# Penetration Tester Salary in United States

Penetration Tester
roles
represents a dynamic career opportunity in United States's expanding job market. The role demands both technical proficiency and innovative thinking, rewarding qualified professionals with competitive benefits.

Tax rateApprox. 24%DemandVery HighLast updated10 Jul 2026

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### [United States](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa.md) [United Kingdom](https://jobicy.com/salaries/uk.md) [Canada](https://jobicy.com/salaries/ca.md) [Australia](https://jobicy.com/salaries/au.md) [Germany](https://jobicy.com/salaries/de.md) [France](https://jobicy.com/salaries/fr.md) [Spain](https://jobicy.com/salaries/es.md) [Italy](https://jobicy.com/salaries/it.md) [Netherlands](https://jobicy.com/salaries/nl.md) [Sweden](https://jobicy.com/salaries/se.md) [Ireland](https://jobicy.com/salaries/ie.md) [Switzerland](https://jobicy.com/salaries/ch.md)

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›*  [Penetration Tester](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/penetration-tester.md)

## Role overview

As a specialized Penetration Tester, the primary focus revolves around modernizing business paradigms and maximizing efficiency. This domain relies heavily on continuous iterative improvement, tool alignment, and direct execution paths. Continuous scaling opportunities exist for experts ready to adapt to shifting technological demands.

## Annual Salary – 2026

High accuracy144 recent reports confirm data accuracy  ·  Upd: 10 Jul 2026

* PNG $130,000 Average Salary$81,500 - $102,100

Junior 0-2 years

$106,100 - $161,600

Mid-Level 3-5 years

$161,300 - $227,100

Senior 6+ years

### Earnings Breakdown

Estimated Take-Home Pay Expected monthly net income after localized tax deductions (approx. 24%) $8,233 Hourly Rate Equivalent Based on standard 40-hour work week parameters $40.63 - $96.88 Annual Bonus Range Typical performance-based extra compensation $13,000 - $19,500 Equity & Stock Bonus Estimated capital compensation incentives Up to $13,000

### Financial Planning & Budgets

Monthly Savings Target Recommended 36% baseline slice for future wealth security $                        3,900 Retirement Contribution Target Recommended 14% allocation for long-term retirement accounts $                        1,500 Maximum Housing Budget Suggested upper limit for monthly rent/mortgage and utilities Up to $2,200 Emergency Safety Net Recommended 3 to 6 months liquidity cushion target $32,500 - $65,000

### Healthcare Infrastructure

Medical, dental, and vision insurance profiles inside private-tier remote contractor markets.

Approx. $7,800 / year

![Upload CV](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)

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## Salary Visualization

![Salary Distribution for Penetration Tester in United States - July 2026](https://jobicy.com/api/jpgraph/chart.php?p10=81500&p25=106100&p50=130000&p75=161600&p90=227100&currency=%24&currency_code=USD&title=Penetration+Tester&country=United+States)

![Salary Growth by Experience for Penetration Tester in United States - July 2026](https://jobicy.com/api/jpgraph/experience_chart.php?j_avg=91800&m_avg=133850&s_avg=194200&currency=%24&currency_code=USD&title=Penetration+Tester&country=United+States)

![Monthly Salary Breakdown for Penetration Tester in United States - July 2026](https://jobicy.com/api/jpgraph/pie_chart.php?taxes=2600&savings=3867&retirement=1462&housing=2166&disposable=736&currency=%24&currency_code=USD&title=Penetration+Tester&country=United+States)

## Latest Remote Penetration Tester Jobs

[![Smartsheet logo](https://jobicy.com/data/server-nyc0409/galaxy/mercury/2025/06/8b6103bd-221.jpg) Senior Security Engineer II, Application Security (Remote Eligible) Smartsheet](https://jobicy.com/jobs/147873-senior-security-engineer-ii-application-security-remote-eligible.md) [All Penetration Tester Jobs →](https://jobicy.com/jobs?search_keywords=Penetration+Tester.md)

## 12-Month Salary Trend

Over the past 12 months, the average compensation for Penetration Tester roles in United States has increased by 11.2%. The estimated average salary moved from $116,900 in Aug 2025 to $130,000 as of Jul 2026.

