TSA hiring officers at Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse Airports

TSA Officers at Syracuse Hancock International Airport staff a Computed Tomography checkpoint scanner. (TSA photo)

ALBANY, N.Y. - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is looking to hire TSA officers at Syracuse Hancock International, Albany International and Buffalo-Niagara International Airports within the next few months.

TSA officers screen thousands of airline travelers daily, ensuring they arrive at their destinations safely. TSA expects to screen a greater volume of travelers regularly by summer and needs additional officers to support its security mission.

Based on anticipated seasonal travel trends in the months ahead, TSA has launched efforts to recruit new employees in support of screening operations in Upstate New York airports in addition to many of the agency's other airports nationwide.

A passenger scans his electronic boarding pass at a security checkpoint. (TSA photo)

Benefits of working at TSA for both part- and full-time employees include paid training, annual and sick leave and strong health care plans. TSA is committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment and encourages individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including military veterans and persons with disabilities. Starting pay differs slightly in each area due to cost of living in various localities. Hourly starting pay for Albany is $21.24 an hour; $20.63 per hour in Syracuse; and $19.80 per hour in Buffalo.

TSA offers employees opportunities for significant pay increases in their first five years on the job, which equate to a 62 percent increase from year one. In addition to promotions and step increases, TSA officers are eligible for premium pay of up to an additional 25 percent for working Sundays and nights. Officers are also eligible to earn a variety of performance-based cash awards.

"Applicants do not need previous experience working in security or law enforcement fields. Our officers will receive extensive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and they are paid while undergoing training," said Bart R. Johnson, TSA's Federal Security Director for the airports in Upstate New York.

"The TSA was created after the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001, and by joining the TSA you be on the front line of protecting the travelling public and you will also be part of our national security enterprise," Johnson added.

For more information on the duties of a TSA officer and to learn a little more about TSA's mission, a video titled "Day in the Life of a TSO" is available. To view open positions for TSA officers around the country, visit https://jobs.tsa.gov/transport-security-officer.