Penetration Tester Salary by Experience Level

Compare salary bands for each penetration tester level.

2026 Median Salary$125KMid Level Penetration Tester benchmark
Senior Range$117K - $210KSenior Penetration Tester market range
Starting Hourly Range$16-$22/hrPenetration Tester Intern / early-career estimate
Category (Experience)
Year
Min - Max (USD)
Salary Range (Min - Max in USD)
Penetration Tester Intern(internship)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$16-$22/hr
$16-$22/hr
$15-$21/hr
$14-$20/hr
$14-$19/hr
$16
$22
$16
$22
$15
$21
$14
$20
$14
$19
Junior Penetration Tester(0 to 2 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$51K - $80K
$50K - $78K
$49K - $76K
$47K - $74K
$45K - $70K
$51K
$80K
$50K
$78K
$49K
$76K
$47K
$74K
$45K
$70K
Entry Level Penetration Tester(0 to 2 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$70K - $141K
$68K - $136K
$65K - $132K
$63K - $127K
$60K - $122K
$70K
$141K
$68K
$136K
$65K
$132K
$63K
$127K
$60K
$122K
Associate Penetration Tester(2 to 4 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$85K - $155K
$82K - $150K
$80K - $146K
$77K - $141K
$74K - $136K
$85K
$155K
$82K
$150K
$80K
$146K
$77K
$141K
$74K
$136K
Mid Level Penetration Tester(3 to 5 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$96K - $175K
$93K - $170K
$90K - $165K
$87K - $160K
$84K - $155K
$96K
$175K
$93K
$170K
$90K
$165K
$87K
$160K
$84K
$155K
Senior Penetration Tester(5 to 8 years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$117K - $210K
$114K - $205K
$110K - $200K
$106K - $195K
$102K - $190K
$117K
$210K
$114K
$205K
$110K
$200K
$106K
$195K
$102K
$190K
Lead Penetration Tester(8 or more years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$108K - $220K
$105K - $214K
$102K - $208K
$99K - $202K
$96K - $196K
$108K
$220K
$105K
$214K
$102K
$208K
$99K
$202K
$96K
$196K
Security Architect(10 or more years)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$118K - $190K
$115K - $185K
$112K - $180K
$108K - $174K
$104K - $168K
$118K
$190K
$115K
$185K
$112K
$180K
$108K
$174K
$104K
$168K
VP of Security Engineering(executive security leadership)
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
$178K - $232K
$170K - $225K
$164K - $217K
$158K - $210K
$151K - $202K
$178K
$232K
$170K
$225K
$164K
$217K
$158K
$210K
$151K
$202K

References