Transportation Security Screeners Salary
In Wisconsin, transportation security screeners earn $63,130 at the median, or about $30.35 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $66,925 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,202/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Wisconsin?
About transportation security screeners
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Transportation security screeners pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $67K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (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, Wisconsin
Entry-level transportation security screeners (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Security Screeners salary by metro in Wisconsin
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $64K | +1% | 250 |
| Appleton | $63K | +0% | 50 |
| Green Bay | $61K | -3% | 60 |
| Madison | $50K | -21% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track transportation security screeners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a transportation security screener afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for transportation security screeners in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new transportation security screeners typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,806/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 67% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $67K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for transportation security screeners?
Wisconsin pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $67K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do transportation security screeners make in Wisconsin?
The median is $63,130 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,100, and experienced transportation security screeners can clear $70,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,205/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 28.6% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $66,925 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.