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Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Transportation Security Officer

Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Waterloo, Iowa, United States, 50702

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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 any activity that includes or impacts our transportation systems.

Salary Information The salary range for Waterloo, IA (ALO – Waterloo Regional Airport) is $40,332 to $56,282 or $19.33 to $26.97 per hour, including locality pay of 17.06%.

Duties / Responsibilities

Operating various screening equipment and technology to identify dangerous objects in baggage, cargo, and on passengers, 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 50 lbs.

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 that includes noise from alarms, machinery, crowds, time pressure, and disruptive passengers, in order to identify and locate potentially life‑threatening or mass‑destruction devices and make effective decisions in crisis and routine situations.

Engaging in continuous development of critical thinking skills to mitigate actual and potential security threats by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches, including risk‑based screening protocols.

Retaining and implementing knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures and demonstrating responsible and dependable behavior, openness to change, and adaptability to new information or unexpected obstacles.

Employees occupying frontline positions may be required to wear TSA‑approved personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields, and nitrile gloves.

Physical Demands

Maintain physical agility to ensure the ability to squat and bend.

Ability to repeatedly lift and manipulate baggage, containers weighing approximately 50 lbs and other objects subject to security processing.

Ability to walk up to three miles during a shift and stand for prolonged periods (up to 4 hours).

Requirements / Conditions of Employment

Must possess U.S. Citizenship or be a U.S. National.

Must have reached the minimum age of 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.

Qualifications To qualify for the SV‑D pay band (equivalent to the GS‑5/6), you must meet one of the following:

Experience:

At least one year of full‑time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X‑ray technician.

Education:

A high school diploma, GED, HiSET, or TASC high‑school equivalency certificate.

Additional Requirements Occasional travel: A minimum of three weeks of travel in a full‑time duty status may be required for TSA New‑Hire training; training may require up to six weeks of travel. Selective Service registration is required for male applicants born after 12/31/59.

Credit check: Applicants must not have delinquent federal or state taxes, or past‑due child support payments.

Residency requirement: Applicants must have resided in the United States for at least three of the last five years immediately prior to applying. Exceptions are available for certain federal employment or study abroad situations.

Work Schedules Full‑time positions

require 40 hours per week and consist of shift work on any day from Sunday through Saturday, which may include irregular hours, nights, holidays, overtime, extended shifts, and split shifts.

Part‑time positions

generally range from 16–32 hours per week and share the same shift structure as full‑time positions.

Maintaining Employment

Completing classroom training, on‑the‑job training, and all initial certification testing.

Attending recurrent and specialized training and recertification tests on a periodic basis.

Passing background investigations, including a criminal 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; 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.

Legal and EEO Statement Transport Security Administration applies a sex‑specific hiring preference to fill TSO positions to meet security mission and same‑sex pat‑down job‑related requirements. The term "sex" refers to an individual's immutable biological classification as either male or female. Candidates of the needed sex will be provided preference in the scheduling of the computer‑based aptitude test, airport assessments, processing, and selection.

Seniority Level Entry level

Employment Type Part‑time

Job Function Other, Information Technology, and Management

Industry Government Administration

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