Transportation Security Screener Salary in Riverside, CA
Transportation Security Screeners in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $73,610 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,981 take-home, or $4,748 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation security screener salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,364
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,564
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,067
- California income tax$2,677
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$957
- Take-home pay$56,981
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Transportation Security Screener pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,880 | $17.25 | $30,119 | $2,510 |
| 25th percentile | $52,860 | $25.41 | $42,745 | $3,562 |
| Median (50th) | $73,610 | $35.39 | $56,981 | $4,748 |
| 75th percentile | $78,350 | $37.67 | $59,874 | $4,989 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,720 | $38.81 | $61,290 | $5,107 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,610 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation security screener's $56,981 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,532 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Transportation Security Screener jobs are about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for transportation security screeners, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #8 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 →
Transportation Security Screener salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $73,610
- San Diego, CA — $72,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation security screener make in Riverside, CA?
The median transportation security screener salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $73,610 a year, or about $35.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $52,860 and $78,350.
What is a transportation security screener’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $73,610 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,981 a year ($4,748 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,634 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a transportation security screener?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $66,770. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,532 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #8 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation security screener afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median transportation security screener’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $159,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $131,780
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $127,420
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $115,740
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $101,870
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $94,730
- Firefighter — $79,160
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $48,490
- Protective Service Workers, All Other — $43,050
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $39,160
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $37,720
- Security Guard — $37,280