Transportation Security Officer

Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Bethel (AK); On-site; USD 73,809 - 91,767; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid federal holidays

Telework opportunities

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A federal security agency is seeking Transportation Security Officers to ensure the safety of travelers across all transportation sectors in Bethel, Alaska. This role involves operating screening equipment, conducting physical searches, and interacting with the public. Successful applicants will receive a competitive salary ranging from $73,809 to $91,767 annually, along with a potential sign-on bonus of up to $15,000. Candidates must possess a high school diploma and have experience in the security field.

Qualifications

• At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry.
• Must be proficient in English (reading, writing, speaking).
• Ability to maintain physical agility.

Responsibilities

• Operate screening equipment to identify dangerous objects.
• Perform physical searches and screening of passengers.
• Control terminal entry and exit points.

Skills

Security industry experience

English proficiency

Critical thinking

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Transportation Security Officer (TSA)

Transportation Security Officers provide security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner, often extending duties to high‑profile events and critical infrastructure.

Summary

Transportation Security Officers are responsible for providing security and protection of travelers across all transportation sectors in a courteous and professional manner. Their duties may also extend to securing high‑profile events, important figures and/or anything that includes or impacts our transportation systems.

Duties

• Operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers, and preventing those objects from being transported onto aircraft.
• Performing searches and screening, which may include physical interaction with passengers (e.g., pat‑downs, search of property, etc.), conducting bag searches and lifting/carrying bags, bins, and property weighing up to 50lbs.
• Controlling terminal entry and exit points.
• Interacting with the public, giving directions and responding to inquiries.
• Maintaining focus and awareness while working in a stressful environment which includes noise from alarms, machinery and people, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, in order to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life threatening or mass destruction devices, and to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.
• Engaging in continuous development of critical thinking skills, necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats, by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches. This may include application of risk‑based security screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.
• Retaining and implementing knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, and is open to change and adapts to new information or unexpected obstacles.

Salary

Salary Information: The salary range for Bethel, AK (BET - Bethel Airport) is $73,809 to $91,767 or $35.37 to $43.97 per hour and includes locality pay of 32.36% and COLA pay of 3%, and a retention incentive of 40% of adjusted pay that is unique to this duty location. The continuation of the incentive portion of this hourly rate is contingent upon annual approval and funding.

Sign‑On Bonus

The Transportation Security Administration is offering a sign‑on bonus of up to $15,000 for this location; paid out in two installments during the first 12 months of service. The amount of the airport’s sign‑on bonus is subject to change or elimination based on operational needs; however, any applicable sign‑on bonus amount will be communicated and agreed upon during the final job offer process.

Realistic Job Preview

The Realistic Job Preview gives you an honest, objective and vivid portrait of what it means to work as a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) and provides employee testimonies about both the good and the challenging aspects of being a TSO. To view the video, click here.

Requirements

• You must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.
• You must have reached the minimum age (18) at the time of application.
• Selective Service registration is required.
• Must pass a structured interview, drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation.
• Subject to post‑employment random drug and/or alcohol testing.
• Must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed.
• Must be proficient in English (reading, writing, speaking, comprehending).
• Mandatory travel for training and occasional travel may be required.
• Exposure to potentially lethal devices and dangerous chemicals is inherent in this position.

Physical Demands

• Maintain physical agility to ensure ability to squat and bend.
• Ability to repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers, weighing approximately 50 pounds and other objects subject to security processing.
• Ability to walk up to three (3) miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours) of time.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X‑ray technician.
• Education: Have a high school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC high school equivalency certificate.

Credit for experience is given based on a 40‑hour workweek. Part‑time experience is credited on a part‑time ratio, i.e., working 20 hours per week for two months equals one month of experience. No additional credit is given for overtime.

Additional Requirements

Occasional travel: a minimum of three (3) weeks of travel in a full‑time duty status may be required to complete TSA’s New Hire training; training may require up to six (6) weeks of full‑time duty status travel. The training will occur away from the employee’s airport of record. Employees will be paid for compensable hours and reimbursed for authorized travel expenses per TSA Travel Policy. While employed with TSA, other occasional travel may be required. Selective Service registration is required for male applicants born after 12/31/59. Applicants must not have delinquent federal or state taxes or past‑due child support payments. Residency: applicants must have resided within the United States for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying. Exceptions may apply for prior federal service abroad, dependents accompanying federal employees, study abroad at a U.S. affiliated college, or having a completed federal background investigation for a federal or contractor position.

Work Schedules

Full‑time positions require 40 hours per week. Work consists of shift‑work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, which may include irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts and weekend shifts, changing shifts, and split shifts. A “split‑shift” consists of any two work shifts, each lasting at least two (2) hours in one 24‑hour period, with at least two (2) hours between work shifts.

Part‑time positions generally range from 16‑32 hours per week. Shift patterns are similar to full‑time.

Maintaining Employment

• Completing classroom training, on‑the‑job training, and all initial certification testing.
• Recurrent and specialized training and recertification tests on a periodic basis.
• Passing background investigations, including a criminal check and credit check, and all randomly administered drug and alcohol screening tests.

Benefits

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long‑term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; telework; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.

EEO Statement

TSA may apply a sex‑specific (male or female) hiring preference to fill TSO positions in order to meet security mission and same‑sex pat‑down job‑related requirements. At airport locations where it is necessary to apply the hiring preference, candidates of the needed sex will be provided preference in the scheduling of the computer‑based aptitude test, airport assessments, processing, and selection. The term “sex” refers to an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female. Sex is not a synonym for and does not include the concept “gender identity.” The term “female” refers to a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell. The term “male” refers to a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell.