Occupation · SOC 33-9093
Transportation Security Screeners
Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations. May operate basic security equipment such as x-ray machines and hand wands at screening checkpoints.
Median wage
$63,360
$45,010–$75,940
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
46,340
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
0 mapped
Core skills
MonitoringSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationCritical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Human resources softwareElectronic mail softwareOperating system softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Inspect carry-on items, using x-ray viewing equipment, to determine whether items contain objects that warrant further investigation.Search carry-on or checked baggage by hand when it is suspected to contain prohibited items such as weapons.Check passengers' tickets to ensure that they are valid, and to determine whether passengers have designations that require special handling, such as providing photo identification.Test baggage for any explosive materials, using equipment such as explosive detection machines or chemical swab systems.Perform pat-down or hand-held wand searches of passengers who have triggered machine alarms, who are unable to pass through metal detectors, or who have been randomly identified for such searches.Notify supervisors or other appropriate personnel when security breaches occur.Send checked baggage through automated screening machines, and set bags aside for searching or rescreening as indicated by equipment.Decide whether baggage that triggers alarms should be searched or should be allowed to pass through.Follow those who breach security until police or other security personnel arrive to apprehend them.Inform other screeners when baggage should not be opened because it might contain explosives.Inspect checked baggage for signs of tampering.Ask passengers to remove shoes and divest themselves of metal objects prior to walking through metal detectors.Close entry areas following security breaches or reopen areas after receiving notification that the airport is secure.Challenge suspicious people, requesting their badges and asking what their business is in a particular areas.Patrol work areas to detect any suspicious items.Contact police directly in cases of urgent security issues, using phones or two-way radios.Record information about any baggage that sets off alarms in monitoring equipment.Watch for potentially dangerous persons whose pictures are posted at checkpoints.Contact leads or supervisors to discuss objects of concern that are not on prohibited object lists.Confiscate dangerous items and hazardous materials found in opened bags and turn them over to airlines for disposal.Monitor passenger flow through screening checkpoints to ensure order and efficiency.Inform passengers of how to mail prohibited items to themselves, or confiscate these items.Provide directions and respond to passenger inquiries.Direct passengers to areas where they can pick up their baggage after screening is complete.View images of checked bags and cargo, using remote screening equipment, and alert baggage screeners or handlers to any possible problems.Locate suspicious bags pictured in printouts sent from remote monitoring areas, and set these bags aside for inspection.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
X-ray viewing equipment — operate under direct supervision to inspect carry-on items for objects warranting further investigation at a checkpoint lane.Passenger tickets and travel documents — verify validity and identify special-handling designations under close guidance at a screening station.Explosive detection machines and chemical swab systems — apply standardized test procedures to checked baggage under supervisor direction in a screening area.Automated baggage screening machines — send checked bags through and set aside flagged items as indicated by equipment under direct oversight.Hand-held wand searches — conduct on passengers who have triggered metal detector alarms following step-by-step protocols learned in initial training.Security breach procedures — recognize and immediately notify a supervisor when an anomaly or potential breach is observed at the checkpoint.Prohibited item recognition — identify basic categories of restricted objects on x-ray displays by following agency reference guides and training materials.Passenger communication — deliver clear, polite screening instructions to travelers using practiced scripted language at the checkpoint entry.Baggage hand-search procedures — assist a senior screener in physically searching carry-on bags suspected of containing prohibited items.Checkpoint monitoring duties — maintain attentive observation of the screening lane for short periods under supervisor oversight, applying attention-to-detail habits learned in training.
developing
X-ray image interpretation — analyze carry-on item scans with reduced oversight to distinguish benign objects from those warranting secondary screening at a busy checkpoint.Hand searches of carry-on and checked baggage — conduct thorough physical inspections independently when prohibited items are suspected, following established TSA protocols.Passenger document verification — routinely check tickets, boarding passes, and photo identification to validate credentials and flag anomalies without constant supervisor input.Explosive trace detection equipment — operate swab systems and automated detection machines on checked baggage, interpret results, and escalate positives in a timely manner.Pat-down search procedures — perform full pat-down searches on passengers who cannot pass through or have triggered alarms, applying correct technique and maintaining passenger dignity.Alarm adjudication decisions — evaluate whether bags or individuals triggering alarms should proceed, receive additional screening, or be held, applying agency decision criteria.Passenger de-escalation — use active listening and calm verbal communication to manage frustrated or anxious travelers while maintaining checkpoint flow.Coordination with checkpoint team — synchronize lane duties with fellow screeners and lane supervisors to maintain efficient throughput during moderate passenger volume.Computer-based training modules — complete recurrent certification exercises using training software to maintain proficiency on evolving threat recognition standards.Incident documentation — record security events and equipment anomalies accurately using electronic mail or office suite software for supervisor review.
proficient
Complex x-ray image analysis — independently identify ambiguous or deliberately concealed prohibited items across a full shift under varying passenger-volume conditions.Multi-method passenger screening — autonomously select and apply the appropriate combination of metal detection, wand search, or pat-down based on alarm type and passenger circumstance.Checked baggage screening workflow — manage the full automated baggage screening process end-to-end, including rescreening decisions and chain-of-custody documentation, without supervisory prompting.Threat credibility assessment — apply deductive and inductive reasoning to determine whether a triggered alarm represents a genuine security risk, escalating or clearing based on evidence.Non-routine security breach response — lead immediate containment actions when a breach occurs, coordinating with law enforcement and supervisors until the situation is resolved.Special-needs passenger handling — adapt screening procedures sensitively and in compliance with regulations for passengers with medical devices, disabilities, or VIP designations.Checkpoint performance monitoring — observe lane operations across an entire shift, identifying inefficiencies or compliance gaps and making real-time adjustments to restore standard protocol.Peer mentoring on equipment use — guide newer screeners through correct operation of explosive detection machines and x-ray equipment during live checkpoint operations.Regulatory knowledge application — interpret and apply current TSA directives and security advisories to daily screening decisions without requiring supervisor clarification.Passenger persuasion and compliance — use evidence-based communication techniques to gain voluntary cooperation from resistant travelers while upholding security requirements.
advanced
Checkpoint security strategy — develop and implement lane assignment plans, staffing rotations, and contingency protocols to sustain security effectiveness across a high-volume terminal.Screener performance development — design and deliver on-the-job coaching sessions and scenario-based drills that build x-ray interpretation and pat-down proficiency across the team.Security breach policy leadership — lead post-incident reviews, identify systemic vulnerabilities, and recommend procedural changes to regional security management.Alarm adjudication standards — establish and communicate decision criteria for ambiguous alarm situations, ensuring consistent and defensible checkpoint-wide judgment under pressure.Cross-functional coordination — liaise with airline staff, law enforcement, and airport operations leadership to align security protocols and resolve jurisdictional issues at the organizational level.Training program oversight — evaluate and update computer-based training content and recurrent certification requirements to reflect emerging threat intelligence and equipment upgrades.Workforce integrity and conduct standards — model and enforce the highest standards of attention to detail, cautiousness, and professional integrity, addressing compliance failures through formal channels.Technology adoption leadership — assess new screening technologies and software tools, pilot implementations, and lead change-management efforts to ensure seamless integration at the checkpoint.Stress and resilience culture — institute team practices and supervisory routines that build stress tolerance and self-control across screeners operating in sustained high-pressure environments.Operational reporting and analytics — synthesize checkpoint incident data and throughput metrics using spreadsheet and cloud-based software to produce executive-level briefings that inform resource and policy decisions.
Also known as
193 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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