Transportation Security Officer

Join to apply for the Transportation Security Officer role at Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

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

• Operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft.
• Performing searches and screening, which may include physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat‑downs, search of property, etc.), conducting bag searches and lifting/carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Controlling terminal entry and exit points.
• Interacting with the public, giving directions and responding to inquiries.
• Maintaining focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment, which includes noise from alarms, machinery and crowds, time pressure and disruptive passengers, to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life‑threatening or mass‑destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.
• Engaging in continuous development of critical‑thinking skills to mitigate actual and potential security threats, by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches. This may include applying risk‑based screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.
• Retaining and implementing knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, and being open to change and adapting to new information or unexpected obstacles.

The Realistic Job Preview provides an honest, objective and vivid portrait of what it means to work as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) and includes employee testimonies about both the good and challenging aspects of the role. To view the video, please .

Employees occupying frontline positions may be required to wear TSA‑approved personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields and nitrile gloves. PPE is provided by TSA.

• You must possess U.S. citizenship or be a U.S. national.
• You must have reached the minimum age of 18 at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration is required for male applicants.
• You must pass a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation and background investigation.
• Subject to post‑employment random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• You must be available for various shifts, overtime and travel for training.
• You must be proficient in English.
• Mandatory travel for training and occasional travel may be required.
• Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent in this position.

• Maintain agility to squat, bend, squats and lift baggage weighing approximately 50 lb.
• Walk up to 3 miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hrs) of time.

To qualify for the SV‑D pay band (GS‑5/6) you must meet one of the qualification requirements (A or

B):

• A. Experience
  :
  At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening or as an X‑ray technician.
• B. Education
  :
  High‑school diploma, GED, HiSET or TASC certificate.

National service experience (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) is also credited based on a 40‑hour workweek equivalence.

• Occasional travel (≥ 3 weeks) for new‑hire training may be required, with travel up to 6 weeks in a full‑time duty status.
• Credit check required:
  No delinquent federal/state taxes or past‑due child support payments.
• Residency requirement:
  Reside in the U.S. for 3 of the last 5 years immediately prior to applying.
• Reemployed annuitants may have salary reduced by pension under the National Defense Authorization Act.
• TSO dress and appearance must comply with the Master Collective Bargaining Agreement regarding piercings, tattoos and visible…