Penetration Testers
Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.
Penetration Testers evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security. The role reports a median annual salary of $108,970 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $54,360 and $162,440 and is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.57 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Programming, Systems Analysis.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £54,647 a year for Cyber security professionals (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £42,761 to £71,808 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2135). ONS rates this estimate reasonably precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
No official India pay figure for this career: it falls in more than one occupation group, and the Government of India's labour survey (PLFS) publishes pay only by occupation group.
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Computer Applications (BCA) — BCA (three years, or four years for BCA Honours / with Research)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG, IPU CET
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
2 open listings on our jobs board → Recent listings whose job title matches this career. Some jobs in this career are advertised under other titles.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Education and Training
A day in the life
You start the morning reviewing the scope agreed with a client, confirming exactly which systems you are allowed to test and when. After a short call with their security contact to understand what worries them most, you begin probing their external network, mapping open services and looking for outdated software. By mid-morning you find a misconfigured server and build a careful test to see whether an attacker could use it to get further inside. After lunch you visit the client's office to assess physical security, checking whether server rooms are locked, cooled and protected from power problems. Back at your desk, you run a simulated attack that imitates the techniques of a known criminal group, recording every step so the client can reproduce it. Late in the day you start writing the report, ranking each weakness by risk and suggesting practical fixes such as tighter access rules. Writing detailed reports takes longer than the testing itself, but finding a serious hole before a real attacker does is thrilling.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Assess the physical security of servers, systems, or network devices to identify vulnerability to temperature, vandalism, or natural disasters.
- Collect stakeholder data to evaluate risk and to develop mitigation strategies.
- Conduct network and security system audits, using established criteria.
- Configure information systems to incorporate principles of least functionality and least access.
- Design security solutions to address known device vulnerabilities.
- Develop and execute tests that simulate the techniques of known cyber threat actors.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Penetration Testers do?
Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.
What does a typical day look like in Penetration Testers?
You start the morning reviewing the scope agreed with a client, confirming exactly which systems you are allowed to test and when. After a short call with their security contact to understand what worries them most, you begin probing their external network, mapping open services and looking for outdated software. By mid-morning you find a misconfigured server and build a careful test to see whether an attacker could use it to get further inside.
How much does Penetration Testers earn?
The median annual salary for Penetration Testers in the US is $108,970. The middle 80% of workers earn between $54,360 and $162,440 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $74,960 and $130,090.
What is the job outlook for Penetration Testers?
The role is projected to grow 8% over the next decade (faster than average). Current US employment is approximately 472,000 workers.
How do I become penetration testers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Penetration Testers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Programming, Systems Analysis, Reading Comprehension. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Penetration Testers?
Our AI-durability model gives Penetration Testers a score of 0.57 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Penetration Testers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.