Transportation Security Screeners
Transportation Security Screeners (SOC 33-9093) earn a median $66,770 a year ($32.10 an hour) in the United States, with 50,290 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Hampshire.
What transportation security screeners do
Transportation security screeners conduct screening of passengers, baggage or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration regulations, and the SOC says they may operate basic security equipment such as x-ray machines and hand wands at screening checkpoints. They inspect carry-on items using x-ray viewing equipment to decide whether items contain objects that warrant further investigation, and search carry-on or checked baggage by hand when it is suspected to contain prohibited items such as weapons. They check passengers' tickets to make sure they are valid and to see whether a passenger requires special handling, such as providing photo identification. They test baggage for explosive materials using explosive detection machines or chemical swab systems, and send checked baggage through automated screening machines, setting bags aside for searching or rescreening as the equipment indicates. They perform pat-down or hand-held wand searches of passengers who trigger machine alarms, and notify supervisors when security breaches occur. About 85 percent of respondents report a high school diploma or equivalent. Additional titles listed include airport screener, baggage screener and baggage security checker.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical level of education for this occupation (85 percent).
Also called: Airline Security Representative, Airport Baggage Screener, Airport Screener, Airport Security Screener, Bag Checker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.49 | $27.43 | $32.10 | $35.01 | $37.67 | $30.92 | 50,290 |
| Annual | $44,700 | $57,050 | $66,770 | $72,820 | $78,350 | $64,310 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where transportation security screeners earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $33.27 | $34.38 | $36.60 | $36.60 | $42.14 | $36.34 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $69,200 | $71,510 | $76,130 | $76,130 | $87,650 | $75,580 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $28.30 | $34.62 | $35.77 | $38.08 | $39.23 | $35.33 | 1,200 | 0.28 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $58,860 | $72,010 | $74,400 | $79,210 | $81,600 | $73,490 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.15 | $28.00 | $35.39 | $37.67 | $39.17 | $33.01 | 5,410 | 0.30 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $46,070 | $58,240 | $73,610 | $78,350 | $81,470 | $68,660 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $29.82 | $29.82 | $35.34 | $37.82 | $40.26 | $34.11 | 1,380 | 0.38 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $62,030 | $62,030 | $73,510 | $78,670 | $83,740 | $70,950 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $27.48 | $33.61 | $34.73 | $36.97 | $38.09 | $34.73 | 570 | 0.21 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $57,160 | $69,910 | $72,240 | $76,900 | $79,230 | $72,230 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.63 | $24.01 | $30.35 | $32.33 | $34.41 | $28.72 | 6,920 | 0.70 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $42,910 | $49,940 | $63,130 | $67,250 | $71,570 | $59,740 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.15 | $28.00 | $35.39 | $37.67 | $39.17 | $33.01 | 5,410 | 0.30 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $46,070 | $58,240 | $73,610 | $78,350 | $81,470 | $68,660 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.36 | $30.20 | $33.00 | $35.13 | $37.27 | $32.09 | 4,300 | 0.31 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $46,510 | $62,820 | $68,640 | $73,070 | $77,520 | $66,740 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $20.49 | $22.85 | $34.62 | $35.77 | $38.08 | $31.03 | 4,240 | 0.44 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $42,630 | $47,530 | $72,010 | $74,400 | $79,210 | $64,540 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $21.67 | $30.35 | $33.93 | $36.12 | $36.15 | $32.36 | 1,970 | 0.32 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $45,070 | $63,130 | $70,570 | $75,130 | $75,190 | $67,300 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | Hourly | $34.62 | $35.77 | $38.08 | $38.08 | $45.00 | $37.80 | 50 | 0.13 | 0.41 |
