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Hacker Salary in the United States

How much does a Hacker make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Hacker in the United States is $53,639 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

However, a Hacker's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $66,590
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $46,688 to $60,418
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,359
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Hacker Salaries

A Hacker's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Hacker Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Hacker's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $52,674
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $52,964
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,088
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $57,481
  • Expert (over 8 years): $57,807
Levels Salary
Entry Level Hacker$52,674
Intermediate Level Hacker$52,964
Senior Level Hacker$55,088
Specialist Level Hacker$57,481
Expert Level Hacker$57,807
View as Graph

How Do Hacker Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Hackers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $59,390.
  • California: $59,164.
  • Massachusetts: $58,376.

Top Paying Cities for Hackers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $67,655
  • San Francisco: $66,915
  • Oakland: $65,504

What Skills Can Increase a Hacker's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 6.17% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Hazard Analysis (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): Hazard analysis is defined as the process of collecting and interpreting information on hazards and conditions leading to their presence to decide which are significant for food safety, and should be addressed in the HACCP plan.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 6.17%
Foodservice 2.2%
Hazard Analysis 1.56%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Hacker's salary.

  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Team Building: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Troubleshooting $64,367
20%
Team Building $62,758
17%
Microsoft Office $61,149
14%
Get Latest Data

Hacker Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Hacker roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Hacker positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Hacker as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Hacker

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$64,367$31.020%

How Education impacts a Hacker's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Hackers enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Hacker with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $52,613 and $56,402).

Hacker Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Hacker
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.9%
High School 43.5%
Associates 25.9%
Bachelors 25.9%
Masters 2.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Hacker Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Hacker's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$46,688
Average $53,639/year
$60,418
$3,891
Average $4,470/month
$5,035
$898
Average $1,032/week
$1,162
$22
Average $26/hour
$29
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $60,418 $5,035 $1,162 $29
Average $53,639 $4,470 $1,032 $26
25th Percentile $46,688 $3,891 $898 $22

Most common benefits for Hacker

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Hacker

Here are companies hiring for Hacker and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Hacker

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Hacker?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Hacker roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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