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Penetration Tester Contract Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Peraton

Penetration Tester / Secret

Washington, DC · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is currently seeking to hire an experienced Penetration Tester for its ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

Peraton

Penetration Tester / Secret

Washington, DC · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is currently seeking to hire an experienced Penetration Tester for its ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

Peraton

Penetration Tester / Secret

Chandler, AZ · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is currently seeking to hire an experienced Penetration Tester for its ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

Peraton

Penetration Tester / Secret

Chandler, AZ · On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Responsibilities Peraton is currently seeking to hire an experienced Penetration Tester for its ... and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime ...

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Penetration Tester Contract information

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$22.5K

$119.9K

$168.5K

How much do penetration tester contract jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for penetration tester contract in the United States is $119,895.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,000.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a penetration tester contract?

A Penetration Tester Contract is a temporary or project-based agreement where a cybersecurity professional is hired to simulate cyberattacks on an organization’s systems, networks, or applications. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them. Contractors typically deliver detailed reports on their findings and recommend remediation steps. These contracts can vary in length and scope depending on the organization's needs and the complexity of the systems being tested.

What does a penetration tester contract do?

A contract penetration tester assesses the effectiveness of security for a computer network, website, software, or application. You perform your duties on a contract basis and work with various clients. A penetration tester finds, defines, and tries to exploit a vulnerability in their client’s cybersecurity system. In this career, your responsibilities not only include hacking into your client’s network or system, but also reporting on the potential vulnerability and helping the client improve their practices so that they can protect themselves against such a cyber threat when an actual hacker tries to penetrate their defenses.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a penetration tester contract, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Penetration Tester Contractor, you need a strong understanding of network security, vulnerability assessment, and ethical hacking, typically backed by a degree in computer science or cybersecurity and relevant certifications like OSCP or CEH. Familiarity with penetration testing tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Nmap, as well as experience with various operating systems, is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective client communication are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure accurate identification of security gaps and clear reporting, helping organizations effectively strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

What are some common challenges faced by penetration testers working on a contract basis?

Contract penetration testers often encounter challenges such as limited access to internal information, the need to quickly understand a client's environment, and tight project deadlines. They must adapt rapidly to different security policies and toolsets with each new engagement, while maintaining clear communication with diverse client teams. Building trust and delivering concise, actionable reports within the contract timeframe are essential for success and future opportunities.

What is the difference between Penetration Tester Contract vs Penetration Tester Full-Time?

AspectPenetration Tester ContractPenetration Tester Full-Time
CredentialsCertifications like OSCP, CEH often requiredSame certifications typically required
Work EnvironmentProject-based, temporary assignmentsPermanent employment, ongoing projects
Employer & Industry UsageConsulting firms, cybersecurity agenciesIn-house security teams, corporations
Search & Comparison IntentFreelance opportunities, short-term rolesLong-term career, stability

In summary, Penetration Tester Contract roles are project-based and often involve short-term assignments with consulting firms, while Penetration Tester Full-Time positions offer permanent employment within organizations. Both roles typically require similar certifications and skills, but differ mainly in employment type and work environment.

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Penetration Tester Contract jobs near you
Infographic showing various Penetration Tester Contract job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $119,895 per year, or $57.6 per hour.

Penetration Tester / Secret

Peraton

Washington, DC • On-site

$104K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

52nd of 226 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton is currently seeking to hire an experienced Penetration Tester for its Federal Strategic Cyber Group. 

Location: Chandler, AZ and Washington DC.

 Role and Responsibilities: 
  • We are seeking to hire an experienced and highly skilled Penetration Tester to conduct advanced offensive security operations across diverse and highimpact environments.
  • This role supports critical national security missions by identifying vulnerabilities, emulating realworld adversaries, and strengthening defensive cyber capabilities across enterprise, cloud, mobile, IoT, and High Value Asset (HVA) systems.
  • You will lead technical engagements, drive red team operations, and collaborate closely with SOC, incident response, and engineering teams to ensure findings translate into measurable security improvements.
You will:
  • Conduct fullspectrum penetration testing across enterprise, cloud, mobile, IoT, and HVA environments.
  • Lead and execute adversary emulation and red team operations to validate SOC detection and response capabilities.
  • Serve as technical or team lead for offensive security engagements, including scoping, planning, execution, and reporting.
  • Identify exploitable vulnerabilities, develop proofofconcepts, and deliver actionable, riskprioritized findings.
  • Coordinate results and collaborate with SOC, IR, and engineering teams to support remediation and strengthen defensive posture.
Qualifications

Required:

  • Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity, IT, or related field and 5 years of relevant experience. An additional 4 years will be considered in lieu of the degree requirement. 
  • Minimum of 5 years of hands-on penetration testing experience.
  • Experience with Red Team, IoT, Mobile, Cloud, and HVA testing.
  • Team lead, supervisory, or management experience.
  • Certification:
    • GPEN or GXPN
    • One or more of the following:
      • GRTP, CRTL, OSCP, CRTP, CMWAPT, CEPT, CPT, or LPT
    • CISA AES HVA Assessment Lead or Technical Lead certification
  • U.S. citizenship is required. 
  • Active Secret security clearance.
Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$104,000 - $166,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME

What Peraton employees say

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Hours and flexibility

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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