As of January 2013, D-banded TSOs receive annual salaries of between $25,518 and $38,277, while E-banded officers are paid between $29,302 and $44,007. These salary bands do not include the additional locality pay that TSA employees working in high-cost areas are eligible to receive.
Owning a small RV is the clear winner for both trips, with costs of $865 and $3,077, respectively. The traditional vacation is next at $1,433 and $4,466. And the rented RV is most expensive, at $1,910 and $5,820. Owning a small RV lets you travel for only 60%-70% of the traditional car-plus-hotel cost.
He said he bought a $300,000 motorhome five and a half years ago. He made a $55,000 down payment, and paid $25,264 in state tax. By driving the RV 40,000 miles at an average of 6.8 mpg with diesel fuel averaging $4 per gallon, he suspects he paid $23,258 for fuel. Maintenance averaged about $4,000 per year, or $22,000 during the time he owned the RV. He knows he will need to replace all eight tires next year, at a cost of $800 each.