Security / Penetration Tester jobs in San Diego, United States
Security / Penetration Tester pay in San Diego centres on $190k at mid-level, from $150k to $230k. San Diego has about 1.4 million residents and is the 8th largest of the 62 United States cities we list. No Security / Penetration Tester listing is based here today; United States has 30, and remote roles can be done from San Diego.
Security / Penetration Tester roles near San Diego
No Security / Penetration Tester listing is based in San Diego today, so these are the nearest in United States, then the levels we place here. Placement pay starts at the higher of the city and national median.
Staff Application Security Engineer
Senior Manager, Application Security
Application Security Engineer II
Cyber Security Engineer (Application Security)
Junior Penetration Tester
Penetration Tester
Senior Penetration Tester
Lead Penetration Tester
"Talent pipeline" cards are the levels we place, not an employer's vacancy. Real postings are labelled "Market listing". How pay is set.
Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in San Diego
Gross annual pay in USD. San Diego is 1.03× the United States median (+3%), which is $180k at mid-level.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $120k | $140k | $180k | $140k | |
| Mid-level | $150k | $190k | $230k | $190k | |
| Senior | $200k | $240k | $290k | $240k | |
| Lead | $240k | $290k | $350k | $290k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. Full Security / Penetration Tester salary page for San Diego.
What a Security / Penetration Tester does in San Diego
Attacks applications before someone else does, then helps fix what breaks.
- Run web, API and mobile penetration tests against agreed scope
- Triage scanner output and remove false positives
- Write findings with proof of exploit and a fix recommendation
- Add security checks to CI
- Retest fixes and track remediation
Skills and stack employers ask for
Tools named most often
Time zone
San Diego is on America/Los Angeles. A 09:00-17:00 day shares 5 h with US East, 0 h with London and 0 h with Central Europe.
Security / Penetration Tester jobs in other United States cities
Other QA roles in San Diego
QA jobs, time zone and hiring facts for San Diego · Security / Penetration Tester role guide · Hire a Security / Penetration Tester
Security / Penetration Tester jobs in San Diego: FAQ
How much does a Security / Penetration Tester earn in San Diego?
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in San Diego earns a median of $190k a year ($190k), with a p10 to p90 range of $150k to $230k. Junior pay starts near $140k, senior pay is $240k and leads reach $290k.
Are there Security / Penetration Tester jobs in San Diego?
No Security / Penetration Tester listing is based in San Diego today, but United States has 30 and Security / Penetration Tester roles open to remote candidates in the same time zone are common. Tell us your city and we alert you when a local role opens.
How does San Diego pay compare with the rest of United States?
San Diego ranks 8th of 62 United States cities we track for Security / Penetration Tester pay, at 1.03x the national median (+3%). The national mid-level median is $180k, so San Diego is above it. Against the US it is 6% above the US median of $180k.
What skills do Security / Penetration Tester jobs in San Diego ask for?
Attacks applications before someone else does, then helps fix what breaks. Typical requirements: OWASP Top 10, Burp Suite, Scripting, Threat modelling, Reporting. The tools named most often are Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Postman, Docker.
Can a Security / Penetration Tester work with US or European teams from San Diego?
San Diego is on America/Los Angeles. A 09:00-17:00 day shares about 5 h with US East, 0 h with London and 0 h with Central Europe. 70% of Security / Penetration Tester roles are remote-friendly.
How do I get a Security / Penetration Tester job in San Diego with PassRidge?
Tell us your level and stack in the form on this page. A recruiter sends matching roles with the pay shown upfront; it is free for candidates and nothing goes to an employer without your written OK. Our placement range for San Diego starts at the higher of the city and national median.