Transportation Security Screeners pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,420 or more. The middle half of transportation security screeners in Chicago earn between $68,310 and $75,130.
- $45K10th
- $68K25th
- $71KMedian
- $75K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,450 | $5,621 | $32.43 |
| Median | $70,570 | $5,881 | $33.93 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,310 | $5,692 | $32.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,130 | $6,261 | $36.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Transportation Security Screeners pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Transportation security screeners in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($67,300) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($64,310). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $66,770.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $67,450 | $70,570 | $45,070 | $77,420 | 1,780 |
| Illinois | $67,300 | $70,570 | $45,070 | $75,190 | 1,970 |
| United States | $64,310 | $66,770 | $44,700 | $78,350 | 50,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Transportation Security Screeners salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $67,450, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $53,083 a year, or $4,424 a month and $2,042 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $54,288 | $4,524 |
| Working in IL | $53,083 | $4,424 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for transportation security screeners? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $67,450 buys what about $65,109 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Transportation Security Screeners salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$67,450
- Peoria$59,990
- Bloomington$59,480
Highest-paying cities for transportation security screeners
Allentown, PA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($78,620).
- Allentown, PA$78,620
- Manchester, NH$76,200
- San Jose, CA$76,000
- Flint, MI$74,170
- Salinas, CA$73,510
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Transportation Security Screeners salary in Chicago: questions
How much do transportation security screeners make an hour in Chicago?
$32.43 an hour on average, and $33.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level transportation security screeners salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the transportation security screeners take-home pay in Chicago?
About $53,083 a year ($4,424 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,450.
Do transportation security screeners earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($64,310).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-9093; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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