Transportation Security Officer

Transportation Security Administration; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Transportation Security Administration in Charlottesville, VA seeks a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) to protect air travelers, airports and aircraft with courtesy and professionalism.

You will operate screening equipment, conduct bag searches, interact with the public at entry points, and maintain vigilance under pressure while applying standard procedures. Salary ranges from $44,315 to $56,844 per year, with locality pay included.

Responsibilities

• Operate screening equipment and identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers.
• Conduct bag searches and screenings, including pat-downs and property searches.
• Control terminal entry and exit points and interact with the public.
• Maintain focus in a stressful environment to identify threats and make decisions.
• Develop critical thinking to mitigate security threats and apply risk-based screening protocols.
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures and adapt to new information.

Job description

• Hiring Agency: Transportation Security Administration
• Department: Department of Homeland Security

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.

Key Responsibilities

Salary Information: The salary range for Charlottesville, VA (CHO - Charlottesville/Albemarle Airport) is $44,315 to $56,844 or $21.23 to $27.24 per hour and includes locality pay of 17.06%. At this time, this airport is only seeking qualified female candidates to meet mission related staffing needs. The applications of male candidates will be accepted but not considered until staffing needs change.

This Transportation Security Officer position is located in Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a Transportation Security Officer (TSOs) within Security Operations (SO), you will provide security and protection of air travelers, airports and aircraft in a courteous and professional manner.

Duties may include but are not limited to: 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. 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.

At TSA, the health and safety of our employees is a top priority.

If a sufficient number of applications are received, the announcement may close before the published closing date. NOTE: Employees occupying frontline positions, i.e., individuals occupying positions that involve contact with the traveling public on a regular and recurring basis, may be required to wear TSA approved and issued personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE includes TSA issued surgical masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $44315 – $56844/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-08.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.