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Transportation Security Screeners in Pennsylvania

Considering working as a Transportation Security Screeners in Pennsylvania? Here’s what the data says. 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 Pennsylvania?

The transportation security screeners working in Pennsylvania, the typical annual salary is $61,980 per year (or about $29.80/hour).Pay can range from $43,890 at the 10th percentile to $72,570 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$43,890	$21.10
25th percentile	$49,960	$24.02
Median (50th)	$61,980	$29.80
75th percentile	$68,180	$32.78
90th percentile	$72,570	$34.89

The job concentration index in Pennsylvania nationwide is 0.79, indicating fewer transportation security screeners per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

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

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 403,967 transportation security screeners nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, approximately 1,420 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 500 transportation security screeners.

Top Pennsylvania Metros for Transportation Security Screeners

The largest metro-area employers of transportation security screeners in Pennsylvania.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	900	$65,980
Pittsburgh, PA	270	$61,980
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	60	$72,780
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	60	$61,130
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA	40	$59,950

Top States for Transportation Security Screeners Employment

View the states that employ the most 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

The highest-paying states 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

Top transportation security screeners skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important 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

Common tasks include:

• 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

Careers similar to 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