TSA Introduces New Compensation Plan for Employees

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented its new Transportation Security Compensation Plan, a pay equity plan for its employees.

This plan honors the commitment by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas to invest in TSA’s workforce through a modernized pay structure comparable with the federal General Schedule pay scale, regular step increases, and a clear progression for pay mobility and growth. The plan went into effect earlier this month.

“Ensuring that every TSA employee is paid fairly, at the same levels as our federal counterparts, has been my top priority,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.

“TSA’s new compensation plan ensures this, and I want to be clear that we are not going back to the old pay system. Our ability to recruit and retain a vigilant, professional, and engaged workforce has been significantly improved by the promise of equal pay, which is now a reality. I am grateful for President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, Congress and [American Federation of Government Employees] President Kelley for supporting this effort so that we can continue to meet our mission.”

“Fighting for fair pay of the TSA workforce has been one of my highest priorities and I am proud that we have accomplished this critical goal,” said Mayorkas. “Pay equity is an important milestone but it is not a capstone, and I look forward to continuing to support the entire DHS workforce alongside our partners in Congress and across the Administration.”

Since the announcement of the new compensation plan back in December, TSA has witnessed a marked decrease in employee attrition levels, a subsequent rise in retention rates and increased applicant interest across various TSA job categories. The attrition rate has dropped 61 percent since October 2022. Attrition rates in FY19 and FY22 were 18 percent and 19.1 percent, respectively.

TSA’s new compensation plan covers all TSA non-executive employees, including transportation security officers, vetting and intelligence analysts, inspectors, cybersecurity experts, federal air marshals, and canine handlers—as well as management and administrative professionals.