Compare careers
Factual side-by-side attributes from the imported O*NET and BLS OEWS datasets. No career is ranked or recommended.
Career A (or your current career)
Validation Engineers
Career B (or your target career)
Penetration Testers
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Comparison table
| Metric | Validation Engineers | Penetration Testers |
|---|---|---|
| National median salary | $102,440 | $116,580 |
| Local median salary | Not published | Not published |
| National employment | 365,740 | 435,370 |
| Typical education | Bachelor's Degree | Not recorded |
| Job zone | 4 | 4 |
| Important skills | Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring | Critical Thinking, Writing, Reading Comprehension, Programming, Active Listening |
| Related careers | Software Developers, Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Automotive Engineering Technicians | Computer and Information Systems Managers, Quality Control Analysts, Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors, Database Architects |
Career transition: skill overlap
Skill overlap
93%
13 of 14 target skills
Target-only skills
1
Current-only skills
7
Skill overlap compares O*NET skills rated at importance 3.0 or above for each occupation. It is a measure of listed skill overlap, not a probability of getting the job.
Shared skills
- Critical Thinking+0.3 level
- Reading Comprehension—
- Writing—
- Complex Problem Solving—
- Active Listening—
- Systems Evaluation+0.7 level
- Active Learning+0.5 level
- Judgment and Decision Making+0.5 level
- Monitoring—
- Systems Analysis+0.1 level
- Speaking—
- Quality Control Analysis+0.3 level
- Time Management—
Only in Penetration Testers
- Programming
Only in Validation Engineers
- Science
- Mathematics
- Social Perceptiveness
- Operations Monitoring
- Operations Analysis
- Learning Strategies
- Coordination