Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Gambling cage workers handle money and transactions in gambling environments, relying on accuracy, trustworthiness, and strong people skills. Nationally, there are about 14,000 workers in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $36,990. The role combines customer service, basic mathematics, and careful attention to detail, making it relevant for people who are comfortable working with cash and interacting directly with customers. The typical education needed is a high school diploma or equivalent, so this path can be accessible to recent graduates and career changers who want to enter the workforce without a long education timeline. Although overall projected employment growth is -5.0%, there are still about 1,000 annual openings nationally, indicating ongoing hiring needs. Opportunity can vary by location, with differences in salary levels and CareerGPS opportunity scores across states and metro areas. This career may fit individuals who value structure, procedures, and regular customer contact in a gaming-related setting.
The national median annual salary for gambling cage workers is $36,990, but pay can differ significantly by state and metro area. Among the highlighted states, New York and Maryland stand out with median salaries of $48,340 and $47,930, respectively, compared with $37,650 in California, $41,720 in Washington, and $34,850 in Colorado. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA shows the highest median salary at $55,260, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV offers $49,920 and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA offers $45,470. Other large California metros, such as Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim ($39,600) and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont ($39,390), have median pay closer to the national level. These differences suggest that location decisions can play a significant role in earnings potential, and candidates may want to compare local opportunities when evaluating offers.
Gambling cage workers have national employment of about 14,000, with projected employment growth of -5.0%. This indicates that the total number of positions is expected to decline over time. However, there are still an estimated 1,000 annual openings, which reflects ongoing hiring needs due to turnover, retirements, or other workforce changes. For individuals considering this field, this combination means that while the overall job count may shrink, there will likely continue to be entry points into the occupation. The uniform -5.0% growth rate reported across featured states and metro areas suggests that this projected decline is broadly distributed rather than limited to one region. People exploring this career may want to pay particular attention to locations that pair this outlook with stronger salaries or higher CareerGPS opportunity scores to better understand where the role might be most attractive over the coming years.
Location plays an important role in the opportunity profile for gambling cage workers. Among states, California has the highest employment level at 2,020 and a median salary of $37,650, with a CareerGPS opportunity score of 67.38. New York and Maryland, though smaller in employment (290 and 280), offer higher median salaries of $48,340 and $47,930 and strong opportunity scores of 65.78 and 52.88. Colorado and Washington show mid-range salaries and opportunity scores, with Washington offering $41,720 in median pay and an opportunity score of 56.29. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $55,260 and the highest opportunity score at 77.42, even with relatively low employment of 40. Other metros such as San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue combine moderate to strong salaries with opportunity scores above 60. These variations give candidates options to prioritize either higher pay, more positions, or higher overall opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for gambling cage workers is a high school diploma or equivalent, which makes the occupation accessible to those who do not plan to complete a college degree. While formal education beyond high school is not typically required, a strong skill set is still important. Key skills include being detail oriented and comfortable with mathematics, which support accurate handling of money and transactions. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central to working directly with patrons, while speaking and listening skills help with clear communication. Physical strength and stamina, along with fine motor skills, can also be relevant in daily tasks. Adaptability and leadership abilities may support growth into more responsible roles within the work environment. Individuals who build these skills can strengthen their qualifications for entry into the field and may also be better prepared to move into related occupations such as gambling change persons and booth cashiers, pharmacy aides, postal service clerks, tellers, or new accounts clerks.
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