Security / Penetration Tester salary in United Kingdom
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in United Kingdom earns a median of £84k ($110k) a year gross. The p10 to p90 range is £69k to £100k. That is 41% below the US median for the same role. United Kingdom ranks 11 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near £65k, leads reach £130k.
Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in United Kingdom
Gross annual pay in GBP. Junior pay is £65k, lead pay is £130k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | £53k | £65k | £79k | $82k | |
| Mid-level | £69k | £84k | £100k | $110k | |
| Senior | £88k | £110k | £130k | $140k | |
| Lead | £110k | £130k | £160k | $160k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. p10 and p90 are 0.82× and 1.22× the median. Methodology.
Security / Penetration Tester pay by city in United Kingdom
London pays most at 1.18× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of £84k. Showing the top 8 of 20 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | A | 1.18× (+18%) | £99k | £81k–£120k | $130k | 61 |
| Edinburgh | A | 1.00× (0%) | £84k | £69k–£100k | $110k | 3 |
| Birmingham | B | 0.97× (-3%) | £82k | £67k–£99k | $100k | 3 |
| Manchester | A | 0.96× (-4%) | £81k | £66k–£98k | $100k | 10 |
| Belfast | B | 0.95× (-5%) | £80k | £65k–£97k | $100k | 1 |
| Glasgow | B | 0.95× (-5%) | £80k | £65k–£97k | $100k | 2 |
| Leeds | B | 0.94× (-6%) | £79k | £65k–£96k | $100k | 5 |
| Bristol | B | 0.93× (-7%) | £78k | £64k–£95k | $99k | 7 |
City factors are estimates (tier A = largest tech hubs). Remote roles are paid to the employer's pay band, which can differ from the city rate.
From gross to take-home in United Kingdom
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester on £84k gross keeps roughly 69–75% after income tax and social contributions, about £58k to £63k a year.
In United Kingdom, pay is usually quoted as annual salary for permanent roles, day rates for contract roles. Estimate only: a single earner with no dependants and typical deductions. Bonuses, benefits, pension choices and regional taxes change the result. It is not tax advice.
Live Security / Penetration Tester roles in United Kingdom
4 Security / Penetration Tester roles are open in United Kingdom, from a total of 185 QA listings in the country.
AppSec Staff Engineer
Junior Security QA
Security engineer, application security
29 listings in United Kingdom show a real posted pay range (1 for Security / Penetration Tester). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires Security / Penetration Testers in United Kingdom
Employer mix by share of listings (185 listings in United Kingdom). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- AI companies35%
- Software companies15%
- E-commerce companies12%
- Games studios12%
- Cybersecurity companies9%
What this estimate rests on
The Security / Penetration Tester baseline uses 22 US posted pay ranges. For United Kingdom, the country index is calibrated on 210 non-US observations in UK & Ireland, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 8 of 8.
Security / Penetration Tester salary and jobs by city in United Kingdom
Security / Penetration Tester jobs in United Kingdom by city.
Security / Penetration Tester salary in United Kingdom: FAQ
What is the average Security / Penetration Tester salary in United Kingdom?
The median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in United Kingdom is £84k a year ($110k). The p10 is £69k and the p90 is £100k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior Security / Penetration Tester earn in United Kingdom?
A senior Security / Penetration Tester in United Kingdom earns a median of £110k ($140k), with a range of £88k to £130k. Leads earn £130k, 100% more than juniors at £65k.
Which city in United Kingdom pays Security / Penetration Testers the most?
London has the highest pay factor at 1.18x the country median, which puts a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester at about £99k ($130k). Swansea sits at 0.88x, around £74k.
How does United Kingdom compare with the US for Security / Penetration Tester pay?
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in the US earns a median of $180k. In United Kingdom the equivalent is $110k, which is 41% below the US figure. United Kingdom ranks 11 of 36 countries; the UK & Ireland median for this role is $120k.
What is the take-home pay for a Security / Penetration Tester in United Kingdom?
Roughly 69–75% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about £58k to £63k a year on a £84k gross salary. This is a generic estimate, not tax advice: benefits, family status and regional taxes change the result.
How many Security / Penetration Tester jobs are open in United Kingdom?
PassRidge lists 4 live Security / Penetration Tester roles in United Kingdom, and 185 QA listings across all roles in United Kingdom. 1 of the Security / Penetration Tester listings and 29 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in United Kingdom
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | £38k | $48k |
| QA Automation Engineer | £56k | $71k |
| SDET | £61k | $77k |
| QA Lead / Manager | £51k | $65k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | £49k | $62k |
| Performance Test Engineer | £68k | $86k |
| Game QA Tester | £31k | $39k |
| Accessibility Tester | £46k | $58k |
| Business / Test Analyst | £41k | $52k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | £46k | $59k |
| Localization QA Tester | £22k | $28k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | £48k | $61k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | £67k | $85k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | £42k | $53k |
World view: Security / Penetration Tester salary by country · Security / Penetration Tester role guide · Hire a Security / Penetration Tester · Salary finder.