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What does a screener do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does a screener do

A screener is responsible for observing and screening passengers for safety and security purposes, ensuring that they comply with the appropriate baggage, items, and materials onboarding. Screeners often work at airports, malls, and other institutions for the public. They utilize various machines, such as X-ray viewing equipment, metal detectors, and other hand tools to inspect the passengers, confiscating violating and dangerous items subjected to further investigation. A screener also verifies the passenger's identity through identification documents and immediately informs the management for a security breach.

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Screener responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real screener resumes:

  • Work directly for the supervisor managing the jobs run.
  • Participate in HIPAA training and CPR certification.
  • Process insurance claims and appeals.
  • Experience use of CTX machine.
  • Operate computer tomography xray, CTX machine.
  • Maintain liaison with airport FSD and FTC.
  • Provide airport security for TSA at SFO.
  • Fabricate silk screen stencils, using photographic equipment.
  • Complete custom orders, assist with embroidery designs.
  • Maintain compliance with OSHA (MSDS and safety programs).
  • Perform duties of a passenger screener at DFW airport checkpoint.
  • Used ETD machine to detect trace of explosives on accessible property.
  • Mix and match proper colors, standard and PMS before each job.
  • Maintain relationships with local law enforcement officers from CBP and other government agencies.
  • Supervise a crew of 24 agents searching for IED's and other prohibit items.

Screener skills and personality traits

We calculated that 17% of Screeners are proficient in Customer Service, Vital Signs, and Infection Control. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Screeners that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 17%

    Faxed proper documentation to pediatric facilities concerning patient demographics, scheduled and confirmed outpatient appointments, and displayed direct customer service.

  • Vital Signs, 15%

    Collect electronic medical records and laboratory results after taking vital signs.

  • Infection Control, 9%

    Adhere strictly to confidentiality requirements and to adhere to established standards of hygiene and universal infection control procedures in handling.

  • Patients, 9%

    Assessed pediatric patients for developmental delays using screening tool, consulted with clinic pediatricians, and evaluated parent or caregiver concerns.

  • Regulatory Guidelines, 8%

    Maintained compliance with SOP, current Good Manufacturing Procedures and regulatory guidelines.

  • Data Entry, 8%

    Created and maintained electronic medical records for all donors and completed data entry into donor management system.

Common skills that a screener uses to do their job include "customer service," "vital signs," and "infection control." You can find details on the most important screener responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a screener to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "adjusters and examiners must each evaluate whether the insurance company is obligated to pay a claim and determine the amount to pay." Additionally, a screener resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "maintain accurate records and ensure confidentiality of data collected through health education and training activities. "

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform screener duties is communication skills. Screeners responsibilities require that "claims adjusters and investigators must get information from a range of people, including claimants, witnesses, and medical experts." Screeners also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provided effective communication and customer service support to the sales, marketing and administrative teams on daily basis. "

Detail oriented. This is an important skill for screeners to perform their duties. For an example of how screener responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators must carefully review documents and damaged property, because small details can have large financial consequences." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a screener: "pay attention to details and accuracy (forms, notes, reports, data entry). ".

Interpersonal skills. For certain screener responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "interpersonal skills." The day-to-day duties of a screener rely on this skill, as "adjusters, examiners, and investigators often meet with claimants and others who may be upset by the situation that requires a claim or by the settlement the company is offering." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what screeners do: "demonstrated interpersonal skills by interacting with patients during the donation process. "

Most common screener skills

The three companies that hire the most screeners are:

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Compare different screeners

Screener vs. Lead transportation security officer

A transportation security officer is responsible for implementing public transportation security measures, such as in airports, train stations, and bus terminals. Under the supervision of a senior officer, they primarily screen commuters and cargo before entering premises or any vehicles, prohibit dangerous items, manage checkpoints, and respond to any signs or calls of distress. Moreover, a transportation security officer must be alert for any suspicious activity or object. Should there be any security violations, it is vital to take action and coordinate with senior officers right away.

The annual salary of lead transportation security officers is $239 lower than the average salary of screeners.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both screener and lead transportation security officer positions are skilled in customer service, alertness, and metal detectors.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between screeners and lead transportation security officer. For instance, screener responsibilities require skills such as "vital signs," "strong customer service," "infection control," and "patients." Whereas a lead transportation security officer is skilled in "incident reports," "security procedures," "emergency situations," and "tso." This is part of what separates the two careers.

On average, lead transportation security officers reach similar levels of education than screeners. Lead transportation security officers are 3.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Screener vs. Flight security specialist

On average, flight security specialists earn a $1,417 higher salary than screeners a year.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, screener responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "vital signs," "strong customer service," and "infection control." Meanwhile, a flight security specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "patrol," "emergency operations," "in-flight," and "afb." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

In general, flight security specialists achieve lower levels of education than screeners. They're 9.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Screener vs. Transportation security officer

On average, transportation security officers earn lower salaries than screeners, with a $359 difference per year.Using the responsibilities included on screeners and transportation security officers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "customer service," "alertness," and "law enforcement.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from screener resumes include skills like "vital signs," "strong customer service," "infection control," and "patients," whereas a transportation security officer is more likely to list skills in "continuous development," "hire training," "tso," and "unexpected obstacles. "

When it comes to education, transportation security officers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to screeners. In fact, they're 4.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Screener vs. Bag checker

Bag checkers tend to earn a higher pay than screeners by an average of $9,403 per year.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between screeners and bag checkers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a screener might have more use for skills like "customer service," "vital signs," "strong customer service," and "infection control." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of bag checkers require skills like "football games," "crowd control," "dome," and "general safety. "

Bag checkers reach lower levels of education compared to screeners, in general. The difference is that they're 6.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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