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TSA Agent
Government & Civil ServiceYou screen passengers and luggage at airport security checkpoints, which means you're the person everyone rolls their eyes at while taking off their shoes. You'll operate X-ray machines, conduct pat-downs, and confiscate water bottles from people who genuinely don't understand why they can't bring a full Nalgene through security. The public hates the process and somehow blames you personally.
Salary Range
Low
$33k
Median
$47k
High
$62k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
52K
Education
High school diploma or GED + pass TSA background check and medical evaluation
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸X-ray and body scanner imaging interpretation
- ▸Passenger and baggage screening procedures
- ▸Prohibited items identification
- ▸Pat-down and secondary screening protocols
- ▸TSA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- ▸Explosive trace detection (ETD) equipment
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Professional composure with difficult travelers
- ▸Attention to detail during repetitive tasks
- ▸Cultural sensitivity
- ▸Teamwork and communication
- ▸Integrity and trustworthiness
What you'll actually do
- 01Screen passengers through metal detectors and body scanners while maintaining a professional demeanor they don't deserve
- 02Operate X-ray machines and identify prohibited items in bags packed by people who've never heard of organization
- 03Confiscate water bottles, oversized shampoo, and the occasional pocket knife from travelers who 'forgot' it was there
- 04Conduct pat-down searches with the awkward intimacy of someone touching a stranger's belt line before 6 AM
- 05Manage TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, and regular lanes that move at three very different speeds
- 06Stand for 8+ hours dealing with frustrated travelers who think yelling will make the line move faster
Related Shifts
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