Salary for Mid-level / Intermediate Penetration Tester in United States during 2023

Salary details

The average mid-level / intermediate Penetration Tester salary lies between USD 64,000 and USD 112,500 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Nov. 17, 2024

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Mid-level / Intermediate Penetration Tester roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with mid-level / intermediate Penetration Tester job listings are Pentesting, OSCP and Vulnerabilities. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Pentesting | 28 jobs OSCP | 24 jobs Vulnerabilities | 21 jobs Cloud | 19 jobs Application security | 16 jobs AWS | 14 jobs OWASP | 13 jobs Scripting | 13 jobs Exploit | 11 jobs OSWE | 11 jobs Burp Suite | 10 jobs NIST | 9 jobs Python | 9 jobs GCP | 9 jobs Security assessment | 8 jobs Azure | 8 jobs Red team | 7 jobs Linux | 7 jobs Exploits | 7 jobs Metasploit | 6 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Mid-level / Intermediate Penetration Tester roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with mid-level / intermediate Penetration Tester job listings are Career development, Flex hours and Health care. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2023 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 21 jobs Flex hours | 14 jobs Health care | 11 jobs Competitive pay | 9 jobs Startup environment | 8 jobs Fitness / gym | 6 jobs Team events | 6 jobs Insurance | 6 jobs 401(k) matching | 5 jobs Conferences | 4 jobs Salary bonus | 4 jobs Flex vacation | 3 jobs Parental leave | 2 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 2 jobs Equity / stock options | 1 jobs Wellness | 1 jobs Travel | 1 jobs Gear | 1 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a mid-level penetration tester in the United States typically consists of a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or profit-sharing. The base salary is the largest component and can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, tech hubs like San Francisco or New York may offer higher base salaries compared to other regions due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Bonuses are often tied to individual or company performance and can range from 5% to 20% of the base salary. Additional remuneration might include benefits like health insurance, retirement contributions, and sometimes equity in the company, especially in startups or tech firms.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from a mid-level penetration tester position, consider the following steps:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in a niche area of cybersecurity, such as cloud security, IoT security, or application security, which can make you more valuable to employers.
• Advanced Certifications: Obtain advanced certifications like Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE) or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) to demonstrate your advanced skills and commitment to the field.
• Leadership Roles: Transition into roles with more responsibility, such as a team lead or security consultant, which often come with higher pay.
• Networking: Engage with professional networks and attend industry conferences to increase your visibility and learn about higher-paying opportunities.

Educational Requirements

Most mid-level penetration tester positions require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field. Some employers may accept equivalent work experience in lieu of a degree, especially if you have a strong portfolio of work or relevant certifications. A master's degree in cybersecurity or a related discipline can also be beneficial and may lead to higher salary prospects.

Helpful Certifications

Certifications are highly valued in the cybersecurity field and can significantly enhance your employability and salary potential. Some common and helpful certifications for penetration testers include:

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• CompTIA PenTest+

These certifications demonstrate your technical skills and knowledge of security practices, making you a more attractive candidate to employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a mid-level penetration tester is expected to have 3 to 5 years of experience in cybersecurity or a related field. This experience should include hands-on work with penetration testing tools and methodologies, as well as a solid understanding of network and application security. Experience in related roles, such as security analyst or network administrator, can also be beneficial.

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