Get our free mobile app

Even though travel at airports is still way down, thanks to the pandemic, the TSA is looking to hire more officers this year-- including here in Minnesota.

One of the big industries affected by our ongoing battle with the coronavirus has been the travel industry. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the pandemic appearing on our shores here in the U.S., the number of Americans flying is still way down.

Here in Minnesota, traffic was down 60 percent at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP) in Bloomington in 2020 alone. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to the continuing rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and as more Americans get vaccinated, experts are predicting 2021 will be a transition year-- with our economy starting to finally bounce back from the crushing blows of the pandemic.

This forward-thinking is no doubt why the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced last week that it is looking to fill 6,000 Transportation Security Officer (TSO) positions at 430 major airports in the U.S.-- including here in Minnesota. The TSA says it expects a higher number of travelers regularly by the summer months and will need additional officers to keep airports safe. And, the TSA says there are opportunities in dozens of cities for individuals seeking part-time and full-time opportunities. (Here in Minnesota, MSP Airport is one of the locations for which the TSA is hiring, along with Bemidji and Thief River Falls.)

According to the TSA, benefits of being a TSO include access to medical coverage, vacation, and sick leave, and retirement plans. At MSP, pay for a full-time TSO starts at $37,014 a year. The 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, it also noted. (Click HERE to see where the TSA has openings in Minnesota.)

If being a TSA officer isn't really what you'd like to do but you're still looking for a new opportunity, keep scrolling to check out some of the jobs that pay the most here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!

Listen to Curt St. John from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5
and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 103.9 The Doc

KEEP READING: The 30 Highest Paying Jobs in Minnesota

More From Y-105FM