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Census · Retail front line · occupation code 41-2011

Cashiers

Every task in this role, whether it passes the census's structural hand-over screen, which models pass it, and why. It is a screen, not a claim about what AI can do: a task can pass and still be beyond the systems of the day. The stricter and looser rules re-vote every task, and small differences between roles are noise.

Passes the screen · 4 of 28 tasks

  • Compute and record totals of transactions.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 3.9% of the role's time · $3.9B · all three pass it

  • Calculate total payments received during a time period, and reconcile this with total sales.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 2.5% of the role's time · $2.5B · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro, GPT-6 Sol · the models disagreed

  • Keep periodic balance sheets of amounts and numbers of transactions.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 2.1% of the role's time · $2.1B · passed by Gemini 3.1 Pro, GPT-6 Sol · the models disagreed

  • Post charges against guests' or patients' accounts.

    quick to check, an existing check settles it, and a mistake is cheap · 2.0% of the role's time · $2.0B · passed by Claude Sonnet, Gemini 3.1 Pro · the models disagreed

Does not pass

  • Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.

    physical work, outside the screen · 8.2% of the role's time · $8.2B

  • Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.

    physical work, outside the screen · 7.2% of the role's time · $7.2B

  • Greet customers entering establishments.

    physical work, outside the screen · 6.7% of the role's time · $6.7B

  • Answer incoming phone calls.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 6.3% of the role's time · $6.3B · passed by GPT-6 Sol · the models disagreed · waiting on a check

  • Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 5.3% of the role's time · $5.3B · waiting on a check

  • Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 4.8% of the role's time · $4.8B

  • Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.

    physical work, outside the screen · 4.6% of the role's time · $4.6B

  • Help customers find the location of products.

    physical work, outside the screen · 4.3% of the role's time · $4.3B

  • Request information or assistance, using paging systems.

    physical work, outside the screen · 4.1% of the role's time · $4.1B

  • Maintain clean and orderly checkout areas, and complete other general cleaning duties, such as mopping floors and emptying trash cans.

    physical work, outside the screen · 3.9% of the role's time · $3.9B

  • Monitor checkout stations to ensure they have adequate cash available and are staffed appropriately.

    physical work, outside the screen · 3.6% of the role's time · $3.6B

  • Count money in cash drawers at the beginning of shifts to ensure that amounts are correct and that there is adequate change.

    physical work, outside the screen · 3.0% of the role's time · $3.0B

  • Stock shelves, sort and reshelve returned items, and mark prices on items and shelves.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.6% of the role's time · $2.6B

  • Sort, count, and wrap currency and coins.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.6% of the role's time · $2.6B

  • Process merchandise returns and exchanges.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.6% of the role's time · $2.6B

  • Assist with duties in other areas of the store, such as monitoring fitting rooms or bagging and carrying out customers' items.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.5% of the role's time · $2.5B

  • Offer customers carry-out service at the completion of transactions.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.5% of the role's time · $2.5B

  • Bag, box, wrap, or gift-wrap merchandise, and prepare packages for shipment.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.4% of the role's time · $2.4B

  • Issue trading stamps, and redeem food stamps and coupons.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.3% of the role's time · $2.3B

  • Supervise others and provide on-the-job training.

    reason given most often: nobody can tell quickly whether it worked, and no existing check settles it · 2.3% of the role's time · $2.3B

  • Sell tickets and other items to customers.

    physical work, outside the screen · 2.0% of the role's time · $2.0B

  • Weigh items sold by weight to determine prices.

    physical work, outside the screen · 1.9% of the role's time · $1.9B

  • Compile and maintain non-monetary reports and records.

    reason given most often: no existing check settles it · 1.9% of the role's time · $1.9B · waiting on a check

  • Cash checks for customers.

    physical work, outside the screen · 1.9% of the role's time · $1.9B

Where this role works

IndustryWorkersWage billPasses the screenAll three pass
Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only)838,060$27.4B$2.8B$1.1B
Gasoline Stations586,370$17.8B$1.9B$695M
General Merchandise Retailers554,230$17.3B$1.8B$675M
Restaurants and Other Eating Places281,470$8.3B$866M$325M
Health and Personal Care Retailers152,360$5.1B$528M$198M
Building Material and Supplies Dealers145,390$4.9B$512M$192M
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers76,560$2.5B$257M$96.2M
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers66,550$2.0B$212M$79.5M
Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only)46,900$1.4B$150M$56.3M
Other Miscellaneous Retailers46,350$1.4B$149M$55.6M