California Median
$73,610
per year
Hourly Rate
$35.39
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+10% vs US median
US median $66,770
State Rank
#3 of 45
5,410 employed here
How much does a Transportation Security Screener make in California?
A Transportation Security Screener working in California earns a median salary of $73,610 per year, or about $35.39 per hour. That is 10% above the national median of $66,770 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $46,070 while the top 10% make $81,470 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,240 and $78,350 a year.
Transportation Security Screener salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,070 | $22.15 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $58,240 | $28.00 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $73,610 | $35.39 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $78,350 | $37.67 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,470 | $39.17 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 45 states and territories for Transportation Security Screener pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Transportation Security Screener salary in other states
New Hampshire $76,130New Jersey $74,400Massachusetts $73,510Maryland $72,240New York $72,010Colorado $71,530Rhode Island $71,510Alaska $71,390Illinois $70,570Hawaii $70,160Virginia $69,910Texas $68,640Michigan $67,390Pennsylvania $67,330Minnesota $67,290Georgia $66,770Ohio $65,870Vermont $65,460North Carolina $64,540Nevada $64,500Arizona $64,330New Mexico $63,810Alabama $63,770Florida $63,130Idaho $63,130Kansas $63,130Kentucky $63,130Louisiana $63,130Maine $63,130Mississippi $63,130South Carolina $63,130West Virginia $63,130Wisconsin $63,130Nebraska $61,710Indiana $61,670Iowa $61,590Arkansas $61,110Tennessee $61,110Utah $61,110Wyoming $61,110South Dakota $55,530North Dakota $54,950Montana $54,770Missouri $51,210
Working as a Transportation Security Screener in California
Nationally, about 50,000 people work as Transportation Security Screeners in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($73,610) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Transportation Security Screener make in California?
The median Transportation Security Screener salary in California is $73,610 per year, or about $35.39 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,070 at the entry level to $81,470 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Transportation Security Screeners about 10% more than the national median of $66,770. California ranks 3rd out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Transportation Security Screeners?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $73,610 a year. About 5,410 Transportation Security Screeners are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Transportation Security Screener salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.