How to become a transportation security screener

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.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What transportation security screeners do

• 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.

Skills that matter most

• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Is transportation security screener a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 31% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• New Hampshire $76,130
• New Jersey $74,400
• California $73,610
• Massachusetts $73,510
• Maryland $72,240

Transportation Security Screeners salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.