BANGOR – With a little more than three months to go on deadlines for implementing a federal security system, airport officials are seeking more applicants for security screening positions at some Maine airports.

Federal airport officials have received sufficient interest for security screener positions at airports in Bangor and Augusta, but more applicants are needed at some of the state’s smaller airports, according to John Booth, who serves as the Transportation Security Administration’s federal security director for five airports in the state.

“The numbers [of applicants] are looking good for Bangor and Augusta, but we’re still looking for applicants in Bar Harbor, Rockland and Presque Isle,” Booth said.

Applicants who pass a background check and meet other qualifications can expect a salary of between $23,600 and $35,400.

Congress ordered the new federal transportation agency to take over passenger screening by mid-November and start screening baggage by Dec. 31. The TSA has said 67,000 employees will be required nationwide, though Congress capped its work force at 45,000.

In Portland, Global Airport Security Services, which handles security at the Portland International Jetport, has had trouble recruiting screeners because of a tight job market and relatively low pay, according to Jeff Schultes, the airport’s manager.

Schultes said he expects the number of applicants to increase because of layoffs and higher federal salaries.

The changeover to federal security at airports is conducted by the TSA and involves the reconfiguration of airport security checkpoints based on a national model and recruitment of a federal work force of security screeners.

Screeners currently working with the state’s airports won’t be laid off, Booth said. Screeners who pass an assessment will be offered new positions as federal screeners for TSA, Booth said.

“Our goal is to end up with the same amount of screeners or more than we already have in place,” Booth said.

Additional federal personnel may be required at the end of the year when TSA assumes the responsibility of screening baggage, Booth said.

Booth said that interested persons could apply online at www.monster.com or TSA’s Web site, www.tsa.dot.gov.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.