Transportation Security Screeners Salary
In Illinois, transportation security screeners earn $70,570 at the median, or about $33.93 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $75,194 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Illinois?
About transportation security screeners
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What this looks like in Illinois
Transportation security screeners pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $71K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level transportation security screeners (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Security Screeners salary by metro in Illinois
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $71K | +0% | 1,780 |
| Peoria | $65K | -8% | 30 |
| Bloomington | $61K | -13% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation security screeners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation security screener afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 31% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation security screeners in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation security screeners typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,704/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is transportation security screener a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $71K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for transportation security screeners?
Illinois pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation security screeners make in Illinois?
The median is $70,570 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,070, and experienced transportation security screeners can clear $75,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,545/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 31% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a transportation security screeners salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median transportation security screeners salary is worth about $75,194 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do transportation security screeners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.