Security / Penetration Tester salary in United States
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in United States earns a median of $180k a year gross. The p10 to p90 range is $150k to $220k. That is the same as the US median for the same role. United States ranks 1 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near $140k, leads reach $280k.
Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in United States
Gross annual pay in USD. Junior pay is $140k, lead pay is $280k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | $110k | $140k | $170k | $140k | |
| Mid-level | $150k | $180k | $220k | $180k | |
| Senior | $190k | $230k | $280k | $230k | |
| Lead | $230k | $280k | $340k | $280k |
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 States
San Francisco pays most at 1.22× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of $180k. Showing the top 8 of 62 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | A | 1.22× (+22%) | $220k | $180k–$270k | $220k | 30 |
| San Jose | A | 1.20× (+20%) | $220k | $180k–$260k | $220k | 54 |
| New York | A | 1.15× (+15%) | $210k | $170k–$250k | $210k | 29 |
| Seattle | A | 1.15× (+15%) | $210k | $170k–$250k | $210k | 19 |
| Boston | A | 1.08× (+8%) | $200k | $160k–$240k | $200k | 23 |
| Washington DC | A | 1.06× (+6%) | $190k | $160k–$230k | $190k | 23 |
| Los Angeles | A | 1.05× (+5%) | $190k | $160k–$230k | $190k | 20 |
| San Diego | B | 1.03× (+3%) | $190k | $150k–$230k | $190k | 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 States
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester on $180k gross keeps roughly 72–78% after income tax and social contributions, about $130k to $140k a year.
In United States, pay is usually quoted as annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts. 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 States
30 Security / Penetration Tester roles are open in United States, from a total of 1166 QA listings in the country.
Staff Application Security Engineer
Senior Manager, Application Security
Application Security Engineer II
347 listings in United States show a real posted pay range (15 for Security / Penetration Tester). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires Security / Penetration Testers in United States
Employer mix by share of listings (1166 listings in United States). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- AI companies27%
- Software companies17%
- Healthtech companies13%
- Fintech companies12%
- Cybersecurity companies9%
What this estimate rests on
The Security / Penetration Tester baseline uses 22 US posted pay ranges. For United States, the country index is calibrated on 485 non-US observations in North America, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 8 of 8.
Security / Penetration Tester salary and jobs by city in United States
Security / Penetration Tester jobs in United States by city.
Security / Penetration Tester salary in United States: FAQ
What is the average Security / Penetration Tester salary in United States?
The median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in United States is $180k a year ($180k). The p10 is $150k and the p90 is $220k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior Security / Penetration Tester earn in United States?
A senior Security / Penetration Tester in United States earns a median of $230k, with a range of $190k to $280k. Leads earn $280k, 100% more than juniors at $140k.
Which city in United States pays Security / Penetration Testers the most?
San Francisco has the highest pay factor at 1.22x the country median, which puts a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester at about $220k. Omaha sits at 0.87x, around $160k.
How does United States 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 States the equivalent is $180k, which is the same as the US figure. United States ranks 1 of 36 countries; the North America median for this role is $170k.
What is the take-home pay for a Security / Penetration Tester in United States?
Roughly 72–78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about $130k to $140k a year on a $180k 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 States?
PassRidge lists 30 live Security / Penetration Tester roles in United States, and 1166 QA listings across all roles in United States. 15 of the Security / Penetration Tester listings and 347 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in United States
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | $82k | $82k |
| QA Automation Engineer | $120k | $120k |
| SDET | $130k | $130k |
| QA Lead / Manager | $110k | $110k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | $110k | $110k |
| Performance Test Engineer | $150k | $150k |
| Game QA Tester | $66k | $66k |
| Accessibility Tester | $98k | $98k |
| Business / Test Analyst | $89k | $89k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | $100k | $100k |
| Localization QA Tester | $48k | $48k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | $100k | $100k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | $140k | $140k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | $90k | $90k |
World view: Security / Penetration Tester salary by country · Security / Penetration Tester role guide · Hire a Security / Penetration Tester · Salary finder.