More than 32,000 Transportation Security Administration screeners will receive performance-based salary raises on top of the usual governmentwide pay raise in January.

 

The rating distribution is essentially identical to last year's, as are raise percentages and bonus levels. About 7,200 transportation security officers who were rated highest on TSA's five-level performance rating system will get performance-based raises of 4 percent, plus one-time bonuses of $2,500, according to an internal report on the Performance Accountability and Standards System, or PASS.

 

Roughly 13,600 screeners rated 4 out of 5 will get 2 percent performance raises and $1,500 bonuses.

 

And about 11,400 screeners rated level 3 will get 1 percent performance raises and $1,000 bonuses.

 

More than 10,000 screeners who were rated level 2 will get a $500 bonus, but will get no additional performance-based raise. Fewer than 10 screeners rated level 1 will not receive any performance-based raise or bonus.

 

TSA said all screeners will receive the same cost-of-living increase, plus locality pay, that General Schedule employees will receive in January. That raise has not been finalized, although the White House is calling for a 2 percent raise. TSA said its more than 42,300 PASS employees do not receive the regular step increases GS employees receive.

 

The American Federation of Government Employees said that PASS is a flawed, subjective system and criticized TSA for raising the number of points employees must earn on their tests to reach the next rating level.

 

But TSA spokesman Greg Soule said the agency had to raise the point ranges — which vary by test — because screeners were getting better at their jobs and had to be held to a higher standard.

 

"Employees are collectively raising the bar, so the PASS thresholds that have increased are commensurate with the overall improved performance of the workforce," Soule said. "This allows us to continue to make meaningful distinctions in the workforce."