Career comparison
Bank Teller vs. New Accounts Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
New accounts clerks earn more at the median ($47,670 vs. $43,030), while bank tellers usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Bank tellers help bank customers with deposits, withdrawals and everyday banking. New accounts clerks open new bank accounts and explain banking products to customers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Bank Teller | New Accounts Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $43,030 ($20.69/hr) | $47,670 ($22.92/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,360 – $49,680 | $38,180 – $60,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -13.2% (a projected decline) | -6.5% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 26,800 | 2,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few months on the job |
| Key credential | Bank teller certificate | BSA/AML training |
| Work setting | Tellers work in bank and credit union branches.. | Clerks work in bank and credit union branches and call centers.. |
What each job does
Bank Teller
- Process deposits and withdrawals
- Cash checks
- Balance the cash drawer
- Spot counterfeit bills and fraud
- Answer account questions
New Accounts Clerk
- Explain account options
- Verify identity
- Open accounts
- Order cards and checks
- Set up online banking
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, steady routines, and indoor work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose bank teller if…
- I’m accurate with money
- I like customers
- I’m trustworthy
Choose new accounts clerk if…
- I like explaining things
- I’m accurate with forms
- I’m friendly
Still torn? Take the Bank Teller fit quiz and the New Accounts Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, bank teller or new accounts clerk?
New Accounts Clerks earn more at the median: $47,670 versus $43,030 for bank tellers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Bank Tellers typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than new accounts clerks (A few months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects new accounts clerks to grow -6.5% from 2025–35, compared with -13.2% for bank tellers.