How Much Does a Pentester Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$129,180
Pentesters in the U.S. earn a median of $129,180 a year, or $62.11 an hour. Half of pentesters earn more than $129,180 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $199,850.
Pay percentiles for pentesters
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36.10 | $75,090 |
| 25th | $47.03 | $97,810 |
| 50th (median) | $62.11 | $129,180 |
| 75th | $78.61 | $163,500 |
| 90th | $96.08 | $199,850 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for pentesters
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $154,940 | $74.49 | +20% |
| Maryland | $139,640 | $67.14 | +8% |
| California | $138,570 | $66.62 | +7% |
| Delaware | $137,030 | $65.88 | +6% |
| Massachusetts | $136,550 | $65.65 | +6% |
| Colorado | $135,220 | $65.01 | +5% |
| District of Columbia | $135,090 | $64.95 | +5% |
| Virginia | $134,900 | $64.86 | +4% |
| New Jersey | $134,820 | $64.82 | +4% |
| New York | $134,660 | $64.74 | +4% |
| United States | $129,180 | $62.11 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many pentesters are there?
BLS counts about 190,650 pentesters employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Information Security Analysts”. The most jobs are in Virginia (19,120), Texas (16,130) and California (15,570).
The mean (average) annual wage is $132,510, higher than the median of $129,180.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $10,765
- Biweekly
- $4,968
- Weekly
- $2,484
- Daily (8 hours)
- $497
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pentesters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for pentesters is $62.11. The middle 50% earn between $47.03 and $78.61 an hour.
Which state pays pentesters the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for pentesters at $154,940, +20% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for pentesters?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of pentesters earn less than $75,090 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.