### Historical Salary Data Table

Time PeriodAverage Salary (Annual)Hourly Rate (Range)Jul 2026  $130,000   $41 - $97 Jun 2026  $127,300   $40 - $95 May 2026  $128,800   $40 - $96 Apr 2026  $123,400   $39 - $92 Mar 2026  $122,300   $38 - $91 Feb 2026  $126,700   $40 - $94 Jan 2026  $119,800   $37 - $89 Dec 2025  $121,600   $38 - $91 Nov 2025  $121,900   $38 - $91 Oct 2025  $117,600   $37 - $88 Sep 2025  $122,500   $38 - $91 Aug 2025  $116,900   $37 - $87

## Similar Positions

Other positions similar to Penetration Tester:

[AI Engineer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/ai-engineer.md) [AI Prompt Engineer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/ai-prompt-engineer.md) [AI Training Specialist](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/ai-training-specialist.md) [API Integration Specialist](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/api-integration-specialist.md) [Automation Consultant](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/automation-consultant.md) [Automation Engineer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/automation-engineer.md) [Blockchain Developer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/blockchain-developer.md) [Blockchain Protocol Developer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/blockchain-protocol-developer.md) [Blockchain Security Analyst](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/blockchain-security-analyst.md) [Cloud Architect](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/cloud-architect.md) [Cloud Security Architect](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/cloud-security-architect.md) [Cloud Solutions Architect](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/cloud-solutions-architect.md) [C++ Developer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/cplusplus-developer.md) [Cybersecurity Analyst](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/cybersecurity-analyst.md) [Data Engineer](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/data-engineer.md) [Data Migration Specialist](https://jobicy.com/salaries/usa/data-migration-specialist.md)

## Education Requirements

Technical or academic degree in a matching discipline backed by modern remote workflow knowledge

### Professional Certifications

Global Agile Practitioner License

### Training & Development

*

Industry conference participation support
*     Access to advanced technical training resources

## Required Skills

### Core Skills

Active Listening Adaptability Documentation Task Prioritization Analytical Mindset Information Security Awareness Critical Thinking Time Management

### Trending Skills

SaaS Platforms Digital Literacy Automation Cloud-based Resource Auditing AI Tooling

### Emerging Skills

Virtual Cooperation Cross-functional Sync Digital Workflows AI-Driven Analytics Decentralized Data Assetization Prompt Optimization
*
![Upload CV](data:image/svg+xml;base64,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)

### Upload your resume now

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## Specifics

### Work Environment

Fully remote ecosystem optimized for asynchronous execution

### Tools

Asana Loom Miro ClickUp Slack

### Collaboration

Async-first communication models via standardized digital workspaces

### Time Zones

Flexible with baseline core hours aligned to North American time zones (EST/PST)

## Benefits

### Common Benefits

Remote Work Options    Flexible Hours    Home Office Allowance    High-end Hardware Budget    Learning & Development Stipend

### Additional Benefits

Mental Health Support    Coworking Space Access    Internet Allowance

## Market Trends * PNG

### Demand

Very High

### Growth Rate

25% annual growth

### Remote Work

Availability: Very High

Trend: Significant shift towards fully remote positions with companies offering comprehensive remote work infrastructure and digital collaboration tools

#### Job Platforms

Jobicy CareerBuilder Wellfound GitHub Jobs

#### Key Industries

Digital Marketing Automotive Tech EdTech Blockchain Space Technology Telecommunications Clean Tech

## Cross-Country Pay Scale

PNG

Explore Penetration Tester salaries worldwide. Below you'll find a comparison of average annual compensation in different countries relative to the base rate in United States ($130,000).

