Transportation Security Officer

Overview

Transportation Security Officers are responsible for providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Duties may also extend to securing high‑profile events, important figures, and any activity that impacts our transportation systems.

• Operate screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo, and passengers and prevent them from being transported onto aircraft.
• Perform searches and screening, including physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat‑downs, search of property), bag searches, and lifting/carrying bags weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Control terminal entry and exit points.
• Interact with the public, give directions, and respond to inquiries.
• Maintain focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment that includes noise, machinery, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life‑threatening or mass‑destruction devices.
• Engage in continuous development of critical thinking skills necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches, including risk‑based screening protocols.
• Retain and implement knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrate responsible and dependable behavior, and be open to change and adapt to new information or unexpected obstacles.

• Salary range: $46,105 to $56,844 (or $22.09 to $27.24 per hour) including 17.06% locality pay.
• Sign‑on bonus: up to $5,000 paid in two installments during the first 12 months of service.

• U.S. citizenship or U.S. national.
• Minimum age 18 at time of application.
• Selective Service registration required.
• Must be available to work various shifts, overtime, and travel for training; mandatory travel may be required.
• Female applicants may apply but will not be considered until staffing needs change; this announcement is currently seeking qualified male candidates to meet mission‑related staffing needs.

• Maintain physical agility to squat and bend.
• Repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers weighing approximately 50 lbs.
• Walk up to 3 miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours) of time.

• Experience:
  
  At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X‑ray technician.
• Education:
  
  High school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC high‑school equivalency certificate.
• Volunteer national service experience (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) is considered.

• Occasional travel:
  Minimum of 3 weeks in a full‑time duty status may be required for training; may vary by location.
• Retention of PPE: TSA‑issued surgical masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves as required.
• Random post‑employment drug and alcohol testing.
• Must pass structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation.

• Full‑time positions: 40 hours per week, shift work on any day from Sunday through Saturday with possible irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts, weekend shifts, change shifts, and split shifts.
• Part‑time positions: 16–32 hours per week, same shift variability as full‑time.

View the video that provides an honest, objective, and vivid portrait of working as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO). .

• DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long‑term care insurance; retirement plan;
  Thrift Savings Plan;
  Flexible Spending Account;
  Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; paid federal holidays; and more.
• Telework, tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies, uniform allowance, and flexible schedules are also available.

Employees in frontline positions may be required to wear TSA‑approved PPE. PPE includes surgical masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves. TSA prioritizes the health and safety of its employees.