Transportation Security Screener Salary in San Diego, CA
Transportation Security Screeners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $72,130 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,078 take-home, or $4,673 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation security screener salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,039
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,472
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,046
- California income tax$2,558
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$938
- Take-home pay$56,078
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Transportation Security Screener pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,070 | $22.15 | $37,766 | $3,147 |
| 25th percentile | $57,050 | $27.43 | $45,806 | $3,817 |
| Median (50th) | $72,130 | $34.68 | $56,078 | $4,673 |
| 75th percentile | $76,770 | $36.91 | $58,910 | $4,909 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,100 | $38.03 | $60,322 | $5,027 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,130 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation security screener's $56,078 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,120 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA 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
San Diego, CA ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $72,130 | $56,078 | $50,120 |
*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
- Riverside, CA — $73,610
- Los Angeles, CA — $73,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation security screener make in San Diego, CA?
The median transportation security screener salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $72,130 a year, or about $34.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,050 and $76,770.
What is a transportation security screener’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $72,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $56,078 a year ($4,673 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,496 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a transportation security screener?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $66,770. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,120 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #21 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation security screener afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median transportation security screener’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
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- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $124,840
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $110,400
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- Firefighter — $70,900
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- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $46,330
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- Security Guard — $38,500