SOC 33-9093 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Transportation Security Screeners — Tennessee
Tennessee · 5 metro areas compared
In Tennessee the median wage is $61,110.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Tennessee the median wage is $61,110. That is 8.5% lower than the national median of $66,770. Pay ranges from under $47,920 at the tenth percentile to more than $69,240 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,940 to $65,170.
Employment stands at 840, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Tennessee ranks number 39th out of 45 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chattanooga records the highest median at $63,130. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 296th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,920 | −28.2% |
| 25th | $49,940 | −25.2% |
| Median (50th) | $61,110 | −8.5% |
| 75th | $65,170 | −2.4% |
| 90th | $69,240 | +3.7% |
| Mean | $59,860 | −10.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | $63,130 | 50 | |
| 2 | Kingsport | $63,130 | 40 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $63,130 | 110 | |
| 4 | Memphis | $61,110 | 170 | |
| 5 | Nashville | $61,110 | 460 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $61,110 goes as far as $66,496 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,110as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,496US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,110 a year, 8.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,920 to $69,240 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 840 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 39th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $63,130.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Transportation Security Screeners in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $61,110, or $29.38 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 Tennessee is 8.5% lower. 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 Tennessee earns more than $69,240 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,920 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 Chattanooga, at $63,130 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 840 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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