Transportation Security Screeners Salary
In Texas, transportation security screeners earn $68,640 at the median, or about $33 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $75,025 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in Texas?
About transportation security screeners
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Texas
Transportation security screeners pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,415/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level transportation security screeners (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Security Screeners salary by metro in Texas
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $69K | +0% | 1,690 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $65K | -5% | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $64K | -7% | 300 |
| Corpus Christi | $64K | -7% | 60 |
| El Paso | $63K | -8% | 140 |
| Amarillo | $63K | -8% | 40 |
| Lubbock | $63K | -8% | 50 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $63K | -8% | 60 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $63K | -8% | 460 |
| Midland | $61K | -11% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation security screeners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation security screener afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation security screeners typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,791/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for transportation security screeners?
Texas pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation security screeners make in Texas?
The median is $68,640 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,510, and experienced transportation security screeners can clear $77,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,723/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 30% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $75,025 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.