Security / Penetration Tester salary by country
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester earns a median of $180k a year in the US (p10 $150k, p90 $220k). Worldwide the mid-level median runs from $29k in Philippines to $180k in United States. Juniors start at $140k; leads reach $280k in the US.
Security / Penetration Tester pay in 12 key countries
Median gross annual pay by level in USD. The bar shows the mid-level p10 to p90 range with the median marked. Open a country for local currency and cities.
| Country | Junior | Mid-level p10–p90 | Mid-level | Senior | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $140k | $150k–$220k | $180k | $230k | $280k |
| Switzerland | $130k | $140k–$210k | $170k | $220k | $260k |
| Canada | $120k | $130k–$190k | $150k | $190k | $240k |
| United Kingdom | $82k | $87k–$130k | $110k | $140k | $160k |
| Germany | $84k | $89k–$130k | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Netherlands | $84k | $89k–$130k | $110k | $140k | $170k |
| Spain | $54k | $57k–$85k | $70k | $89k | $110k |
| Poland | $56k | $59k–$88k | $72k | $92k | $110k |
| Portugal | $47k | $50k–$74k | $61k | $77k | $94k |
| Brazil | $65k | $69k–$100k | $84k | $110k | $130k |
| India | $26k | $28k–$42k | $34k | $44k | $53k |
| Australia | $100k | $110k–$160k | $130k | $170k | $200k |
US-dollar equivalents. Local-currency figures on each country page.
All 36 countries
Where Security / Penetration Tester pay is highest
Median mid-level pay per region in USD. The pale bar spans the lowest to the highest country in the region; the marker is the regional median.
Best-paid cities for a Security / Penetration Tester
Mid-level median per city: the country median times a city pay factor. Factors reflect the local tech market (1.00 = country median).
| # | City | Country | Pay factor | Mid-level (local) | Mid-level (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | United States | 1.22× | $220k | $220k |
| 2 | San Jose | United States | 1.20× | $220k | $220k |
| 3 | New York | United States | 1.15× | $210k | $210k |
| 4 | Seattle | United States | 1.15× | $210k | $210k |
| 5 | Boston | United States | 1.08× | $200k | $200k |
| 6 | Washington DC | United States | 1.06× | $190k | $190k |
| 7 | Los Angeles | United States | 1.05× | $190k | $190k |
| 8 | Zurich | Switzerland | 1.10× | CHF 160k | $190k |
| 9 | San Diego | United States | 1.03× | $190k | $190k |
| 10 | Austin | United States | 1.02× | $180k | $180k |
City factors are estimates. See each country page for every city we track.
Level, country and stack
Location moves pay far more than any single tool. Then comes level. Stack effects are real but small and noisy.
Stack premiums from posted pay
Median posted pay for Security / Penetration Tester listings that name each tool, from 17 annual pay ranges. The premium compares each tool's listings with all Security / Penetration Tester listings after adjusting for level and country. A tool appears only with at least 4 listings.
| Tool in listing | Listings | Median posted pay | vs this role |
|---|---|---|---|
| OWASP ZAP | 4 | $220k | +19% |
| Postman | 4 | $220k | +19% |
| Burp Suite | 5 | $190k | +10% |
| Python | 11 | $240k | 0% |
| Docker | 4 | $150k | -17% |
Posted ranges skew to US technology employers. Differences under 10% are within noise. 17 posted ranges for this role are in the jobs feed today.
How much data is behind this page
Security / Penetration Tester base pay rests on 22 US pay ranges posted by employers. That is one of the larger samples, though it is still US-heavy. Other countries use a regional adjustment.
Security / Penetration Tester salary FAQ
How much does a Security / Penetration Tester earn?
In the US the median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester is $180k a year (p10 $150k, p90 $220k). Across 36 countries the mid-level median runs from $29k in Philippines to $180k in United States.
What does a junior, senior and lead Security / Penetration Tester earn in the US?
Junior $140k, mid-level $180k, senior $230k and lead $280k a year. A lead earns 100% more than a junior.
Which country pays a Security / Penetration Tester the most?
United States at a $180k mid-level median, then Switzerland ($170k) and Canada ($150k). Use the country pages for local-currency pay, city differences and take-home estimates.
Which city pays a Security / Penetration Tester the most?
San Francisco, United States ranks first with an estimated mid-level median of $220k, followed by San Jose ($220k) and New York ($210k).
How reliable are the Security / Penetration Tester figures?
The role base pay rests on 22 US pay ranges posted by employers, and 17 posted ranges are in our current jobs feed. That is a usable sample for the US; other countries use the regional adjustment. All figures are estimates; see the methodology page.
All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.
Use these numbers
Security / Penetration Tester role guide
Skills, stack, career path and open jobs.
62 open Security / Penetration Tester roles
Pay shown upfront. Remote, hybrid and Flex.
Hire a Security / Penetration Tester
Budget with these benchmarks. Published rates by region.