Important Facts About This Occupation
| On-the-Job Training | All new employees must complete 120+ hours classroom and on-the-job training |
| Required Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Median Salary (2021) | $71,650 (for compliance officers) |
| Job Outlook (2021-2031) | 4% (for compliance officers) |
| Professional Certification | All TSA agents must complete an annual certification process |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Airport Security Jobs in Operations
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, PayScale.com listed the median annual salary for employees working for TSA in various positions:
- Transportation security officer: $40,958
- Security officer: $45,418
- Airline security screener: $40,823
Management and Administrative Airport Security Jobs
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 PayScale.com.
