As with most things pay oriented in America, it's not what you deserve, it's what you can negotiate.

The TSA is currently non-union. This is likely to change over the next 3 years. Once it does, you can be sure that they'll negotiate far, far better salaries. They will use the same argument that pilots do ("awesome responsibility", "stressful", "zero mistakes" and all that), and I suspect it will be successful. They will also argue that it will only take a "small" increase in the current TSA fee's leveled against passengers to give them these raises, and I'm willing to bet the flying public will say "ok", then blame airlines for expensive tickets.

(where else in America does the federal government charge "protection money" to keep you safe from foreign terrorists?)

All of this has little, if anything, to do with the quality of the personnel at the TSA. Even if they were paid, say $50-60k/yr, it's highly unlikely they'd start with a clean slate of newer, higher qualified candidates who might consider the job given the higher pay. So you'll be left with the same screeners you have today, only making more money, at our passengers expense.

But hey . . . . it's not what you deserve, it's WHAT YOU CAN NEGOTIATE.