Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between transportation security officers and security officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a transportation security officer has an average salary of $36,007, which is higher than the $31,101 average annual salary of a security officer.
The top three skills for a transportation security officer include continuous development, law enforcement and hire training. The most important skills for a security officer are customer service, ladders, and patrol.
| Transportation Security Officer | Security Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $36,007 | $31,101 |
| Hourly rate | $17.31 | $14.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 127,192 | 125,879 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A security officer is responsible for maintaining the peace and safety of everyone by regularly patrolling and monitoring surveillance equipment within the assigned premises. Security officers' duties also include reporting suspicious behaviors, restricting trespassers and unauthorized personnel from entering the establishment, providing incident reports for policy violations, and adhering to the standard protocols and legal requirements set by the management. Security offers must also have excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills and extensive knowledge of emergency drills in case any unfortunate circumstances arise.
Transportation security officers and security officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Security Officer | Security Officer | |
| Average salary | $36,007 | $31,101 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $44,000 | Between $24,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Washington |
| Best paying company | National Institutes of Health | Battelle |
| Best paying industry | Government | Utilities |
There are a few differences between a transportation security officer and a security officer in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Security Officer | Security Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Criminal Justice | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between transportation security officers' and security officers' demographics:
| Transportation Security Officer | Security Officer | |
| Average age | 42 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8% | Male, 71.6% Female, 28.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 4.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 6% |