Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

The Work

Checkout operators work in shops, supermarkets or warehouses. They sit at cash tills or cash registers where they check the items a customer is buying and then take payment from the customer. The checkout operator takes each item the customer wants to buy and enters its price into the till either by using an electronic scanner or pressing numbers on the till's keypad. Once all the items have been entered, the checkout operator presses a button to get the total price and asks the customer for payment.  
 
Checkout operators deal with cash, cheques and credit and debit cards and must be able to give change accurately. You may also have to handle discount/loyalty cards. They may also have to wrap goods, weigh produce and pack shopping bags. The work can be repetitive and requires sitting or standing in one place for long periods. There is a great deal of customer contact and the work can be demanding, particularly during busy periods.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debits.
• Answer customers' questions, and provide information on procedures or policies.
• Help customers find the location of products.
• Issue receipts, refunds, credits, or change due to customers.
• Greet customers entering establishments.
• Supervise others and provide on-the-job training.
• Assist customers by providing information and resolving their complaints.
• Maintain clean and orderly checkout areas, and complete other general cleaning duties, such as mopping floors and emptying trash cans.
• Establish or identify prices of goods, services, or admission, and tabulate bills, using calculators, cash registers, or optical price scanners.
• Answer incoming phone calls.

Further Information

• Checkout Operator - from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

This is an entry level role and no specific qualification or background is necessarily required, but experience of working in customer service or sales could be an advantage.

Some employers provide Manual Handling training to new employees, but some employers require that you have completed this prior to employment. 

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET Coursefinder

Training & Development

FET Centre Traineeship Retail associate, Customer service, and Sales courses NFQ level 5 Search our FET Coursefinder

FET Centre PLC courses Retail, Customer service, and Sales courses NFQ level 5 Search our FET PLC coursefinder

With experience, and training, you could progress in sales roles, supervisory, or managerial development.

Retail Apprenticeships: 

Sales NFQ level 6 

Retail Supervision NFQ level 6

Membership in professional organisations and trade unions can give you access to relevant training and industry information, through Retail Ireland.

You could also choose to use your transferrable skills to work in other roles within the Retail sector.  

Last Updated: October, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €33k

Salaries vary based on employer, duties, role, location, shift patterns, and experience. 

Rates vary between: Forecourt, convenience, Small/ medium / large supermarket, and Discounter store. 

Rates from €12.70-16.50 p/hr. 
 

Data Source(s):
Indeed.ie/ Excel recruitment

Last Updated: March, 2023

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Despite a below average growth rate, employment for sales assistants grew by 8,700 persons between 2021 and 2022 in line with the recovery in the wholesale and retail sector. However, recent job hires far exceeded any growth in employment pointing to significant job churn for this occupation.

This is likely to be related to the young profile of workers in this occupation (44% were aged 15-24 years) and the majority (58%) being in part-time roles. There was a large volume of vacancies advertised through DSP Jobs Ireland and OVATE. Job opportunities are likely to continue to arise for this occupation given its large size and the volume of turnover.

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