SOC 33-9093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Transportation Security Screeners — San Diego
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 9 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in San Diego, CA comes to $72,130 a year, ahead of the national median of $66,770 by 8.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in San Diego, CA comes to $72,130 a year, ahead of the national median of $66,770 by 8.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $57,050 and $76,770. The lowest tenth earn under $46,070, while the highest tenth earn more than $79,100.
Employment stands at 690, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Salinas leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,940. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 329th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $46,070 | −31.0% |
| 25th | $57,050 | −14.6% |
| Median (50th) | $72,130 | +8.0% |
| 75th | $76,770 | +15.0% |
| 90th | $79,100 | +18.5% |
| Mean | $67,860 | +1.6% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinas | $78,940 | 40 | |
| 2 | San Francisco | $78,940 | 350 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $78,940 | 320 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $73,610 | 2,670 | |
| 5 | Riverside | $73,610 | 500 | |
| 6 | San Luis Obispo | $71,240 | 50 | |
| 7 | Santa Maria | $71,240 | 70 | |
| 8 | Sacramento | $69,990 | 370 | |
| 9 | Fresno | $63,460 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Diego run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $72,130 buys what $65,158 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$72,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,158US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $72,130 a year, 8.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $46,070 to $79,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 690 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Salinas, at $78,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Transportation Security Screeners in San Diego, CA?
The median annual wage is $72,130, or $34.68 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $66,770, so pay in San Diego, CA is 8.0% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Diego, CA earns more than $79,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $46,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Salinas, at $78,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 690 jobs in this occupation in San Diego, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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