▼27%
$100,340
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$65k
MEDIAN
$100k
90%
$149k
The average salary for a Penetration Tester is $100,340 in 2025
Base Salary
$65k - $149k
Bonus
$2k - $14k
Profit Sharing
$497 - $22k
Total Pay
$64k - $157k
Is Average Penetration Tester Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for Penetration Testers?
What Do Penetration Testers Do?
Find your market worth – how it works:
How do Penetration Testers Rate Their Jobs?
Based on 23 responses, the job of Penetration Tester has received a job satisfaction rating of 4.14 out of 5. On average, Penetration Testers are highly satisfied with their job.
Common Health Benefits for a Penetration Tester
Medical
89%
Dental
80%
Vision
75%
None
11%
Gender Breakdown for Penetration Testers
Male
79.7%
Female
17.2%
Prefer to self-define
2.3%
This data is based on 128 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About Penetration Testers
What is the highest pay for Penetration Testers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a Penetration Tester is $149k / year
What is the lowest pay for Penetration Testers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a Penetration Tester is $65k / year
How can Penetration Testers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a Penetration Tester is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a Penetration Tester that oversees more junior Penetration Testers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.