Airport security personnel protect air travelers from crime, and their income varies based on the type of work that they perform. This article explores various airport security jobs and their pay ranges. Read on for further information.
Types of Airport Security Jobs
You can choose from several types of jobs in the field of airport security. Pay rates aren't part of the standard classification grades found in other federal service jobs. Airport security jobs fall into two general classifications: operations and administration. Your salary will be determined by what pay range (which the Transportation Security Administration refers to as a pay band) the job falls into.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> On-the-Job Training </td><td> All new employees must complete 120+ hours classroom and on-the-job training</td></tr>
<tr><td> Required Education </td><td> High school diploma or equivalent</td></tr>
<tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $71,650 (<i>for compliance officers</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 4% (<i>for compliance officers</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td> Professional Certification </td><td> All TSA agents must complete an annual certification process</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---AirportSecurityJobsInOperations">Airport Security Jobs in Operations</h3><p>Your salary in operational positions in airline security will vary based on experience, performance, and rank within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Airport security jobs in operations involve screening cargo for dangerous goods and scheduling screening activities. For some positions, you'll need to undergo additional training. As such, your added responsibilities are generally compensated accordingly. In 2021, <i>PayScale.com</i> listed the median annual salary for employees working for TSA in various positions:
</p><ul><li>Transportation security officer: $40,958
</li><li>Security officer: $45,418
</li><li>Airline security screener: $40,823
</li></ul><h3 id="section---ManagementAndAdministrativeAirportSecurityJobs">Management and Administrative Airport Security Jobs</h3><p>Administrative positions such as federal security director, customer support manager, financial specialist, and stakeholder liaison also are compensated under the SV grading system. Financial specialists help coordinate the budget for TSA operations in airports. Salary data for these positions within TSA was not available. However, most financial specialists, in general, earned a median wage of $51,046 annually as of February 2023, per <i>PayScale.com.</i></p>
