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Transportation Security Screeners in California

Want to work as a Transportation Security Screeners in California? Here’s what you need to know. Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. May operate basic security equipment such as x-ray machines and hand wands at screening checkpoints.

What do Transportation Security Screeners Make in California?

The transportation security screeners working in California, the typical annual salary is $69,720 per year (or about $33.52/hour).Pay can range from $46,880 at the 10th percentile to $79,600 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$46,880	$22.54
25th percentile	$56,990	$27.40
Median (50th)	$69,720	$33.52
75th percentile	$74,630	$35.88
90th percentile	$79,600	$38.27

The job concentration index in California nationwide is 0.93.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, transportation security screeners earn a median of $46,387 per year ($22.30/hour), exceeding the California median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 403,967 transportation security screeners nationwide. In California alone, approximately 5,060 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 500 transportation security screeners.

Top California Metros for Transportation Security Screeners

These are the California metros with the most transportation security screeners in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	2,560	$69,720
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	660	$68,290
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	430	$69,720
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	350	$66,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	320	$74,630
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	300	$74,630
Fresno, CA	100	$60,130
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	70	$56,990
Salinas, CA	40	$74,630
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	40	$69,720

Top States for Transportation Security Screeners Employment

These states have the highest employment of transportation security screeners work.

State	Number Employed
Florida	5,890
California	5,060
Texas	4,180
New York	3,220
Illinois	1,850
Georgia	1,740
Virginia	1,700
Arizona	1,460
New Jersey	1,440
Pennsylvania	1,420
Massachusetts	1,310
Nevada	1,290
North Carolina	1,250
Washington	1,160
Colorado	1,150
Hawaii	990
Michigan	950
Tennessee	790
Ohio	680
Minnesota	680

Highest-Paying States for Transportation Security Screeners

These states pay the most for transportation security screeners.

State	Annual Median Salary
New Hampshire	$72,240
New Jersey	$70,430
New York	$70,430
California	$69,720
Maryland	$68,390
Alaska	$67,720
Rhode Island	$67,720
Illinois	$66,930
Hawaii	$66,680
Michigan	$66,120

Skills

The most important transportation security screeners skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for transportation security screeners, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, transportation security screeners typically:

• Inspect carry-on items, using x-ray viewing equipment, to determine whether items contain objects that warrant further investigation.
• Search carry-on or checked baggage by hand when it is suspected to contain prohibited items such as weapons.
• Check passengers' tickets to ensure that they are valid, and to determine whether passengers have designations that require special handling, such as providing photo identification.
• Test baggage for any explosive materials, using equipment such as explosive detection machines or chemical swab systems.
• Perform pat-down or hand-held wand searches of passengers who have triggered machine alarms, who are unable to pass through metal detectors, or who have been randomly identified for such searches.
• Notify supervisors or other appropriate personnel when security breaches occur.
• Send checked baggage through automated screening machines, and set bags aside for searching or rescreening as indicated by equipment.
• Decide whether baggage that triggers alarms should be searched or should be allowed to pass through.
• Follow those who breach security until police or other security personnel arrive to apprehend them.
• Inform other screeners when baggage should not be opened because it might contain explosives.
• Inspect checked baggage for signs of tampering.
• Ask passengers to remove shoes and divest themselves of metal objects prior to walking through metal detectors.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Training and Teaching Others
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Linux

Related Careers

Other careers like transportation security screeners include:

• Security Managers
• Compliance Officers
• Security Management Specialists
• First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers
• Parking Enforcement Workers
• Customs and Border Protection Officers

Also Known As

Airline Security Representative, Airport Baggage Screener, Airport Screener, Airport Security Screener, Bag Checker, Baggage Inspector, Baggage Screener, Baggage Security Checker, Biometric Screener, Flight Security Specialist, Notification Specialist, Passenger Screener, Screener, Security Inspector, Security Officer.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 33-9093.00