Transportation Security Screener salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Transportation Security Screeners in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $70,570 a year ($33.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,420 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $66,770. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $70,570. There are 0.39 transportation security screeners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,450, close to the median.
Pay range for transportation security screeners in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| 25th percentile | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| Median | $70,570 | $33.93 |
| 75th percentile | $75,130 | $36.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,420 | $37.22 |
| Average (mean) | $67,450 | $32.43 |
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 | $5,880.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,940.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,714.23 |
| Weekly | $1,357.12 |
| Hourly | $33.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Transportation Security Screener salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $65,170 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,150 | 50 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $63,650 | 270 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $63,130 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,650 | 490 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,670 | 300 |
| Bloomington, IL | $61,110 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,110 | 150 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $61,110 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for transportation security screeners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $76,130 |
| New Jersey | $74,400 |
| California | $73,610 |
| Massachusetts | $73,510 |
| Maryland | $72,240 |
| New York | $72,010 |
| Colorado | $71,530 |
| Rhode Island | $71,510 |
| Alaska | $71,390 |
| Illinois | $70,570 |
See Transportation Security Screener pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $39,990 | $19.22 |
| School Bus Monitor | $33,890 | $16.29 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,750 | $16.23 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $38,990 | $18.75 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $68,310 | $32.84 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $38,020 | $18.28 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $46,100 | $22.16 |
| Animal Control Worker | $49,370 | $23.74 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $107,810 | $51.83 |
| Firefighter | $82,820 | $39.82 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $84,550 | $40.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $126,200 | $60.67 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $102,260 | $49.16 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for transportation security screeners in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $70,570 a year, or $33.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation security screeners make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of transportation security screeners in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $77,420 a year. The top 25% earn $75,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation security screeners in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,070 a year, and a quarter of transportation security screeners earn $68,310 or less.
How many transportation security screeners work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,780 transportation security screeners are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.