do cashiers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $35,470 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,330, and experienced cashiers can clear $44,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,457/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 91.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cashiers salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cashiers salary is worth about $32,577 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cashiers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.