Penetration Testers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$116,580
United States, 2025
Employment
435,370
United States, 2025
Typical education
Not recorded
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.
- O*NET code
- 15-1299.04
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- Test the security of systems by attempting to gain access to networks, Web-based applications, or computers.
- Document penetration test findings.
- Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
- Write audit reports to communicate technical and procedural findings and recommend solutions.
- Gather cyber intelligence to identify vulnerabilities.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of hacking trends.
- Keep up with new penetration testing tools and methods.
- Identify new threat tactics, techniques, or procedures used by cyber threat actors.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$55,940
25th percentile
$79,370
75th percentile
$157,500
90th percentile
$188,470
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking4.4
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Programming3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.6
- Active Learning3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Monitoring3.5
- Systems Analysis3.5
- Speaking3.4
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 14 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
14
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.4 | 4.4 | Not selected | 4.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 4.5 | Not selected | 4.5 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Programming | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.5 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.4 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $175,140
Compare with Penetration TestersSupplemental
National median $115,160
Compare with Penetration TestersSupplemental
National median $99,130
Compare with Penetration TestersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $184,430 | 16,680 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $161,700 | 16,930 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $160,520 | 7,850 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $156,640 | — | 2025 |
| DC | $156,590 | 17,200 | 2025 |
| Hagerstown, MD | $148,700 | 350 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | $147,590 | 1,120 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $144,680 | 1,000 | 2025 |
| MD | $144,680 | 19,060 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | 220 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $140,750 | 800 | 2025 |
| CO | $139,580 | 11,800 | 2025 |
| VA | $139,030 | 17,000 | 2025 |
| DE | $137,470 | 860 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $136,120 | 10,710 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | $135,600 | 9,010 | 2025 |
| CA | $134,440 | 80,150 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $131,730 | 500 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | $131,600 | 1,590 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | $129,940 | 2,410 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Penetration Testers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.