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Best states for a security screener
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a security screener and really want to work at Transportation Security Administration? Turns out, your chances to become a security screener are better in some states than others.Our research shows that Alaska is the best state in the country for security screeners.
We figured that the best places for security screener jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Alaska is the best state, and Anchorage is the city with the highest pay for security screeners.
10 best states for security screeners in 2026
1. Alaska
Total security screener jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $51,585 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $88,000 Location Quotient: 1.78
2. New York
Total security screener jobs: 1,639 Average annual salary: $45,638 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
3. New Jersey
Total security screener jobs: 1,082 Average annual salary: $44,217 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.71
4. Minnesota
Total security screener jobs: 912 Average annual salary: $36,934 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.72
5. New Hampshire
Total security screener jobs: 191 Average annual salary: $37,149 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
6. Pennsylvania
Total security screener jobs: 1,205 Average annual salary: $37,775 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
7. Connecticut
Total security screener jobs: 342 Average annual salary: $40,104 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
8. Illinois
Total security screener jobs: 1,685 Average annual salary: $34,709 Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Location Quotient: 1.77
9. Ohio
Total security screener jobs: 992 Average annual salary: $33,823 Lowest 10 percent earn: $22,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
10. Massachusetts
Total security screener jobs: 73 Average annual salary: $42,815 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 0.1
Security screener jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a security screener
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a security screener
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,585 | $29,000 | 739,795 | 119 |
| 2 | New York | $45,638 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,639 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $44,217 | $26,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,082 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $36,934 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 912 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $37,149 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 191 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $37,775 | $22,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,205 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $40,104 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 342 |
| 8 | Illinois | $34,709 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,685 |
| 9 | Ohio | $33,823 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 992 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $42,815 | $27,000 | 6,859,819 | 73 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $36,974 | $27,000 | 755,393 | 76 |
| 12 | Indiana | $32,715 | $22,000 | 6,666,818 | 710 |
| 13 | Washington | $34,710 | $21,000 | 7,405,743 | 778 |
| 14 | Vermont | $35,447 | $24,000 | 623,657 | 71 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $32,862 | $22,000 | 5,795,483 | 577 |
| 16 | Maine | $35,314 | $25,000 | 1,335,907 | 121 |
| 17 | Delaware | $32,124 | $18,000 | 961,939 | 154 |
| 18 | California | $39,245 | $22,000 | 39,536,653 | 207 |
| 19 | Michigan | $31,218 | $20,000 | 9,962,311 | 765 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $31,409 | $19,000 | 1,059,639 | 115 |
| 21 | Maryland | $38,027 | $22,000 | 6,052,177 | 32 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $32,897 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 76 |
| 23 | Arizona | $29,601 | $17,000 | 7,016,270 | 751 |
| 24 | Iowa | $29,915 | $20,000 | 3,145,711 | 342 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $28,360 | $18,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,185 |
| 26 | Virginia | $34,587 | $20,000 | 8,470,020 | 70 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $28,919 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 227 |
| 28 | Nevada | $27,786 | $16,000 | 2,998,039 | 235 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $29,133 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 225 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $28,158 | $18,000 | 4,454,189 | 355 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $33,120 | $21,000 | 1,427,538 | 12 |
| 32 | Texas | $28,115 | $17,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,933 |
| 33 | Missouri | $26,538 | $18,000 | 6,113,532 | 687 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $28,580 | $19,000 | 6,715,984 | 467 |
| 35 | Montana | $27,777 | $18,000 | 1,050,493 | 112 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $27,663 | $17,000 | 4,684,333 | 295 |
| 37 | Colorado | $29,401 | $19,000 | 5,607,154 | 53 |
| 38 | Florida | $28,547 | $18,000 | 20,984,400 | 155 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $26,681 | $17,000 | 1,815,857 | 130 |
| 40 | Alabama | $23,869 | $16,000 | 4,874,747 | 550 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $23,760 | $15,000 | 2,984,100 | 316 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $30,185 | $18,000 | 693,972 | 10 |
| 43 | Oregon | $26,692 | $16,000 | 4,142,776 | 388 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $26,179 | $17,000 | 579,315 | 53 |
| 45 | Georgia | $24,752 | $16,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,138 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $26,098 | $17,000 | 5,024,369 | 339 |
| 47 | Idaho | $25,320 | $16,000 | 1,716,943 | 141 |
| 48 | Kansas | $24,048 | $16,000 | 2,913,123 | 269 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $24,524 | $15,000 | 2,088,070 | 172 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $23,627 | $15,000 | 3,930,864 | 264 |
| 51 | Utah | $23,169 | $14,000 | 3,101,833 | 18 |
Highest paying states for security screeners
| Rank | State | Avg. Security Screener Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,585 |
| 2 | New York | $45,638 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $44,217 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $36,934 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $37,149 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $37,775 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $40,104 |
| 8 | Illinois | $34,709 |
| 9 | Ohio | $33,823 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $42,815 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $36,974 |
| 12 | Indiana | $32,715 |
| 13 | Washington | $34,710 |
| 14 | Vermont | $35,447 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $32,862 |
| 16 | Maine | $35,314 |
| 17 | Delaware | $32,124 |
| 18 | California | $39,245 |
| 19 | Michigan | $31,218 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $31,409 |
| 21 | Maryland | $38,027 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $32,897 |
| 23 | Arizona | $29,601 |
| 24 | Iowa | $29,915 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $28,360 |
| 26 | Virginia | $34,587 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $28,919 |
| 28 | Nevada | $27,786 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $29,133 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $28,158 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $33,120 |
| 32 | Texas | $28,115 |
| 33 | Missouri | $26,538 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $28,580 |
| 35 | Montana | $27,777 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $27,663 |
| 37 | Colorado | $29,401 |
| 38 | Florida | $28,547 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $26,681 |
| 40 | Alabama | $23,869 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $23,760 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $30,185 |
| 43 | Oregon | $26,692 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $26,179 |
| 45 | Georgia | $24,752 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $26,098 |
| 47 | Idaho | $25,320 |
| 48 | Kansas | $24,048 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $24,524 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $23,627 |
| 51 | Utah | $23,169 |
Security screener best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025