TSA Officer Jobs Miami 2026: Transportation Security Officer at MIA, $43,384–$60,540, No Degree

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is hiring Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) at Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the busiest airports in the country, just as the holiday travel season starts. The official USAJOBS announcement opened on October 29, 2026 and runs through November 30, 2026. It lists pay of $43,384 to $60,540 per year ($20.79 to $29.01 an hour), which already includes Miami’s 24.67% locality pay. You don’t need a college degree: a high school diploma or GED is enough, and both full-time and part-time openings are available.

Here’s what the job involves, who qualifies, how TSA’s testing and hiring steps work, and how to apply without getting screened out. We’ve also listed other airports where TSO announcements are open right now.

Job Snapshot

• Position: Transportation Security Officer (TSO)
• Agency: Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security
• Location: Miami, FL (Miami International Airport)
• Salary: $43,384 to $60,540 per year ($20.79 to $29.01 per hour), including locality pay
• Pay band: SV-D (equivalent to GS-5/6), promotion potential to SV-F
• Schedule: Full-time (40 hours a week) and part-time (generally 16 to 32 hours a week)
• Appointment: Permanent
• Education: High school diploma or equivalent, or one year of qualifying experience
• Open period: October 29, 2026 to November 30, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern)
• Announcement number: 13105353-MIA-FT-PT

What a TSA Officer Does

TSOs screen passengers, bags and cargo so that dangerous items never get onto an aircraft. According to the announcement, day-to-day duties include:

• Operating X-ray machines and other screening technology to spot prohibited and dangerous objects in baggage, cargo and on passengers.
• Carrying out searches, including pat-downs and bag checks, and lifting bins, bags and property weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Controlling terminal entry and exit points.
• Helping travelers, giving directions and answering questions.
• Staying focused in a loud, high-pressure environment with alarms, crowds, time pressure and sometimes angry passengers.
• Following standard operating procedures and risk-based screening rules, which change as threats change.

TSA says duties can also extend to securing high-profile events. This is not a law enforcement job: TSOs don’t carry firearms, and the position isn’t covered by law enforcement retirement or availability pay.

Who Can Apply: Qualifications

To qualify for the SV-D band you need to meet one of these:

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

You must also meet these conditions of employment:

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, and at least 18 years old when you apply.
• Have lived in the United States for at least three of the last five years (with limited exceptions, such as federal or military service abroad).
• Be registered with Selective Service, if you’re a man born after December 31, 1959.
• Have no delinquent federal or state taxes and no past-due child support, since a credit check is part of the background review.
• Be proficient in English, and be available for varied shifts and overtime.
• Pass the physical requirements: squatting and bending, repeatedly lifting about 50 pounds, walking up to three miles a shift and standing for up to four hours.

Visible tattoos and piercings matter too. Under the TSO collective bargaining agreement, a tattoo that would show beyond the uniform on the head, face or upper neck can make you ineligible unless it can be covered at all times.

Salary and Benefits

At Miami International Airport, TSOs start in a range of $43,384 to $60,540 a year. Because you’re paid hourly ($20.79 to $29.01), shift work, nights, holidays and overtime can add to that. The position has promotion potential to the SV-F band, which in practice means Lead TSO roles. A current USAJOBS search shows Lead TSO announcements elsewhere starting around $61,700 to $62,300 a year.

DHS lists these benefits for the role:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term care insurance
• A federal retirement plan plus the Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k))
• Paid leave and paid federal holidays
• Tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies and a uniform allowance
• Training and development, with paths to other DHS jobs

After a year of continuous permanent service at TSA, you can also apply for jobs at other federal agencies under the OPM-DHS Interchange Agreement. That makes the TSO job a practical first step into a federal career. If you want a law enforcement path later, see our guides to CBP Officer jobs and ICE Deportation Officer jobs.

