Responsibilities

For more information on working at O'Hare International Airport, please Click Here.

Salary Information:  The salary range listed above includes locality pay of 28.59%.  The current starting hourly rate for this position is $18.30.

Hiring:  TSA may apply a gender-specific (male or female) hiring preference to fill TSO positions in order to meet security mission and same gender pat-down job-related requirements.  At airport locations where it is necessary to apply the hiring preference, candidates of the needed gender will be provided preference in the scheduling of the computer based aptitude test, airport assessments, processing and selection.

DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters.

Securing Travel, Protecting People-At the TSA, you will serve in a high-stakes environment to safeguard the American way of life.  Across the nation, you will be on the front line of the DHS’s TSA team as they secure airports, seaports, railroads, highways, and public transit systems, thus protecting our transportation infrastructure and ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce.  

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, please Click Here.

Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) provide security and protection of air travelers, airports and aircraft in a courteous and professional manner.  This includes:

Travel Required

Occasional travel - A minimum of two (2) weeks of travel in a full-time duty status will be required to complete TSA’s New Hire training. New Hire training and travel requirements vary by duty location and may require up to six (6) weeks of full-time duty status travel. This 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.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

E

• • 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.

• Job family (Series)

  1802 Compliance Inspection And Support

Conditions of Employment

The qualification requirements listed above must be met at the time of application submission.

Veterans' Preference:   TSA will provide employment preference to eligible veterans by applying veterans' preference as defined in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (PL 107-71) and to those eligible under the provisions of Title 5, United States Code (USC), Section 2108.

Selective Service Registration Requirement:   TSA policy requires verification of Selective Service registration for male applicants born after 12/31/59.  To find out if you initially meet the Selective Service registration requirement for TSA employment, please Click Here.

Credit:  Applicants must not have delinquent Federal or State taxes, past due child support payments, and must not have defaulted on $7,500 or more in delinquent debt (except for some bankruptcies).

E-Verify:  DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States.  Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Residency Requirement:  To ensure adequate background investigative coverage, applicants are required to have resided within the United States for three of the last five years immediately prior to applying for this position. For those applicants who do not meet this residency requirement, an exception may be granted under the following circumstances – (1) applicant worked for U.S. Government in foreign countries in federal civilian or military capacities; (2) applicant was or is a dependent accompanying a federal civilian or military employee serving in foreign countries; (3) applicant who studied abroad at a U.S. affiliated college or university; or (4) applicant who has a current and adequate federal background investigation completed for a federal or Government contractor position.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet these qualifications in order to be further evaluated in the TSO hiring process:

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience):  Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Additional information

No moving, relocation or pre-employment travel expenses will be paid for this position, or while in application for this position.

This position is not a law enforcement position and therefore, is not covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay or Law Enforcement Retirement.  Per the President's 2014 Fair Employment memo, TSA policy is to not adversely consider a candidate based on unemployment or financial difficulty through no fault of their own.

TSA is an excepted service agency.  Employment with TSA does not confer the "Competitive Status" that generally results from selection and service in Competitive Service agencies.  However, permanent employees who have at least one year of continuous service with TSA will be eligible to apply for positions in other Federal agencies under the OPM-DHS Interchange Agreement.

Reasonable Accommodation:  Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the TSA HRAccess Help Desk at 1-877-872-7990 or TTY 1-877-872-7992.

Bargaining Unit Status:  This position is in the bargaining unit for which the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the exclusive representative.

Reemployed Annuitants:  Since the TSO position is permanent, it does not meet the eligibility requirement for a salary offset waiver under the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010.  Therefore, former Federal or Postal Service employees who are receiving a civilian retirement annuity may have their salary reduced by the amount of their pension, which could result in a biweekly net pay as low as zero dollars ($0.00) or a debt owed to the Federal Government.


TSO Dress and Appearance Responsibilities:   TSOs are required to adhere to the Personal Appearance Standard that requires a neat, clean and professional appearance while on duty or while wearing a uniform.  This includes adherence to policies on accessories and grooming.  For example, with the exception of 1/4 inch stud-type earrings, body and/or tongue piercing may not be visible to the public. In addition, tattoos of any kind on the head, face, and exposed areas of the neck must be covered at all times and not visible to the general public. TSA issued and approved items such as turtlenecks or dickies may be used to cover tattoos on the lower neck. 

Work Schedules for Full-time Positions:   Specific work shifts and schedules will be determined by the airport.

Maintaining Employment:   All TSOs must maintain the standard level of certification and fitness for duty, to include:

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National and at least 18 years of age
• Pass a drug screening, medical evaluation, and background investigation
• Subject to post-employment random drug and/or alcohol testing
• Must be registered for Selective Service (males born after 12/31/59)
• Must be available to work various shifts and overtime, as needed
• Mandatory travel for training and occasional travel may be required
• • Have a high school diploma, General Educational Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), or Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) credential OR at least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician
• Be proficient in the English language (i.e., able to read, write, speak, and comprehend)
• Full-time positions require 40 hours per week;
• Full-time 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.
• 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

How You Will Be Evaluated

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you may be invited to take a Computer Based Test (CBT) to confirm English language proficiency and evaluate x-ray interpretation aptitude. Upon passing the CBT, you will be eligible to be scheduled for additional assessments, which include: (1) a structured interview to determine, among other qualities, your decision making skill and your ability to work with teams and the general public; (2) a drug screening; and, (3) a job related medical evaluation that includes a color vision test, vision exam, hearing exam, and adequate joint mobility exam (in part to determine the physical potential to repeatedly lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds, to stand for prolonged periods (e.g. 3-4 hours) of time without a break, and to walk up to three miles during a shift). Upon passing these assessments, you will be subject to a pre-hire background investigation. Based upon passing the pre-hire background investigation and a qualitative evaluation of the criteria above, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

Best Qualified:  Applicants demonstrating a superior level of all evaluation criteria.
Highly Qualified:  Applicants demonstrating a more than satisfactory level of the evaluation criteria.
Qualified:  Applicants demonstrating minimal or basic satisfactory qualifications, with general knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Open to All U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals

For further information concerning U.S. citizenship, please Click Here.

For more information on TSO medical requirements, please Click Here.

For more information on TSO eligibility standards and background requirements, please Click Here.

For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please Click Here.

To preview questions please click here.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance

Not Required

Drug test required

Yes

• Required Documents Help

  Required Documents

   

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

  • If you are claiming Veteran's Preference based upon period of service, a compensable disability, a widow or spouse entitlement, or as a Purple Heart recipient, please submit a copy of the following documents, as applicable:  Form DD-214 - Certification of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member 4 copy), Form SF-15 - Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, and any documentation that supports your claim (e.g., Department of Veterans Affairs letter dated 1991 or later.  Please refer to the SF-15 form to determine what documentation is required.  To access this form, please Click Here.)
  • A copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) if you are a current or former Federal employee.  Current or former U.S. Postal Service employees should submit a copy of their Notification of Personnel Action (PS-50).
• Benefits Help

  Benefits

  A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal 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:  uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; transportation subsidies; and tuition reimbursement.  DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities.  For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Employee Benefits."
  
  Employees who transfer to TSA from an agency that allows employees to maintain an annual leave balance higher than the maximum accumulation for the appointed position will have their leave ceiling set to the maximum accumulation for the appointed position (e.g., United States duty location - 240 hours, foreign duty location - 360 hours).  TSA will not make a monetary payment for any leave forfeited under these circumstances.  
  
  Starting a career with TSA as a TSO may lead to promotion possibilities within DHS.