| Annual | $72,010 | $74,400 | $79,210 | $79,210 | $93,600 | $78,620 | ||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $24.24 | $30.02 | $37.95 | $40.40 | $40.40 | $35.34 | 40 | 0.21 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $50,420 | $62,440 | $78,940 | $84,030 | $84,030 | $73,510 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $20.34 | $27.43 | $37.95 | $39.17 | $40.40 | $34.73 | 350 | 0.15 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $42,320 | $57,050 | $78,940 | $81,470 | $84,030 | $72,240 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.43 | $30.02 | $37.95 | $40.40 | $41.62 | $36.54 | 320 | 0.28 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $57,050 | $62,440 | $78,940 | $84,030 | $86,570 | $76,000 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $29.82 | $29.82 | $36.60 | $37.82 | $40.26 | $34.69 | 1,250 | 0.46 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $62,030 | $62,030 | $76,130 | $78,670 | $83,740 | $72,160 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.50 | $28.30 | $34.78 | $36.93 | $38.08 | $32.60 | 4,610 | 0.49 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $42,640 | $58,860 | $72,340 | $76,810 | $79,210 | $67,810 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $20.63 | $20.65 | $31.29 | $34.41 | $35.46 | $28.86 | 3,250 | 1.15 | 3.57 |
| Annual | $42,910 | $42,950 | $65,080 | $71,570 | $73,760 | $60,040 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.60 | $34.25 | $35.39 | $37.67 | $38.81 | $33.66 | 2,670 | 0.43 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $47,010 | $71,240 | $73,610 | $78,350 | $80,720 | $70,000 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $21.67 | $32.84 | $33.93 | $36.12 | $37.22 | $32.43 | 1,780 | 0.39 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $45,070 | $68,310 | $70,570 | $75,130 | $77,420 | $67,450 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.07 | $26.11 | $33.00 | $35.13 | $35.13 | $31.16 | 1,690 | 0.42 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $43,830 | $54,310 | $68,640 | $73,070 | $73,070 | $64,810 | ||||
Top industries employing transportation security screeners
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 90.5% of transportation security screeners nationally (45,490 jobs) at a median $67,200 a year ($32.31 an hour), followed by Support Activities for Air Transportation (6.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 45,490 | 90.5% | $67,200 | $32.31 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation NAICS 488100 | 3,050 | 6.1% | $42,910 | $20.63 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (50,290). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $45,470 for transportation security screeners in May 2021 and $66,770 in May 2025, with employment of 48,320 and 50,290.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $45,470 | $21.86 | 48,320 |
| May 2022 | $47,710 | $22.94 | 47,550 |
| May 2023 | $50,020 | $24.05 | 47,950 |
| May 2024 | $63,360 | $30.46 | 46,340 |
| May 2025 | $66,770 | $32.10 | 50,290 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
45 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire profile | $36.60 | $76,130 | $69,200 | $87,650 | 80 | 0.12 | 0.38 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $35.77 | $74,400 | $58,860 | $81,600 | 1,200 | 0.28 | 0.87 |
| 3 | California profile | $35.39 | $73,610 | $46,070 | $81,470 | 5,410 | 0.30 | 0.92 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $35.34 | $73,510 | $62,030 | $83,740 | 1,380 | 0.38 | 1.18 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $34.73 | $72,240 | $57,160 | $79,230 | 570 | 0.21 | 0.64 |
| 6 | New York profile | $34.62 | $72,010 | $42,630 | $79,210 | 4,240 | 0.44 | 1.35 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $34.39 | $71,530 | $58,530 | $78,690 | 1,250 | 0.44 | 1.35 |
