Penetration Testers salary by location
National median: $116,580 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $184,430 | +58.2% | 16,680 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | metropolitan | $161,700 | +38.7% | 16,930 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $160,520 | +37.7% | 7,850 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $156,640 | +34.4% | — | 2025 |
| DC | state | $156,590 | +34.3% | 17,200 | 2025 |
| Hagerstown, MD | metropolitan | $148,700 | +27.6% | 350 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | metropolitan | $147,590 | +26.6% | 1,120 | 2025 |
| MD | state | $144,680 | +24.1% | 19,060 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | metropolitan | $144,680 | +24.1% | 1,000 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | metropolitan | $144,580 | +24.0% | 220 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport, CT | metropolitan | $140,750 | +20.7% | 800 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $139,580 | +19.7% | 11,800 | 2025 |
| VA | state | $139,030 | +19.3% | 17,000 | 2025 |
| DE | state | $137,470 | +17.9% | 860 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $136,120 | +16.8% | 10,710 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | metropolitan | $135,600 | +16.3% | 9,010 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $134,440 | +15.3% | 80,150 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | metropolitan | $131,730 | +13.0% | 500 | 2025 |
| Charleston, SC | metropolitan | $131,600 | +12.9% | 1,590 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | metropolitan | $129,940 | +11.5% | 2,410 | 2025 |
| Austin, TX | metropolitan | $129,470 | +11.1% | 10,100 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $128,940 | +10.6% | 14,360 | 2025 |
| Jackson, MI | metropolitan | $128,570 | +10.3% | 110 | 2025 |
| Santa Maria, CA | metropolitan | $128,390 | +10.1% | 670 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | metropolitan | $127,820 | +9.6% | 870 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $127,720 | +9.6% | 3,100 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $127,600 | +9.5% | 7,340 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $127,360 | +9.2% | 19,540 | 2025 |
| Sebastian, FL | metropolitan | $127,190 | +9.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| NM | state | $127,090 | +9.0% | 1,650 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $126,910 | +8.9% | 16,230 | 2025 |
| Waterbury, CT | metropolitan | $126,330 | +8.4% | 270 | 2025 |
| Durham, NC | metropolitan | $126,300 | +8.3% | 2,090 | 2025 |
| York, PA | metropolitan | $125,050 | +7.3% | 550 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $121,990 | +4.6% | 7,360 | 2025 |
| Burlington, VT | metropolitan | $121,850 | +4.5% | 840 | 2025 |
| Fort Collins, CO | metropolitan | $121,610 | +4.3% | 490 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $121,230 | +4.0% | 4,800 | 2025 |
| Bellingham, WA | metropolitan | $120,540 | +3.4% | 140 | 2025 |
| Huntsville, AL | metropolitan | $120,450 | +3.3% | 890 | 2025 |
| HI | state | $120,100 | +3.0% | 2,080 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | metropolitan | $120,100 | +3.0% | 1,880 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | metropolitan | $119,520 | +2.5% | 590 | 2025 |
| Greeley, CO | metropolitan | $119,130 | +2.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| Winchester, VA | metropolitan | $118,290 | +1.5% | 220 | 2025 |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | metropolitan | $118,120 | +1.3% | 500 | 2025 |
| Hartford, CT | metropolitan | $117,600 | +0.9% | 1,020 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $116,990 | +0.4% | 11,460 | 2025 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | metropolitan | $116,920 | +0.3% | 3,490 | 2025 |
| Dayton, OH | metropolitan | $116,580 | +0.0% | 1,110 | 2025 |
| Greenville, NC | metropolitan | $116,080 | −0.4% | 120 | 2025 |
| Chambersburg, PA | metropolitan | $116,030 | −0.5% | 240 | 2025 |
| Palm Bay, FL | metropolitan | $115,920 | −0.6% | 510 | 2025 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | metropolitan | $115,750 | −0.7% | 60 | 2025 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | metropolitan | $115,210 | −1.2% | 80 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | metropolitan | $114,000 | −2.2% | 970 | 2025 |
| Portland, ME | metropolitan | $113,760 | −2.4% | 570 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | metropolitan | $113,190 | −2.9% | 410 | 2025 |
| New Haven, CT | metropolitan | $113,170 | −2.9% | 360 | 2025 |
| Blacksburg, VA | metropolitan | $112,820 | −3.2% | 90 | 2025 |
| Battle Creek, MI | metropolitan | $112,400 | −3.6% | 300 | 2025 |
| Pensacola, FL | metropolitan | $112,400 | −3.6% | 490 | 2025 |
| Grand Junction, CO | metropolitan | $112,400 | −3.6% | 70 | 2025 |
| SC | state | $112,260 | −3.7% | 4,300 | 2025 |
| Norwich, CT | metropolitan | $112,090 | −3.9% | 140 | 2025 |
| VT | state | $111,530 | −4.3% | 1,320 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $111,530 | −4.3% | 57,020 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | metropolitan | $111,070 | −4.7% | 1,280 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $110,980 | −4.8% | 2,700 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | metropolitan | $110,790 | −5.0% | 3,290 | 2025 |
| Davenport, IA | metropolitan | $110,640 | −5.1% | 460 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | metropolitan | $110,590 | −5.1% | 3,380 | 2025 |
| San Antonio, TX | metropolitan | $110,440 | −5.3% | 5,100 | 2025 |
| Longview, TX | metropolitan | $110,310 | −5.4% | 190 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | metropolitan | $110,180 | −5.5% | 1,080 | 2025 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | metropolitan | $110,090 | −5.6% | 1,680 | 2025 |
| Raleigh, NC | metropolitan | $110,030 | −5.6% | 3,620 | 2025 |
| Gettysburg, PA | metropolitan | $109,970 | −5.7% | 110 | 2025 |
| Wildwood, FL | metropolitan | $109,780 | −5.8% | 40 | 2025 |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | metropolitan | $109,780 | −5.8% | 90 | 2025 |
| OH | state | $109,780 | −5.8% | 6,150 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $109,700 | −5.9% | 20,060 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $109,590 | −6.0% | 6,170 | 2025 |
| Des Moines, IA | metropolitan | $109,490 | −6.1% | 1,770 | 2025 |
| Las Cruces, NM | metropolitan | $109,430 | −6.1% | 170 | 2025 |
| Montgomery, AL | metropolitan | $109,300 | −6.2% | 740 | 2025 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | metropolitan | $109,090 | −6.4% | 110 | 2025 |
| Brunswick, GA | metropolitan | $108,890 | −6.6% | 90 | 2025 |
| Sioux City, IA | metropolitan | $108,820 | −6.7% | 130 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | metropolitan | $108,730 | −6.7% | 13,750 | 2025 |
| St. Louis, MO | metropolitan | $108,450 | −7.0% | 7,330 | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $108,310 | −7.1% | 12,010 | 2025 |
| ME | state | $107,990 | −7.4% | 900 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | metropolitan | $107,990 | −7.4% | 180 | 2025 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | metropolitan | $107,910 | −7.4% | 260 | 2025 |
| Waterloo, IA | metropolitan | $107,660 | −7.7% | 140 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | metropolitan | $107,560 | −7.7% | 3,830 | 2025 |
| IA | state | $107,340 | −7.9% | 3,850 | 2025 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | metropolitan | $107,310 | −8.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $107,230 | −8.0% | 14,580 | 2025 |