Transportation Security Screeners
Protective Service
At a screening checkpoint, the work is inspecting carry-on and checked bags on x-ray screens, sending luggage through machines, and deciding whether an alarm means a search or a pass. When something looks wrong, that can mean a hand search, an explosive-detection or swab test, or a pat-down or wand check of a passenger who set off a machine or was picked at random. Tickets and photo IDs are checked for validity and for people who need special handling. Supervisors are notified when a security breach happens. It suits people who like set screening rules, close watching of images and alarms, and calm decisions with travelers nearby.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$66'770
Median Wage Market Position
$66'770
What you might do
- Scan carry-on bags on x-ray screens
- Search suspect bags by hand for weapons
- Check tickets and IDs at the checkpoint
- Test bags for explosives with swabs or machines
- Pat down or wand passengers after an alarm
- Hold machine-flagged bags for a closer look
Skills that matter
- Reading x-ray images of carry-ons
- Searching bags by hand when needed
- Checking tickets and photo identification
- Testing luggage for explosive materials
- Deciding which alarms need a search
- Explaining extra screening to passengers
AI & the future of this role
Image review and anomaly detection at checkpoints may lean more on automated scanners that highlight risks for review. Passenger interaction, secondary screening judgment, and regulated procedures still tend to keep people central, even as tools grow sharper.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details