Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Transportation security screeners focus on protecting people and facilities by inspecting individuals and belongings, with a strong emphasis on safety, rules, and procedures. National employment is about 50,000, indicating a fairly specialized field. The role typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to candidates who may be earlier in their careers or changing fields. Key skills center on being detail oriented, providing customer service, and using strong speaking and listening abilities in often busy environments. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and mechanical abilities support the hands-on aspects of the work, while interpersonal and leadership skills help in working with the public and teams. With a national median annual salary of $63,360, this occupation can offer stable earnings for those who are adaptable and able to follow procedures carefully. It can appeal to people who value structured work, safety-focused environments, and frequent interaction with the public.
Transportation security screeners earn a national median annual salary of $63,360, with some locations offering notably higher pay. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York show median salaries ranging from $72,010 to $73,610, indicating stronger earning potential in those areas. Colorado and Virginia also offer median pay above $69,000. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, report median salaries of $78,940, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, is close behind at $76,130. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, metros also provide median salaries above $69,000. Overall, geographic choice can significantly influence earnings, with certain coastal and major metropolitan areas offering the highest median pay for this career.
Transportation security screeners have national employment of about 50,000, with projected employment growth of -6.0%. This indicates that overall job numbers are expected to decline over the projection period. However, there are still an estimated 5,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect the need to replace workers who leave the occupation or retire, even as total employment declines. The consistent -6.0% growth figure across the highlighted states and metro areas shows that the projected contraction is broad-based rather than concentrated in a single region. For job seekers, this means that opportunities may be more competitive, and location choices and timing can matter. Individuals considering this career should pay attention to where employment levels are higher and where opportunity scores are stronger, as these areas may offer a more active job market despite the overall negative growth projection.
Location plays a major role in opportunities for transportation security screeners. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, and New York stand out with higher median salaries around or above $72,000 and relatively strong CareerGPS opportunity scores from about 65.78 to 67.38. California has the largest employment among the top states at 5,410, followed by New York at 4,240, indicating more positions overall. Colorado and Virginia also appear among the top states, with median salaries between $69,910 and $71,530 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s, offering additional regional options. Metro data shows even more variation. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, both have very high opportunity scores above 77, with San Jose also providing one of the highest median salaries at $78,940. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, combine high salaries with solid scores, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, offers a large employment base and a strong opportunity score.
Transportation security screeners typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent, which keeps formal education requirements relatively accessible. Because advanced degrees are not listed as typical requirements, the focus shifts to skill development. Being detail oriented is central, as the work involves careful observation and adherence to procedures. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and speaking and listening abilities support frequent interaction with the public and coordination with coworkers. Physical strength and stamina, as well as fine motor skills, are important for the more physically demanding and precise aspects of the role. Mechanical skills can support the use of equipment, while writing and reading skills help with documentation and understanding rules or instructions. Adaptability and leadership round out the profile, helping screeners respond to changing conditions and, for some, take on responsibilities guiding others or managing situations effectively.
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