Transportation Security Screener Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Transportation Security Screeners in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $63,920 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,150 take-home, or $4,346 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation security screener salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,490
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,963
- Medicare (1.45%)$927
- Arizona income tax$1,389
- Take-home pay$52,150
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.50% state
Transportation Security Screener pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,130 | $24.10 | $41,415 | $3,451 |
| 25th percentile | $52,250 | $25.12 | $43,065 | $3,589 |
| Median (50th) | $63,920 | $30.73 | $52,150 | $4,346 |
| 75th percentile | $70,300 | $33.80 | $56,737 | $4,728 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,450 | $34.83 | $58,196 | $4,850 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,920 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation security screener's $52,150 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,477 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ has 1.5× 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
Phoenix, AZ ranks #18 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 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,920 | $52,150 | $50,477 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median transportation security screener salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $63,920 a year, or about $30.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,250 and $70,300.
What is a transportation security screener’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $63,920 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $52,150 a year ($4,346 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,389 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a transportation security screener?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $66,770. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,477 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #18 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation security screener afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median transportation security screener’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $114,520
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $103,010
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $98,860
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $85,050
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $77,190
- Private Detective and Investigator — $64,400
- Firefighter — $61,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $59,700
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $57,280
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $51,770
- Security Guard — $38,290
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,530