[![France flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/fr.svg) France$70,000 46% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/fr/penetration-tester.md) [![Portugal flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/pt.svg) Portugal$50,000 62% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/pt/penetration-tester.md) [![United Kingdom flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/gb.svg) United Kingdom$103,800 20% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/uk/penetration-tester.md) [![Singapore flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/sg.svg) Singapore$115,000 12% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/sg/penetration-tester.md) [![Austria flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/at.svg) Austria$66,300 49% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/at/penetration-tester.md) [![Hong Kong flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/hk.svg) Hong Kong$85,000 35% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/hk/penetration-tester.md) [![Spain flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/es.svg) Spain$53,800 59% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/es/penetration-tester.md) [![Luxembourg flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/lu.svg) Luxembourg$118,800 9% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/lu/penetration-tester.md) [![Japan flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/jp.svg) Japan$61,300 53% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/jp/penetration-tester.md) [![India flag](https://cloud.jobicy.com/nyc4-cold/img/flags/in.svg) India$42,500 67% lower](https://jobicy.com/salaries/in/penetration-tester.md)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the average Penetration Tester salary in United States?

The average salary for a Penetration Tester in United States is $130,000 per year. Entry-level positions (Junior Level) start near $81,500 - $102,100, while experienced professionals (Senior Level) can earn up to $161,300 - $227,100.

### What skills are required for a Penetration Tester role?

Core skills include Active Listening, Adaptability, Documentation, Task Prioritization. Trending industrial skills are SaaS Platforms, Digital Literacy, Automation, while key emerging skills focus heavily on Virtual Cooperation, Cross-functional Sync, Digital Workflows.

### What is the job market outlook for Penetration Testers?

The job market currently shows a Very High demand trajectory with a 25% annual growth trend factor. Remote availability remains active across modern employment hubs, primarily within sectors like Digital Marketing, Automotive Tech, EdTech, Blockchain.

### What benefits are typically offered to Penetration Testers in United States?

Common base benefits generally encompass Remote Work Options, Flexible Hours, Home Office Allowance, High-end Hardware Budget. Additional remote allowances and workspace bonuses frequently include elements like Mental Health Support, Coworking Space Access, Internet Allowance.

### What roles are similar to Penetration Tester?

Positions sharing overlapping technical responsibilities and operational workflows include Penetration Tester Consultant, Penetration Tester Specialist, Junior Penetration Tester, Freelance Penetration Tester. These paths offer alternative vertical career progression steps within distributed ecosystems.

### What is the hourly rate for Penetration Testers in United States?

Calculated against standard full-time operational hours, Penetration Testers typically average between $40.63 and $96.88 per hour. Actual contractual rates vary by platform scale and specific niche mastery.

### What are the core and trending skills for Penetration Testers?

Fundamental foundational competencies focus on Active Listening, Adaptability, Documentation. To remain optimized for modern digital hiring cycles, candidates must actively integrate trending stacks like SaaS Platforms, Digital Literacy, Automation alongside advanced systems like Virtual Cooperation, Cross-functional Sync, Digital Workflows.

##

How We Estimate Salaries

Jobicy salary estimates are based on data collected from public compensation databases,
active job postings, and anonymous salary reports submitted by professionals.
We compare these sources and adjust the results using country-specific economic indicators,
including purchasing power parity (PPP), estimated average income taxes
(approximately 24%),
and local living costs in United States.
This approach helps us provide realistic salary benchmarks for remote jobs.

[Learn more about how we calculate salary estimates →](https://jobicy.com/tools/help-center/general-questions/how-we-calculate-salary-estimates.md)

### Data Sources

Our salary estimates combine information from government statistics,
public salary databases, labor market research, active job listings,
and anonymous salary submissions.

[U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/)
* [Eurostat](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat)
* [ILOSTAT](https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/)
* [OECD](https://data-explorer.oecd.org/)
* [World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/)
* [Glassdoor](https://www.glassdoor.com)
* [Levels.fyi](https://www.levels.fyi)
* [Indeed](https://www.indeed.com)
* [Anonymous Jobicy Salary Reports](https://jobicy.com/salaries.md)

### Was this salary estimate helpful?

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Disclaimer: Salary estimates and financial calculations on this page are provided for informational purposes only.
They are generated using publicly available market data and economic indicators, including purchasing power,
estimated taxes, and exchange rates. Actual compensation varies depending on experience, skills, industry,
company size, location, benefits, negotiation, and employer policies. These estimates should be used as a
general reference rather than a guarantee of actual compensation and do not constitute financial, legal,
or tax advice.

Currency exchange rates updated: Jul 14, 2026, 00:02 UTC       ×
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