TSA agents, also known as Transportation Security Officers (TSOs), earn salaries that vary based on location, experience, and pay bands within the federal system.
Typical Salary Range
- Entry-level TSA agents generally start in the pay band D, with annual salaries ranging approximately from $28,293 to $42,439, depending on locality pay adjustments
- In specific states like New Jersey, average hourly wages for TSA agents are around $25.46, with most salaries ranging between $14.80 to $32.65 per hour.
- In Philadelphia, the average hourly pay is about $26.23
- Annual salaries for Transportation Security Officers often range from about $30,000 to $70,000, with some variation by city and airport
Examples of Annual Salaries by Location
- New Jersey: Around $50,786 per year on average, with reported ranges from $21,000 to $94,000
- Various cities show salaries from roughly $41,000 to over $70,000 annually depending on the airport and experience
Additional Compensation and Benefits
- TSA agents can increase earnings through promotions to supervisory or managerial roles, which can significantly raise salaries, sometimes up to six figures for executive positions
- Overtime pay is often available, increasing total compensation
- Federal employee benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, pension plans, and 401(k) options
- TSA covers all travel and lodging expenses during training
Summary
Most TSA agents start with salaries in the $28,000 to $42,000 range annually, with hourly wages typically around $19 to $26 depending on location and experience. With time, promotions, and overtime, earnings can increase substantially, and federal benefits add significant value to the compensation package
. This makes TSA employment a stable federal job with decent pay and benefits, though some employees note that the salary may be modest relative to cost of living in some areas
