How much does a Transportation Security Screener make?
A Transportation Security Screener earns a median annual salary of $66,770 in the United States, which works out to roughly $32.10 per hour for full-time work. Most Transportation Security Screeners earn between $44,700 at the entry level and $78,350 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $57,050 and $72,820 a year.
That is $5,380 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Transportation Security Screener salary range by percentile
Half of all Transportation Security Screeners earn between $57,050 and $72,820 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,700 | $21.49 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $57,050 | $27.43 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $66,770 | $32.10 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $72,820 | $35.01 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,350 | $37.67 |
Highest-paying states for Transportation Security Screener
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Hampshire leads the country for Transportation Security Screener pay at $76,130 a year, followed by New Jersey ($74,400) and California ($73,610). At the other end, Missouri posts the lowest median at $51,210 — a gap of $24,920 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $76,130 | $36.60 | +14% |
| 2 | New Jersey | $74,400 | $35.77 | +11% |
| 3 | California | $73,610 | $35.39 | +10% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $73,510 | $35.34 | +10% |
| 5 | Maryland | $72,240 | $34.73 | +8% |
Transportation Security Screener salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 45 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 50,000 people work as Transportation Security Screeners in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $64,310 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Transportation Security Screener make in the United States?
How does Transportation Security Screener pay compare to other jobs?
Which state pays Transportation Security Screeners the most?
How long does it take to become a Transportation Security Screener?
How many Transportation Security Screeners work in the United States?
Related salaries
Other protective service roles with similar pay.