Ethical Hacker Salary in the United States

Ethical Hacker Salary

How much does an Ethical Hacker make?

As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for an Ethical Hacker in the United States is $112,725. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $101,077 to $126,722, with most professionals earning between $90,472 and $139,465.

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Ethical Hacker Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $90,472 US March 01, 2025
25th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $101,077 US March 01, 2025
50th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $112,725 US March 01, 2025
75th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $126,722 US March 01, 2025
90th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $139,465 US March 01, 2025
25% $101,077 10% $90,472 90% $139,465 75% $126,722 $112,725 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is an Ethical Hacker ?

The term "white hat" in Internet slang refers to an ethical computer hacker, or a computer security expert, who specializes in penetration testing and in other testing methodologies that ensures the security of an organization's information systems. Ethical hacking is a term meant to imply a broader category than just penetration testing. Contrasted with black hat, a malicious hacker, the name comes from Western films, where heroic and antagonistic cowboys might traditionally wear a white and a black hat respectively. While a white hat hacker hacks under good intentions with permission, and a...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/25/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Job Openings for Ethical Hacker

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Network Security System Analyst II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Ethical Hacker

    4 - 7 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Network Security System Analyst IV

    7 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

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Understand the total compensation opportunity for an Ethical Hacker, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
101077
126722
112725

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
104423
134643
118132
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Ethical Hacker in the United States. The base salary for Ethical Hacker ranges from $101,077 to $126,722 with the average base salary of $112,725. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $104,423 to $134,643 with the average total cash compensation of $118,132.

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101077
126722

 

Skills associated with Ethical Hacker: Penetration Testing

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Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role