Transportation Security Screeners Salary
In Maryland, transportation security screeners earn $72,240 at the median, or about $34.73 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $73,147 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 38.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Maryland?
About transportation security screeners
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What this looks like in Maryland
Transportation security screeners pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,795/month, which is 38.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level transportation security screeners (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Security Screeners salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $72K | +0% | 550 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation security screeners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation security screener afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 38.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation security screeners typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,430/month. At HUD’s $1,795/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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for transportation security screeners?
Maryland pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation security screeners make in Maryland?
The median is $72,240 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,160, and experienced transportation security screeners can clear $79,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,662/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 38.5% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $73,147 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.