I recently decided to take a break from school and maybe start working fulltime as a dealer.. i would be grateful if i could get a few estimates as to much how the average dealer makes and the requirements to become a dealer in different states. I currently reside in Arizona but i may be able to move to California. Just looking for an overview on what it takes to become a dealer(dealer school, age/training req, etc...) Thanks so much.

stay in school. chances are you wont go back and you will be dealing cards for life. to answer your question, i have no idea but it isnt a job that will let you retire early.

If you live in a major poker state I.E - Cali, Nevada, NJ , then I think the average yearly pay is about 40k a year

The average dealer makes just under enough to sustain his poker/coke/gadgets habit.

Hiring requirements vary by casino. California is licensed by the room/city, so your best bet is to call up the rooms and ask how to become a dealer. They'll point you to the proper school. Being able to count to 10 is a big plus, but doesn't seem to be a pre-requisite.

You are never going to start out as full time...so telling full time dealer wages is irrelevant imo. Stay in school, if you want to be a dealer after fine (it is what I did) you can always fall back on your degree.

Great advice gentlemen.

What part of Arizona, OP?

Seems like if you play poker enough to know you want to be a dealer, you should be able to approximate their income. You see how many hands they deal in a typical down, you see how much people toke, and in many rooms you can just watch as dealers end their shift and hit the cage with a rack or two of chips. Keep an eye on the room and notice how much time they spend on breaks or sitting at a dead spread, vs sitting at a table with players (you don't deal for 8 hours in an 8 hours shift). Add that to the approximate minimum wage they're getting for dealing and you're there.

Add sportsbetting and video poker if in Vegas.

It depends on where you are working, what shift, how fast you deal, blah, blah, blah.

Finish school first.

Finish school. Once you start working it becomes nearly impossible to go back to school on a regular basis.

Dealers don't make that much money starting out at least for poker. I do know that pit dealers at Wynn make a handsome dollar, but good luck getting in there w/o equivalent experience.

Why is it that when someone starts one of these how much money do dealers make, not one of the posters comes out and says hey I'm a dealer and I make 50000 a year. Everyone just posts stay in school(I agree I think at least don't take a break you'll never return go part time if you need a break.) someone just be straight with the kid, please.

It's a sensitive subject to discuss your income around the people who provide it, especially considering the markets vary wildly.

You don't ask how sausage is made, you don't ask a dealer how much s/he makes.

You know what that is a very good answer and I understand why, so basically its the military policy of don't ask don't tell lol. Thanks though I appreciate an honest straight to the point answer.