What Does it Take to Be a Transportation Security Screener?
Transportation Security Screener Example 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 Do On a Daily Basis?
- Direct passengers to areas where they can pick up their baggage after screening is complete.
- Inform passengers of how to mail prohibited items to themselves, or confiscate these items.
- Challenge suspicious people, requesting their badges and asking what their business is in a particular areas.
- Ask passengers to remove shoes and divest themselves of metal objects prior to walking through metal detectors.
- 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.
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Things a Transportation Security Screener Should Know How to Do
Transportation Security Screeners state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Types of Transportation Security Screener
- Transportation Security Screener
- Baggage Screener
- Airline Security Representative
- Security Screener
- Airport Baggage Screener
Job Demand for Transportation Security Screeners
In the United States, there were 46,100 jobs for Transportation Security Screener in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.6% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,200 new jobs for Transportation Security Screener by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Transportation Security Screener are Nevada, Utah, and Nebraska. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Jersey, or West Virginia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Transportation Security Screeners Salary
The average yearly salary of a Transportation Security Screener ranges between $34,650 and $49,200.

Transportation Security Screeners who work in District of Columbia, Alaska, or North Dakota, make the highest salaries.
How much do Transportation Security Screeners make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $39,850 |
Alaska | $49,440 |
Arizona | $40,880 |
Arkansas | $39,280 |
Connecticut | $44,560 |
District of Columbia | $99,160 |
Florida | $40,550 |
Georgia | $40,760 |
Hawaii | $41,430 |
Idaho | $39,380 |
Illinois | $42,290 |
Indiana | $38,570 |
Iowa | $39,560 |
Kansas | $38,990 |
Kentucky | $39,580 |
Louisiana | $38,630 |
Maine | $40,940 |
Maryland | $42,560 |
Massachusetts | $43,920 |
Michigan | $41,580 |
Mississippi | $38,270 |
Missouri | $38,930 |
Montana | $39,830 |
Nebraska | $38,700 |
Nevada | $38,980 |
New Hampshire | $42,980 |
New Jersey | $44,370 |
New Mexico | $37,970 |
New York | $41,600 |
North Carolina | $39,350 |
North Dakota | $45,970 |
Ohio | $40,780 |
Oklahoma | $38,910 |
Rhode Island | $42,830 |
South Carolina | $36,740 |
South Dakota | $38,810 |
Tennessee | $39,550 |
Texas | $42,160 |
Utah | $38,380 |
Vermont | $42,200 |
Virginia | $40,960 |
Washington | $42,940 |
West Virginia | $41,000 |
Wisconsin | $39,970 |
Wyoming | $41,190 |
What Tools do Transportation Security Screeners Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Transportation Security Screeners may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Linux
- Oracle Taleo
How to Become a Transportation Security Screener
Are there Transportation Security Screeners education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Transportation Security Screener?

Where Transportation Security Screeners Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Transportation Security Screeners work:

Similar Careers
Those who work as a Transportation Security Screener sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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