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Salary comparison

Transportation Security Screeners vs. Security Guards: Who Earns More?

Transportation Security Screenerss out-earn Security Guardss by $29K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Transportation Security Screenerss land at $66,770 and Security Guardss at $38,020. The education gap is real: transportation security screener programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while security guard programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Transportation Security Screenerss is New Hampshire ($76,130); for Security Guardss it's District of Columbia ($64,210).

Transportation Security Screeners
Security Guards
Median salary
$66,770
$38,020
Hourly rate
$32.1/hr
$18.28/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$44,700
$30,210
Senior level (90th %)
$78,350
$58,840
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
50,290
1,283,470
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Public Safety
Public Safety
Top-paying state
New Hampshire
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Transportation Security Screeners median pay.

State
Transportation Security Screeners
Security Guards
New Hampshire
$76,130
$45,200
California
$73,610
$43,240
Massachusetts
$73,510
$44,670
New York
$72,010
$44,240
Colorado
$71,530
$45,150
Alaska
$71,390
$47,480
Illinois
$70,570
$39,490
Hawaii
$70,160
$42,820
Virginia
$69,910
$43,640
Minnesota
$67,290
$43,380
Vermont
$65,460
$45,550
New Mexico
$63,810
$43,320
Nebraska
$61,710
$39,840
Utah
$61,110
$42,700
Missouri
$51,210
$40,390

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Transportation Security Screenerss or Security Guardss?

Transportation Security Screenerss earn more nationally. The median is $66,770 for Transportation Security Screenerss versus $38,020 for Security Guardss, a difference of $29K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Transportation Security Screeners or Security Guards?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Transportation Security Screeners or Security Guards?

Transportation Security Screeners typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Security Guards requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Transportation Security Screenerss get paid the most?

New Hampshire is the top-paying state for Transportation Security Screenerss at $76,130/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Transportation Security Screeners vs. Security Guards pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New Hampshire, Transportation Security Screenerss earn $76,130 vs. $45,200 for Security Guardss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Transportation Security Screeners salary breakdownView →Full Security Guards salary breakdownView →Best cities for Transportation Security Screenerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Security Guardss by take-home payExplore →How to become a transportation security screenersGuide →How to become a security guardsGuide →