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United States · 0 open in Nashville · updated 2026-10-20

Security / Penetration Tester salary in Nashville, United States

A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Nashville earns a median of $170k a year gross ($170k), from $140k at p10 to $210k at p90. Nashville pays 0.95× the United States median and 6% below the US median of $180k. About 689,000 people live in Nashville.

Estimate · gross / year
$170kmedian · mid-level · $170k
p10 $140kp90 $210k
Rank 19 of 62City factor 0.95×
Pay by level

Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in Nashville

Gross annual pay in USD. Junior $130k, lead $270k. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.

Levelp10Medianp90RangeMedian (USD)
Junior$110k$130k$160k$130k
Mid-level$140k$170k$210k$170k
Senior$180k$220k$270k$220k
Lead$220k$270k$320k$270k

Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only: the United States median ($180k) times a 0.95 city factor. Methodology.

Take-home

From gross to take-home in Nashville

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

$170kgross median / year
$120k–$130ktake-home / year (72-78%)
$14kgross / month
$82gross / 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 Nashville: FAQ

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

The median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Nashville is $170k a year ($170k). The p10 is $140k and the p90 is $210k. This is an estimate from posted pay ranges, scaled to Nashville with a city factor of 0.95.

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

A senior Security / Penetration Tester in Nashville earns a median of $220k, with a range of $180k to $270k. Leads reach $270k and juniors start near $130k.

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

A junior Security / Penetration Tester in Nashville earns about $130k a year ($130k), between $110k and $160k. Pay rises to $170k at mid-level.

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

Nashville ranks 19th of 62 tracked United States cities for this role, at 0.95x the national median of $180k. It sits in the top third.

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

Roughly 72-78% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner: about $120k to $130k a year, or $10k a month. This is not tax advice.

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

A $170k gross salary equals about $82 an hour on a 40-hour week ($14k 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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