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United States · 2 open in Dallas · updated 2026-10-20

Security / Penetration Tester salary in Dallas, United States

A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Dallas earns a median of $180k a year gross ($180k), from $150k at p10 to $220k at p90. Dallas pays 1.01× the United States median. About 1.3 million people live in Dallas.

Estimate · gross / year
$180kmedian · mid-level · $180k
p10 $150kp90 $220k
Rank 11 of 62City factor 1.01×
Pay by level

Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in Dallas

Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $140k, lead $280k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.

Levelp10Medianp90RangeMedian (USD)
Junior$120k$140k$170k$140k
Mid-level$150k$180k$220k$180k
Senior$190k$230k$280k$230k
Lead$230k$280k$350k$280k

Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($180k) times a 1.01 city factor. Methodology.

Take-home

From gross to take-home in Dallas

Employers in United States usually quote annual base salary for employees, hourly rates for 1099 and W2 contracts.

$180kgross median / year
$130k–$140ktake-home / year (72-78%)
$15kgross / month
$87gross / 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 States cities

United States overview
CityPay factorp10Medianp90
San Francisco1.22×$180k$220k$270k
San Jose1.20×$180k$220k$260k
New York1.15×$170k$210k$250k
Seattle1.15×$170k$210k$250k
Boston1.08×$160k$200k$240k
Washington DC1.06×$160k$190k$230k
Los Angeles1.05×$160k$190k$230k
San Diego1.03×$150k$190k$230k
FAQ

Security / Penetration Tester salary in Dallas: FAQ

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

The median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Dallas is $180k a year ($180k). The p10 is $150k and the p90 is $220k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to Dallas with a city factor of 1.01.

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

A senior Security / Penetration Tester in Dallas earns a median of $230k, with a range of $190k to $280k. Leads reach $280k and juniors start near $140k.

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

A junior Security / Penetration Tester in Dallas earns about $140k a year ($140k), between $120k and $170k. Pay rises to $180k at mid-level.

Is Dallas a good-paying city for Security / Penetration Testers in United States?

Dallas ranks 11th of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 1.01x the national median of $180k. It sits in the top third.

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

Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $130k to $140k a year, or $11k a month. This is not tax advice.

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

A $180k gross salary equals about $87 an hour on a 40-hour week ($15k 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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