Transportation Security Screeners Salary
In New Mexico, transportation security screeners earn $63,810 at the median, or about $30.68 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $68,569 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 26.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in New Mexico?
About transportation security screeners
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Transportation security screeners pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,119/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level transportation security screeners (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Security Screeners salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $64K | +0% | 170 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation security screener afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 26.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation security screeners in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation security screeners typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,554/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for transportation security screeners?
New Mexico pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation security screeners make in New Mexico?
The median is $63,810 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,560, and experienced transportation security screeners can clear $67,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,262/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 26.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a transportation security screeners salary go in New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $68,569 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.