Transportation Security Screener Salary in Boston, MA
Transportation Security Screeners in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $76,130 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,801 take-home, or $4,900 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation security screener salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,919
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,720
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,104
- Massachusetts income tax$3,587
- Take-home pay$58,801
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Transportation Security Screener pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,030 | $29.82 | $49,140 | $4,095 |
| 25th percentile | $62,030 | $29.82 | $49,140 | $4,095 |
| Median (50th) | $76,130 | $36.60 | $58,801 | $4,900 |
| 75th percentile | $78,670 | $37.82 | $60,461 | $5,038 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,740 | $40.26 | $63,774 | $5,315 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,130 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation security screener's $58,801 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,312 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.4× the national concentration of transportation security screener jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for transportation security screeners, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $68,640 | $57,118 | $55,406 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $69,640 | $55,113 | $54,949 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $76,130 | $58,801 | $54,312 |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | $72,240 | $56,583 | $54,153 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $64,500 | $54,006 | $53,890 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $62,820 | $52,656 | $53,694 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $71,530 | $56,712 | $53,613 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $73,610 | $56,981 | $53,532 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation security screener make in Boston, MA?
The median transportation security screener salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $76,130 a year, or about $36.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,030 and $78,670.
What is a transportation security screener’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $76,130 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $58,801 a year ($4,900 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,587 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a transportation security screener?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $66,770. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,312 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation security screener afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median transportation security screener’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
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- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $108,190
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $96,740
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $89,060
- Bailiff — $79,570
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,180
- Firefighter — $73,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $57,890
- Security Guard — $44,990
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- School Bus Monitor — $38,470
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