Transportation Security Screener salary in the U.S.
Transportation Security Screeners in the U.S. earn a median of $66,770 a year ($32.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 50,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,350 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $64,310, close to the median.
Pay range for transportation security screeners in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| 25th percentile | $57,050 | $27.43 |
| Median | $66,770 | $32.10 |
| 75th percentile | $72,820 | $35.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Average (mean) | $64,310 | $30.92 |
Half of transportation security screeners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,564.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,782.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,568.08 |
| Weekly | $1,284.04 |
| Hourly | $32.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Transportation Security Screener salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $76,130 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $74,400 | 1,200 |
| California | $73,610 | 5,410 |
| Massachusetts | $73,510 | 1,380 |
| Maryland | $72,240 | 570 |
| New York | $72,010 | 4,240 |
| Colorado | $71,530 | 1,250 |
| Rhode Island | $71,510 | 160 |
| Alaska | $71,390 | 440 |
| Illinois | $70,570 | 1,970 |
| Hawaii | $70,160 | 1,010 |
| Virginia | $69,910 | 1,870 |
| Texas | $68,640 | 4,300 |
| Michigan | $67,390 | 1,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,330 | 1,460 |
| Minnesota | $67,290 | 740 |
| Georgia | $66,770 | 1,850 |
| Ohio | $65,870 | 690 |
| Vermont | $65,460 | 80 |
| Virgin Islands | $65,170 | 90 |
| North Carolina | $64,540 | 1,300 |
| Nevada | $64,500 | 1,350 |
| Arizona | $64,330 | 1,380 |
| New Mexico | $63,810 | 200 |
| Alabama | $63,770 | 260 |
| Florida | $63,130 | 6,920 |
| Idaho | $63,130 | 250 |
| Kansas | $63,130 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $63,130 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $63,130 | 460 |
| Maine | $63,130 | 160 |
| Mississippi | $63,130 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $63,130 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $63,130 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $63,130 | 540 |
| Guam | $63,130 | 280 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,130 | 610 |
| Nebraska | $61,710 | 290 |
| Indiana | $61,670 | 460 |
| Iowa | $61,590 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $61,110 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $61,110 | 840 |
| Utah | $61,110 | 510 |
| Wyoming | $61,110 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $55,530 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $54,950 | 170 |
| Montana | $54,770 | 330 |
| Missouri | $51,210 | 930 |
Best-paying metro areas for transportation security screeners
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $79,210 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $78,940 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,940 | 350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $78,940 | 320 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $76,130 | 1,250 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $76,130 | 80 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $74,400 | 50 |
| Flint, MI | $74,130 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,610 | 2,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $73,610 | 500 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $73,210 | 50 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $72,510 | 160 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $72,340 | 4,610 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $72,240 | 550 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $72,130 | 690 |
Metro areas with the most transportation security screeners
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 930 | $67,330 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 830 | $63,130 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 690 | $72,130 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,100 | $18.32 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $42,540 | $20.45 |
| School Bus Monitor | $35,100 | $16.88 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,220 | $24.62 |
| Animal Control Worker | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $43,370 | $20.85 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,210 | $36.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $58,940 | $28.34 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 | $28.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $93,530 | $44.96 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation security screener make in the U.S.?
The median salary for transportation security screeners in the U.S. is $66,770 a year, or $32.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,350 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation security screeners make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of transportation security screeners in the U.S. earn at least $78,350 a year. The top 25% earn $72,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation security screeners in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,700 a year, and a quarter of transportation security screeners earn $57,050 or less.
How many transportation security screeners work in the U.S.?
About 50,290 transportation security screeners are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.