Bank Teller Jobs in Chicago, IL
Bank tellers in the Chicago metro earn a median of about $21.41 an hour, and neighborhood branches from Rogers Park to the Far South Side hire all year. Here are the current openings, followed by which banks are hiring, what they pay and what you need to start.
Current bank teller Openings in Chicago, IL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Bank Teller Work in Chicago
Teller jobs in Chicago are spread across the neighborhoods rather than bunched downtown. Wintrust alone has posted teller openings at Chicago branches in Ravenswood, North Lawndale, Sauganash, Rogers Park, Uptown and Delaware Place on the Near North Side, and Chase posts associate banker roles, its name for the teller job, for the Near West Side, the Northwest Side, the Far South Side and its Milwaukee Avenue branch. Downtown branches on LaSalle Street and around the Loop add more openings.
Two things set Chicago apart. First, the city minimum wage of $17.05 an hour sets a higher floor than the rest of Illinois, so tellers at banks inside city limits start at or above it. Second, bilingual English and Spanish tellers are in steady demand, and Chase and Huntington have both posted Chicago banker roles that require Spanish. Part-time schedules with Saturday hours are common, which makes teller work a good fit for students at the City Colleges or UIC.
Top Chicago Employers Hiring Bank Tellers
These banks have posted teller and branch banker roles in Chicago on their own careers sites:
- Wintrust - the Rosemont-based bank hires full-time and part-time tellers at Chicago branches, posting $19 to $21 an hour plus a bonus.
- Chase - JPMorganChase hires part-time and full-time associate bankers at branches across the city, including bilingual roles.
- Huntington Bank - hires customer experience bankers at its LaSalle Street branch and bilingual bankers in New City.
- PNC Bank - has posted full-time and part-time teller roles at Chicago branches.
- Fifth Third Bank - has posted retail personal banker roles at its Chicago branches.
Bank Teller Salaries in Chicago
- Entry level: about $17.50 to $19 an hour for new tellers.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $22 an hour, around the metro median.
- Senior / lead teller: $22 to $24 or more an hour for head tellers and teller supervisors.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Chicago metro and pay ranges in local postings, such as Wintrust's $19 to $21 an hour for a part-time teller in Ravenswood. Bilingual skills, full-time hours, Saturday availability and a move to a lead or banker title all raise pay, and some banks add an annual bonus.
How to Become a Bank Teller in Chicago
You need a high school diploma or GED, and most banks want about six months of cash handling or customer service experience from a job such as retail or food service. Illinois does not require a state license for bank tellers, but banks run a background check before hiring. Banks train new tellers on their own systems, and City Colleges of Chicago offers a Banking Basic Certificate at Harold Washington College in the Loop for anyone who wants a head start.
What the Job Involves
Tellers process deposits, withdrawals, check cashing and loan payments, balance a cash drawer at the start and end of each shift, and follow strict rules for verifying identity and spotting fraud. They answer account questions and refer customers to bankers for products such as savings accounts, credit cards or loans. Many banks now blend the teller role with light sales and account opening under titles like associate banker or universal banker.
Skills Employers Look For
- Accurate cash handling and balancing
- Friendly, patient customer service
- Bilingual English and Spanish
- Attention to detail and fraud awareness
- Comfort recommending bank products
- Reliability for Saturday and split shifts
Career Path and Advancement
Tellers in Chicago typically move to lead teller or teller supervisor within a year or two, then to personal banker, relationship banker or assistant branch manager. Wintrust advertises a promote-from-within culture across its community banks. From there the path leads to branch manager, lending, or operations and finance roles at downtown headquarters.
Related Careers in Chicago
If teller work interests you, these related Chicago roles are close matches:
- Finance and Banking Jobs
- Customer Service Representative Jobs
- Call Center Agent Jobs
- Accountant Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a bank teller in Illinois?
No. Illinois does not license bank tellers. Banks run a background check and train you on their own systems after you are hired.
How much do bank tellers make in Chicago?
The median for tellers in the Chicago metro is about $21.41 an hour. Wintrust has posted $19 to $21 an hour for Chicago tellers, and lead tellers can earn $22 to $24 or more.
Do Chicago banks hire part-time tellers?
Yes. Wintrust, Chase and PNC have all posted part-time teller roles in Chicago, and Chase's part-time associate banker jobs are posted at 30 hours a week. Most part-time schedules include Saturdays.
Is being bilingual helpful for teller jobs in Chicago?
Yes. Chase and Huntington have both posted Chicago banker roles that require English and Spanish, and bilingual tellers are valued at branches on the Northwest and South Sides.
What experience do I need to become a teller?
Most banks ask for a high school diploma or GED and about six months of cash handling or customer service work. Retail cashier, restaurant and call center jobs all count toward that experience.
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