The Hiring Process, Step by Step

TSA hiring has more steps than most entry-level jobs. Here’s the order laid out in the announcement:

1. Online application on USAJOBS. Answer the questionnaire and upload any supporting documents. A resume is optional, but if you upload one it must be two pages or fewer. A longer resume removes you from consideration.
2. Optional essay questions. The questionnaire has four short free-response questions about public service. They aren’t scored, but TSA encourages answers of 200 words or less, in your own words. You’ll certify that you didn’t use AI tools or a consultant.
3. TSO Assessment Battery (TAB). If you meet the minimum qualifications, you’ll get an email from usastaffingoffice@opm.gov to schedule a proctored, computer-based test of your X-ray image interpretation skills. You must schedule and take it at a TSA testing center within 21 days. Check your spam folder so you don’t miss the invite.
4. Airport assessments. These are a structured interview, a drug screening and a medical evaluation, which includes color vision, vision, hearing and joint mobility checks.
5. Background investigation. This covers a criminal check and a credit check. Once you pass, you’re placed in “Ready for Final Job Offer” status.
6. Training. New hires travel for at least three and up to six weeks of paid training away from their home airport, and authorized travel costs are reimbursed. TSA doesn’t pay relocation or pre-employment travel costs.

How to Apply

1. Create or sign in to your account at USAJOBS.gov.
2. Open the official TSA Transportation Security Officer announcement for Miami and read it fully.
3. Click Apply and complete the questionnaire. Attach a DD-214 (and an SF-15 with a VA letter, if it applies) if you’re claiming veterans’ preference.
4. Submit before 11:59 PM Eastern on November 30, 2026. TSA notes that the announcement may close early if enough applications come in, so don’t wait.
5. Watch your email and your USAJOBS “Track this application” page for the test invitation.

Apply on USAJOBS (official listing)

Other Airports Hiring TSOs Right Now

TSA posts a separate announcement for each airport. A USAJOBS search on October 29, 2026 also showed these open TSO listings. Pay and closing dates come from USAJOBS, so confirm the details on each listing before you apply.

• St. Louis area (Bridgeton, MO): starting at $47,275 a year, open until November 25, 2026
• Cedar Rapids, IA: starting at $46,105 a year, open until November 30, 2026
• Dodge City, KS: starting at $46,105 a year, open until January 5, 2027
• Traverse City, MI: starting at $46,105 a year, open until January 5, 2027

To find your own airport, search “Transportation Security Officer” on USAJOBS and filter by location. For more openings that don’t require a degree, browse our Top Federal Jobs and Open Jobs pages.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Apply early. Busy airports like MIA can close early once they get enough applicants.
• Keep your resume to two pages, or skip it. It’s optional, and a three-page resume disqualifies you.
• Practice reading X-ray images. The TAB tests visual attention to detail. Rest well, and arrive early on test day.
• Get your finances in order. Unpaid taxes or past-due child support can stop your background check.
• Be ready for any shift. Airports run seven days a week, and new officers often work early mornings, nights, weekends and holidays, including split shifts.

FAQ

Do I need a degree to become a TSA officer?

No. A high school diploma or GED qualifies you, and so does one year of experience in security, aviation screening or X-ray work. The announcement says it has no education requirement beyond that.

How much does a TSA officer make in Miami?

The Miami announcement lists $43,384 to $60,540 a year, or $20.79 to $29.01 an hour, including 24.67% locality pay.

When does the Miami TSO job close?

November 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern, but it may close earlier if TSA gets enough applications.

Can I work part-time?

Yes. This announcement covers full-time (40 hours) and part-time (generally 16 to 32 hours a week) positions. The airport sets the exact shifts.

Is there a test?

Yes. Eligible applicants take the TSO Assessment Battery, a proctored computer-based test of X-ray interpretation, followed by an interview, a drug screening, a medical exam and a background check.

Source: official USAJOBS announcement 13105353-MIA-FT-PT, checked on October 29, 2026. Pay, dates and requirements can change, so always confirm on the official listing before you apply.