| 8 | Rhode Island profile | $34.38 | $71,510 | $45,680 | $78,440 | 160 | 0.31 | 0.96 |
| 9 | Alaska profile | $34.32 | $71,390 | $54,180 | $87,510 | 440 | 1.35 | 4.19 |
| 10 | Illinois profile | $33.93 | $70,570 | $45,070 | $75,190 | 1,970 | 0.32 | 1.00 |
| 11 | Hawaii profile | $33.73 | $70,160 | $57,180 | $77,190 | 1,010 | 1.60 | 4.96 |
| 12 | Virginia profile | $33.61 | $69,910 | $46,130 | $76,900 | 1,870 | 0.45 | 1.40 |
| 13 | Texas profile | $33.00 | $68,640 | $46,510 | $77,520 | 4,300 | 0.31 | 0.95 |
| 14 | Michigan profile | $32.40 | $67,390 | $44,470 | $74,130 | 1,070 | 0.24 | 0.75 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $32.37 | $67,330 | $47,200 | $74,800 | 1,460 | 0.24 | 0.74 |
| 16 | Minnesota profile | $32.35 | $67,290 | $52,250 | $77,670 | 740 | 0.25 | 0.77 |
| 17 | Georgia profile | $32.10 | $66,770 | $42,640 | $71,070 | 1,850 | 0.38 | 1.17 |
| 18 | Ohio profile | $31.67 | $65,870 | $47,650 | $72,300 | 690 | 0.12 | 0.38 |
| 19 | Vermont profile | $31.47 | $65,460 | $53,560 | $72,010 | 80 | 0.25 | 0.76 |
| 20 | North Carolina profile | $31.03 | $64,540 | $44,840 | $70,780 | 1,300 | 0.26 | 0.81 |
| 21 | Nevada profile | $31.01 | $64,500 | $41,180 | $68,660 | 1,350 | 0.87 | 2.69 |
| 22 | Arizona profile | $30.93 | $64,330 | $41,080 | $72,450 | 1,380 | 0.43 | 1.32 |
| 23 | New Mexico profile | $30.68 | $63,810 | $42,560 | $67,930 | 200 | 0.23 | 0.72 |
| 24 | Alabama profile | $30.66 | $63,770 | $49,940 | $72,110 | 260 | 0.12 | 0.38 |
| 25 | Florida profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $42,910 | $71,570 | 6,920 | 0.70 | 2.16 |
| 26 | Idaho profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $45,640 | $67,200 | 250 | 0.29 | 0.89 |
| 27 | Kansas profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $49,940 | $69,240 | 120 | 0.09 | 0.27 |
| 28 | Kentucky profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $47,530 | $70,010 | 510 | 0.26 | 0.79 |
| 29 | Louisiana profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $45,640 | $71,280 | 460 | 0.24 | 0.74 |
| 30 | Maine profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $49,690 | $76,130 | 160 | 0.25 | 0.76 |
| 31 | Mississippi profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $49,940 | $69,240 | 170 | 0.14 | 0.45 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $42,100 | $69,240 | 480 | 0.21 | 0.65 |
| 33 | West Virginia profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $54,950 | $71,280 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.41 |
| 34 | Wisconsin profile | $30.35 | $63,130 | $30,100 | $70,280 | 540 | 0.18 | 0.56 |
| 35 | Nebraska profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $46,090 | $67,890 | 290 | 0.28 | 0.87 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $29.65 | $61,670 | $40,710 | $67,830 | 460 | 0.14 | 0.44 |
| 37 | Iowa profile | $29.61 | $61,590 | $45,640 | $69,240 | 220 | 0.14 | 0.43 |
| 38 | Arkansas profile | $29.38 | $61,110 | $45,640 | $69,240 | 190 | 0.14 | 0.44 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $29.38 | $61,110 | $47,920 | $69,240 | 840 | 0.26 | 0.79 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $29.38 | $61,110 | $50,210 | $71,280 | 510 | 0.29 | 0.90 |
| 41 | Wyoming profile | $29.38 | $61,110 | $45,640 | $73,880 | 90 | 0.33 | 1.02 |
| 42 | South Dakota profile | $26.70 | $55,530 | $45,640 | $69,240 | 60 | 0.13 | 0.41 |
| 43 | North Dakota profile | $26.42 | $54,950 | $47,920 | $69,240 | 170 | 0.40 | 1.23 |
| 44 | Montana profile | $26.33 | $54,770 | $40,090 | $69,450 | 330 | 0.64 | 1.99 |
| 45 | Missouri profile | $24.62 | $51,210 | $40,850 | $68,910 | 930 | 0.32 | 0.98 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (33-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Protective Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 33-9093 Transportation Security Screeners.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 33-9093, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 33-9093.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.