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United Kingdom · 1 open in Bristol · updated 2026-10-20

Security / Penetration Tester salary in Bristol, United Kingdom

A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Bristol earns a median of £78k a year gross ($99k), from £64k at p10 to £95k at p90. Bristol pays 0.93× the United Kingdom median and 45% below the US median of $180k. About 479,000 people live in Bristol.

Estimate · gross / year
£78kmedian · mid-level · $99k
p10 £64kp90 £95k
Rank 8 of 20City factor 0.93×
Pay by level

Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in Bristol

Gross annual pay in GBP. Junior £60k, lead £120k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.

Levelp10Medianp90RangeMedian (USD)
Junior£50k£60k£74k$77k
Mid-level£64k£78k£95k$99k
Senior£82k£100k£120k$130k
Lead£99k£120k£150k$150k

Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United Kingdom median (£84k) times a 0.93 city factor. Methodology.

Take-home

From gross to take-home in Bristol

Employers in United Kingdom usually quote annual salary for permanent roles, day rates for contract roles.

£78kgross median / year
£54k–£58ktake-home / year (69-75%)
£6,500gross / month
£38gross / hour, 40 h week

A generic estimate for a single mid-level earner, not tax advice.

Other cities

Security / Penetration Tester pay in other United Kingdom cities

United Kingdom overview
CityPay factorp10Medianp90
London1.18×£81k£99k£120k
Edinburgh1.00×£69k£84k£100k
Birmingham0.97×£67k£82k£99k
Manchester0.96×£66k£81k£98k
Belfast0.95×£65k£80k£97k
Glasgow0.95×£65k£80k£97k
Leeds0.94×£65k£79k£96k
Cambridge0.93×£64k£78k£95k
FAQ

Security / Penetration Tester salary in Bristol: FAQ

What is the average Security / Penetration Tester salary in Bristol?

The median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Bristol is £78k a year ($99k). The p10 is £64k and the p90 is £95k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to Bristol with a city factor of 0.93.

How much does a senior Security / Penetration Tester make in Bristol?

A senior Security / Penetration Tester in Bristol earns a median of £100k ($130k), with a range of £82k to £120k. Leads reach £120k and juniors start near £60k.

What is an entry-level Security / Penetration Tester salary in Bristol?

A junior Security / Penetration Tester in Bristol earns about £60k a year ($77k), between £50k and £74k. Pay rises to £78k at mid-level.

Is Bristol a good-paying city for Security / Penetration Testers in United Kingdom?

Bristol ranks 8th of 20 tracked United Kingdom cities for this role, at 0.93x the national median of £84k. It pays close to or below the national median.

What is the take-home pay for a Security / Penetration Tester in Bristol?

Roughly 69-75% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about £54k to £58k a year, or £4,700 a month. This is not tax advice.

What is the hourly rate for a Security / Penetration Tester in Bristol?

A £78k gross salary equals about £38 an hour on a 40-hour week (£6,500 a month gross). Contractors typically quote 20-35% above this to cover leave and benefits.

All figures are gross estimates, not offers or advice.

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