Career comparison
Correctional Officer vs. Transportation Security Officer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Transportation security officers earn more at the median ($66,770 vs. $58,940), while transportation security officers usually get to work faster (2–4 weeks of training). Correctional officers keep order and safety inside jails and prisons. Transportation security officers screen passengers and bags to keep air travel safe.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Correctional Officer | Transportation Security Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,940 ($28.34/hr) | $66,770 ($32.10/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $42,760 – $93,220 | $44,700 – $78,350 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -7.4% (a projected decline) | -4.2% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 28,400 | 4,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 2–4 months (academy) | 2–4 weeks |
| Key credential | State corrections officer certification | TSA Officer certification |
| Work setting | Officers work inside secure facilities that can be noisy, crowded and tense, with the risk of assault. | Officers work at airport checkpoints and baggage areas, standing for long periods in noisy, busy environments.. |
What each job does
Correctional Officer
- Supervise people in housing units
- Conduct counts and security checks
- Search people, cells and areas for contraband
- Escort people within and outside the facility
- Respond to fights, disturbances and emergencies
Transportation Security Officer
- Check IDs and boarding passes
- Operate X-ray and body scanners
- Inspect carry-on and checked bags
- Perform pat-downs
- Detect prohibited items and explosives
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, shift work, high responsibility, and teamwork. Both are part of the public safety & security field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose correctional officer if…
- I can stay calm in tense situations
- I can be firm and fair
- I want public service work with good benefits
Choose transportation security officer if…
- I’m detail-oriented
- I can stay professional with frustrated people
- I want a federal job
Still torn? Take the Correctional Officer fit quiz and the Transportation Security Officer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, correctional officer or transportation security officer?
Transportation Security Officers earn more at the median: $66,770 versus $58,940 for correctional officers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Transportation Security Officers typically train faster (2–4 weeks) than correctional officers (2–4 months (academy)).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects transportation security officers to grow -4.2% from 2025–35, compared with -7.4% for correctional officers.