Transportation Security Screener salary in Salinas, CA
Transportation Security Screeners in the Salinas, CA metro area earn a median of $78,940 a year ($37.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,030 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $66,770. Pay here is 7% higher than the California statewide median of $73,610. There are 0.21 transportation security screeners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $73,510, close to the median.
Pay range for transportation security screeners in Salinas, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 25th percentile | $62,440 | $30.02 |
| Median | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| 75th percentile | $84,030 | $40.40 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,030 | $40.40 |
| Average (mean) | $73,510 | $35.34 |
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 | $6,578.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,289.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,036.15 |
| Weekly | $1,518.08 |
| Hourly | $37.95 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,940 | 350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $78,940 | 320 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,610 | 2,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $73,610 | 500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $72,130 | 690 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $71,240 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,240 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $69,990 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | $63,460 | 100 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Salinas, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $37,050 | $17.81 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $34,620 | $16.64 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $109,620 | $52.70 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $118,220 | $56.84 |
| Firefighter | $81,070 | $38.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $107,830 | $51.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $153,930 | $74.00 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $105,990 | $50.96 |
| Parking Enforcement Worker | $62,850 | $30.22 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Salinas, CA
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 Salinas, CA?
The median salary for transportation security screeners in the Salinas, CA metro area is $78,940 a year, or $37.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation security screeners make in Salinas, CA?
The top 10% of transportation security screeners in the Salinas, CA metro area earn at least $84,030 a year. The top 25% earn $84,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation security screeners in Salinas, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,420 a year, and a quarter of transportation security screeners earn $62,440 or less.
How many transportation security screeners work in Salinas, CA?
About 40 transportation security screeners are employed in the Salinas, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.