Transportation Security Screener salary in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
Transportation Security Screeners in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn a median of $74,400 a year ($35.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,210 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $66,770. Pay here is about the same as the New Jersey statewide median of $74,400. There are 0.22 transportation security screeners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $64,860, close to the median.
Pay range for transportation security screeners in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,120 | $17.37 |
| 25th percentile | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| Median | $74,400 | $35.77 |
| 75th percentile | $74,400 | $35.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,210 | $38.08 |
| Average (mean) | $64,860 | $31.18 |
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 | $6,200 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,100 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,861.54 |
| Weekly | $1,430.77 |
| Hourly | $35.77 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $79,210 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $72,340 | 4,610 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $67,330 | 930 |
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 New Jersey statewide figures.
Related jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| School Bus Monitor | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,920 | $16.31 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $44,150 | $21.23 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $61,630 | $29.63 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,160 | $33.25 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $110,750 | $53.25 |
| Firefighter | $88,090 | $42.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $132,610 | $63.76 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $72,290 | $34.76 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Trenton-Princeton, NJ
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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The median salary for transportation security screeners in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area is $74,400 a year, or $35.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation security screeners make in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
The top 10% of transportation security screeners in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area earn at least $79,210 a year. The top 25% earn $74,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation security screeners in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,120 a year, and a quarter of transportation security screeners earn $44,800 or less.
How many transportation security screeners work in Trenton-Princeton, NJ?
About 50 transportation security screeners are employed in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, not counting the self-employed.