Security & Investigations · Mid · 4 to 8 years typical
Transportation Security Specialist Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $100,000 | $120,000 | $145,000 | $180,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $90,000 | $110,000 | $135,000 | $170,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $90,000 | $105,000 | $130,000 | $165,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $90,000 | $105,000 | $130,000 | $165,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $85,000 | $105,000 | $130,000 | $160,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $85,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 | $155,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $85,000 | $100,000 | $125,000 | $155,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 | $150,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $75,000 | $90,000 | $110,000 | $135,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $70,000 | $85,000 | $105,000 | $130,000 |
Time to fill 10 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Growing demand driven by evolving threat landscape, corporate security professionalization, and increased regulatory requirements. Compensation trending upward 3-5% annually as qualified talent remains scarce in specialized protective services.
What does a Transportation Security Specialist do?
The Transportation Security Specialist operates providing executive protection, threat assessment, and security operations for high-net-worth families, corporate principals, or private organizations. Professionals in this role typically bring 4 to 8 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Mid level, this position draws from a competitive candidate pool, though specialized qualifications and sector-specific experience remain key differentiators in hiring.
What drives Transportation Security Specialist compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for a Transportation Security Specialist is $85,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $70,000 to $105,000. The 41% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by principal risk profile, domestic vs. international travel requirements, team size managed, security clearance level, and specialized training in surveillance detection or threat mitigation. Demand is holding stable, with compensation levels expected to track broader market adjustments.
Transportation Security Specialist career path
Professionals who move into Transportation Security Specialist roles most commonly come from military special operations, federal law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or corporate security departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward director of security for large family offices, corporate security leadership, or independent security consulting. The average tenure in this role is approximately 2.9 years, with an annual turnover rate of 26%.
Hiring a Transportation Security Specialist?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.