Transportation Security Screener Salary
Transportation Security Screeners earn a median $66,770 a year nationally. Protective Service Occupations
U.S. median
$66,770
$32.10 per hour
Range
$44,700 – $78,350
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
50,290
across the U.S.
Transportation Security Screener take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$55,803
per year · effective tax rate 16.4%
$4,650Monthly
$2,325Twice a month
$2,146Every 2 weeks
$26.83Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,859
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,140
- Medicare (1.45%)$968
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$55,803
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,700 | $21.49 | $38,096 |
| 25th percentile | $57,050 | $27.43 | $48,020 |
| Median (50th) | $66,770 | $32.10 | $55,803 |
| 75th percentile | $72,820 | $35.01 | $60,059 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,350 | $37.67 | $63,949 |
Best cities for transportation security screeners (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $68,640 | $57,118 | $55,406 | 1,690 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $69,640 | $55,113 | $54,949 | 680 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $76,130 | $58,801 | $54,312 | 1,250 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $72,240 | $56,583 | $54,153 | 550 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $64,500 | $54,006 | $53,890 | 1,200 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $62,820 | $52,656 | $53,694 | 460 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $71,530 | $56,712 | $53,613 | 990 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $73,610 | $56,981 | $53,532 | 500 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $64,540 | $51,971 | $53,387 | 560 |
| 10 | Nashville, TN | $61,110 | $51,282 | $53,231 | 460 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $70,570 | $55,128 | $53,215 | 1,780 |
| 12 | St. Louis, MO | $62,650 | $50,512 | $53,121 | 490 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $66,770 | $52,960 | $52,929 | 1,570 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $67,330 | $54,130 | $52,782 | 930 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $63,130 | $52,905 | $52,438 | 830 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $68,830 | $54,095 | $51,606 | 650 |
| 17 | Orlando, FL | $61,530 | $51,619 | $50,898 | 1,490 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,920 | $52,150 | $50,477 | 1,140 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $69,910 | $54,914 | $50,434 | 1,360 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $73,610 | $56,981 | $50,174 | 2,670 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $72,130 | $56,078 | $50,120 | 690 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $72,340 | $56,412 | $50,116 | 4,610 |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $65,080 | $54,472 | $47,717 | 3,250 |
| 24 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $65,920 | $51,667 | $46,563 | 610 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Boston, MA — $76,130
- Riverside, CA — $73,610
- Los Angeles, CA — $73,610
- New York, NY — $72,340
- Baltimore, MD — $72,240
- San Diego, CA — $72,130
- Denver, CO — $71,530
- Chicago, IL — $70,570
- Washington, DC — $69,910
- Detroit, MI — $69,640
- Minneapolis, MN — $68,830
- Dallas, TX — $68,640
- Philadelphia, PA — $67,330
- Atlanta, GA — $66,770
- Urban Honolulu, HI — $65,920
Transportation Security Screener salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $76,130 | $62,387 | $69,200 – $87,650 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $74,400 | $58,608 | $58,860 – $81,600 | 1,200 |
| California | $73,610 | $56,981 | $46,070 – $81,470 | 5,410 |
| Massachusetts | $73,510 | $57,089 | $62,030 – $83,740 | 1,380 |
| Maryland | $72,240 | $56,583 | $57,160 – $79,230 | 570 |
| New York | $72,010 | $56,197 | $42,630 – $79,210 | 4,240 |
| Colorado | $71,530 | $56,712 | $58,530 – $78,690 | 1,250 |
| Rhode Island | $71,510 | $57,073 | $45,680 – $78,440 | 160 |
| Alaska | $71,390 | $59,053 | $54,180 – $87,510 | 440 |
| Illinois | $70,570 | $55,128 | $45,070 – $75,190 | 1,970 |
| Hawaii | $70,160 | $54,386 | $57,180 – $77,190 | 1,010 |
| Virginia | $69,910 | $54,806 | $46,130 – $76,900 | 1,870 |
| Texas | $68,640 | $57,118 | $46,510 – $77,520 | 4,300 |
| Michigan | $67,390 | $53,626 | $44,470 – $74,130 | 1,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,330 | $54,130 | $47,200 – $74,800 | 1,460 |
| Minnesota | $67,290 | $53,116 | $52,250 – $77,670 | 740 |
| Georgia | $66,770 | $52,960 | $42,640 – $71,070 | 1,850 |
| Ohio | $65,870 | $54,077 | $47,650 – $72,300 | 690 |
| Vermont | $65,460 | $52,917 | $53,560 – $72,010 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $64,540 | $51,971 | $44,840 – $70,780 | 1,300 |
| Nevada | $64,500 | $54,006 | $41,180 – $68,660 | 1,350 |
| Arizona | $64,330 | $52,470 | $41,080 – $72,450 | 1,380 |
| New Mexico | $63,810 | $51,618 | $42,560 – $67,930 | 200 |
| Alabama | $63,770 | $50,496 | $49,940 – $72,110 | 260 |
| Florida | $63,130 | $52,905 | $42,910 – $71,570 | 6,920 |
| Idaho | $63,130 | $50,667 | $45,640 – $67,200 | 250 |
| Kansas | $63,130 | $50,182 | $49,940 – $69,240 | 120 |
| Kentucky | $63,130 | $50,813 | $47,530 – $70,010 | 510 |
| Louisiana | $63,130 | $51,397 | $45,640 – $71,280 | 460 |
| Maine | $63,130 | $49,825 | $49,690 – $76,130 | 160 |
| Mississippi | $63,130 | $51,112 | $49,940 – $69,240 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $63,130 | $50,274 | $42,100 – $69,240 | 480 |
| West Virginia | $63,130 | $50,797 | $54,950 – $71,280 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $63,130 | $50,908 | $30,100 – $70,280 | 540 |
| Nebraska | $61,710 | $49,836 | $46,090 – $67,890 | 290 |
| Indiana | $61,670 | $49,942 | $40,710 – $67,830 | 460 |
| Iowa | $61,590 | $49,979 | $45,640 – $69,240 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $61,110 | $49,111 | $45,640 – $69,240 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $61,110 | $51,282 | $47,920 – $69,240 | 840 |
| Utah | $61,110 | $49,498 | $50,210 – $71,280 | 510 |
| Wyoming | $61,110 | $51,282 | $45,640 – $73,880 | 90 |
| South Dakota | $55,530 | $46,798 | $45,640 – $69,240 | 60 |
| North Dakota | $54,950 | $46,332 | $47,920 – $69,240 | 170 |
| Montana | $54,770 | $44,370 | $40,090 – $69,450 | 330 |
| Missouri | $51,210 | $41,858 | $40,850 – $68,910 | 930 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation security screener make?
The national median salary for transportation security screeners is $66,770 a year ($32.10 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $44,700 and the top 10% earn over $78,350. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays transportation security screeners the most?
New Hampshire has the highest median pay at $76,130. After taxes and local prices, Dallas, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many transportation security screeners are there in the U.S.?
About 50,290 people work as transportation security screeners nationwide.