How to hire a security screener

How to hire a security screener, step by step

Here's a step-by-step security screener hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a security screener job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new security screener
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the security screener you need to hire. Certain security screener roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect security screener also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of security screeners and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Security Screener	Description	Hourly rate
   Security Screener		$10-32
   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... Show more	$13-21
   Security	A Security's main responsibility is to keep people or an establishment safe. This responsibility is carried out by constantly patrolling a designated area and monitoring the activity within the premises... Show more	$11-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Patrol
   • Incident Reports
   • Metal Detectors
   • X-Ray Machines
   • X Ray Machines
   • ETD
   • Security Procedures
   • Law Enforcement
   • X-Ray Equipment
   • Security Checkpoint
   • Transportation Security Administration
   • Security Measures
   • Hazardous Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • X-ray laptop and operate ETD machine.
   • Comply with the FAA policies procedures during the boarding process.
   • Used x-ray and ETD equipment to locate threat or dangerous items.
   • Administer blood pressure, height/weight, total cholesterol count and finger prick, greet patients, and process them to intake.
   • Excel at performing phlebotomy on volunteers.
   • Perform volunteer registration duties, glucose testing and cholesterol testing for uninsure patients during a community health fair.

   More security screener duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the security screener job description is a good way to get more applicants. A security screener salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a security screener in New Mexico may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level security screener. Additionally, a security screener with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average security screener salary

   $38,697yearly

   $18.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level security screener salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average security screener salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$45,956	$22
   2	New Jersey	$44,196	$21
   3	Massachusetts	$42,609	$20
   4	California	$40,390	$19
   5	North Dakota	$37,403	$18
   6	Virginia	$37,355	$18
   7	Minnesota	$36,953	$18
   8	Washington	$34,769	$17
   9	Hawaii	$33,177	$16
   10	Iowa	$31,623	$15
   11	Michigan	$31,253	$15
   12	Colorado	$29,428	$14
   13	Florida	$28,754	$14
   14	Nevada	$28,044	$13
   15	Texas	$26,906	$13
   16	Oregon	$26,773	$13
   17	Missouri	$26,423	$13
   18	Georgia	$24,740	$12
   19	Utah	$23,121	$11

   Average security screener salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Inter-Con Security Systems	$71,773	$34.51	252
   2	Grand View Health	$54,041	$25.98
   3	Saint Luke's Health System	$52,194	$25.09	4
   4	Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County	$41,303	$19.86
   5	Alutiiq	$38,097	$18.32	20
   6	State of West Virginia	$37,091	$17.83
   7	Dal	$36,835	$17.71
   8	Unifi Manufacturing	$35,741	$17.18
   9	The Arnold Companies	$35,010	$16.83
   10	VMD Systems	$34,516	$16.59	16
   11	G2 Secure Staff	$33,566	$16.14	31
   12	Allied Universal	$32,665	$15.70
   13	Andy Frain Services	$32,597	$15.67	163
   14	Trinity Health	$32,533	$15.64	68
   15	GardaWorld Federal Services	$31,717	$15.25	701
   16	Security Industry Specialists	$30,451	$14.64

4. Writing a security screener job description

   A job description for a security screener role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a security screener job description:

   Security screener job description example

   GardaWorld -
   
   Security Services
   
   Security Officer - Now Hiring!
   
   You've got the right skills. What you need is the right opportunity to unleash your potential. We agree, and we're hiring!
   
   Every day is different at GardaWorld with diverse work assignments and flexible schedules. We are leaders in Professional training programs that cover every aspect of delivering world class security services. And every industry counts on us because we're the very best at what we do. Perhaps you are, too.
   
   In our complex world today, GardaWorld stands out as the largest privately owned security services company in the world. We're experts at protecting people and assets. We're also growing everywhere and expanding in multiple locations. If you're a sharp, talented, self-confident individual who excels in customer service, you can build a future here. We give you all the tools you need to expand your skills and grow your career with exceptional opportunities for advancement. You can stand out - and thrive - here, too, as a security screener.
   
   At GardaWorld, we know your compensation is important so we provide competitive hourly starting rates for every market we're in. We're growing our team here in Chino, CA
   
   Compensation: $17 per hour
   
   Shift: 40+ Hours per week (overtime available)
   
   * Wednesday - Sunday 5:30am - 5:30pm
   
   About the job:
   
   * Excellent customer service is always your top priority.
   * You observe, survey the area and provide reporting on activity at your assigned location.
   * You provide rapid response in critical situations.
   * You're good with reading and writing detailed reports.
   * You know when and how to enforce customer procedures, regulations and standards.
   
   Your background:
   
   * You have a high school education or equivalent (GED)
   * You're able to ace (and pass) an extensive screening process
   * If you have Security, Military, Law Enforcement experience - even better!
   * You have a California Guard Card and additional 32 hours BSIS security trainings. (Additional security trainings can be obtained durring the hiring process)
   
   If you want a real career opportunity where you're part of a dynamic supportive team that's dedicated to your success, check us out. We're a global organization that embraces our cultural diversity and we promote engagement, communication, and sharing ideas across all our teams. At GardaWorld, you'll have plenty of room to grow - and that's just for starters. Explore your future with us today.
   
   Work today, get paid today, with DailyPay!
   
   GardaWorld offers DailyPay - a voluntary benefit that allows you to access your pay on day 1 of work.
   
   If you're hired for a role at GardaWorld, you'll never have to wait for a paycheck again! DailyPay's most used features include:
   
   * PAY: Get instant access to your money as you earn it
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   Whelan Security of California, Inc.
   
   CA Private Patrol Number: 16344
   
   Qualifications
   
   Education

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right security screener for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your security screener job on Zippia to find and recruit security screener candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with security screener candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new security screener

   Once you've found the security screener candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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