Transportation Security Screener Salary in St. Louis, MO
Transportation Security Screeners in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $62,650 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,512 take-home, or $4,209 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation security screener salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,338
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,884
- Medicare (1.45%)$908
- Missouri income tax$2,007
- Take-home pay$50,512
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Transportation Security Screener pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,140 | $19.78 | $34,240 | $2,853 |
| 25th percentile | $46,800 | $22.50 | $38,522 | $3,210 |
| Median (50th) | $62,650 | $30.12 | $50,512 | $4,209 |
| 75th percentile | $66,830 | $32.13 | $53,641 | $4,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,910 | $33.13 | $55,007 | $4,584 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,650 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median transportation security screener's $50,512 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,121 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for transportation security screeners, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | St. Louis, MO | $62,650 | $50,512 | $53,121 |
*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 St. Louis, MO?
The median transportation security screener salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $62,650 a year, or about $30.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,800 and $66,830.
What is a transportation security screener’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $62,650 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $50,512 a year ($4,209 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,007 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a transportation security screener?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $66,770. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,121 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #12 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation security screener afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median transportation security screener’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
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