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Transportation Security Screeners Salary
Transportation Security Screeners earn a median $66,770 a year in the U.S., with 50,290 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $66,770 a year
- Employment
- 50,290
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- -4.2%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 4,500
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $66,770 · $32.10 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $64,310 · $30.92 an hour (estimate error ±0.3%)
- 10th percentile
- $44,700 · $21.49 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $57,050 · $27.43 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $72,820 · $35.01 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $78,350 · $37.67 an hour
- Employment
- 50,290 (estimate error ±1.2%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. May operate basic security equipment such as x-ray machines and hand wands at screening checkpoints.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 53,500
- Projected for 2035
- 51,200
- Change
- -2,200 (-4.2%)
- Openings each year
- 4,500
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $76,130 | 80 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $74,400 | 1,200 |
| 3 | California | $73,610 | 5,410 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $73,510 | 1,380 |
| 5 | Maryland | $72,240 | 570 |
| 6 | New York | $72,010 | 4,240 |
| 7 | Colorado | $71,530 | 1,250 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $71,510 | 160 |
| 9 | Alaska | $71,390 | 440 |
| 10 | Illinois | $70,570 | 1,970 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 6,920 | $63,130 |
| California | 5,410 | $73,610 |
| Texas | 4,300 | $68,640 |
| New York | 4,240 | $72,010 |
| Illinois | 1,970 | $70,570 |
| Virginia | 1,870 | $69,910 |
| Georgia | 1,850 | $66,770 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,460 | $67,330 |
| Arizona | 1,380 | $64,330 |
| Massachusetts | 1,380 | $73,510 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,940 | 350 |
| 2 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $78,940 | 320 |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $76,130 | 1,250 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,610 | 2,670 |
| 5 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $73,610 | 500 |
| 6 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $72,510 | 160 |
| 7 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $72,340 | 4,610 |
| 8 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $72,240 | 550 |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $72,130 | 690 |
| 10 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $71,530 | 990 |
| 11 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $71,510 | 170 |
| 12 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,570 | 1,780 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,610 | $72,340 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,250 | $65,080 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,670 | $73,610 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,780 | $70,570 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,690 | $68,640 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,570 | $66,770 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,490 | $61,530 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,360 | $69,910 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,250 | $76,130 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,200 | $64,500 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,140 | $63,920 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 990 | $71,530 |
Transportation Security Screeners pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do transportation security screeners make?
- The median wage for transportation security screeners in the U.S. is $66,770 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,050 and $72,820.
- Which state pays transportation security screeners the most?
- New Hampshire has the highest median wage for this occupation at $76,130 a year.
- What is the job outlook for transportation security screeners?
- BLS projects employment to decline 4.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,500 openings each year on average.
- What education do transportation security screeners need?
- The typical entry-level education is: high school diploma or equivalent.