Transportation Security Screener Salary in Chicago, IL
Transportation Security Screeners in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $70,570 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,128 take-home, or $4,594 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation security screener salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,695
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,375
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,023
- Illinois income tax$3,348
- Take-home pay$55,128
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Transportation Security Screener pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,070 | $21.67 | $36,308 | $3,026 |
| 25th percentile | $68,310 | $32.84 | $53,650 | $4,471 |
| Median (50th) | $70,570 | $33.93 | $55,128 | $4,594 |
| 75th percentile | $75,130 | $36.12 | $58,110 | $4,842 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,420 | $37.22 | $59,607 | $4,967 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,570 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation security screener's $55,128 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,215 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.2× 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
Chicago, IL ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $70,570 | $55,128 | $53,215 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median transportation security screener salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $70,570 a year, or about $33.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $68,310 and $75,130.
What is a transportation security screener’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $70,570 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $55,128 a year ($4,594 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,348 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a transportation security screener?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $66,770. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,215 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation security screener afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median transportation security screener’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $126,200
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $107,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $105,450
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $102,260
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $84,550
- Firefighter — $82,820
- Private Detective and Investigator — $68,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $58,990
- Bailiff — $50,660
- Security Guard — $39,990
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $38,990