Transportation Security Screener salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Transportation Security Screeners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $72,130 a year ($34.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 690 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,100 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $66,770. Pay here is 2% lower than the California statewide median of $73,610. There are 0.45 transportation security screeners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $67,860, close to the median.
Pay range for transportation security screeners in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,070 | $22.15 |
| 25th percentile | $57,050 | $27.43 |
| Median | $72,130 | $34.68 |
| 75th percentile | $76,770 | $36.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,100 | $38.03 |
| Average (mean) | $67,860 | $32.62 |
Half of transportation security screeners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,010.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,005.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,774.23 |
| Weekly | $1,387.12 |
| Hourly | $34.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $72,130 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Transportation Security Screener salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | $78,940 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,940 | 350 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $78,940 | 320 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $73,610 | 2,670 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $73,610 | 500 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $71,240 | 50 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $71,240 | 70 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $69,990 | 370 |
| Fresno, CA | $63,460 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for transportation security screeners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $76,130 |
| New Jersey | $74,400 |
| California | $73,610 |
| Massachusetts | $73,510 |
| Maryland | $72,240 |
| New York | $72,010 |
| Colorado | $71,530 |
| Rhode Island | $71,510 |
| Alaska | $71,390 |
| Illinois | $70,570 |
See Transportation Security Screener pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $44,270 | $21.28 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $48,650 | $23.39 |
| Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Animal Control Worker | $55,570 | $26.72 |
| School Bus Monitor | $38,920 | $18.71 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $110,400 | $53.08 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $124,840 | $60.02 |
| Firefighter | $70,900 | $34.09 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $148,310 | $71.31 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $99,540 | $47.86 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-9093. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation security screener make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for transportation security screeners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $72,130 a year, or $34.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid transportation security screeners make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of transportation security screeners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $79,100 a year. The top 25% earn $76,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for transportation security screeners in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,070 a year, and a quarter of transportation security screeners earn $57,050 or less.
How many transportation security screeners work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 690 transportation security screeners are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.