1

Penetration Testing Engineer Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Minimum of 2 years with penetration testing experience. * Possess one of the following ... ISC2 Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) * One of the following ...

Penetration Tester

Arlington, VA · On-site

$86K - $138K/yr

Minimum of 2 years with penetration testing experience. * Possess one of the following ... ISC2 Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) * One of the following ...

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 5+ years of experience in security applications and systems Minimum of 5 years of Information Security Engineer/Consultant experience with application penetration testing.

Penetration Tester

Arlington, VA · On-site

$86K - $138K/yr

Minimum of 2 years with penetration testing experience. * Possess one of the following ... ISC2 Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) * One of the following ...

Penetration Tester

Washington, DC · Hybrid

$130K - $145K/yr

Utilizing Software Defined Radio (SDR) for protocol reverse engineering and testing. * Reporting ... salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $145,000.00 commensurate on experience and ...

Penetration Tester

Washington, DC · On-site

$130K - $145K/yr

Utilizing Software Defined Radio (SDR) for protocol reverse engineering and testing. * Reporting ... salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $145,000.00 commensurate on experience and ...

Penetration Tester

Herndon, VA · Hybrid

$130K - $145K/yr

Utilizing Software Defined Radio (SDR) for protocol reverse engineering and testing. * Reporting ... salary range for this position is $130,000.00 - $145,000.00 commensurate on experience and ...

Qualifications • Minimum of 5 years of Information Security Engineer/Consultant experience with application penetration testing. • Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience with automated ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Penetration Testing Engineer Salary information

See salary details

$11K

$109.6K

$183.5K

How much do penetration testing engineer salary jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for penetration testing engineer salary in the United States is $109,565.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $143,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do pentester engineers make?

Penetration Testing Engineers, or pentesters, typically earn a salary ranging from $70,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in tools like Kali Linux or Metasploit can command higher salaries, especially in cybersecurity-focused environments.

What is the difference between Penetration Testing Engineer Salary vs Security Analyst Salary?

FactorPenetration Testing Engineer SalarySecurity Analyst Salary
Average Annual Salary$85,000 - $125,000$65,000 - $100,000
Required CertificationsOSCP, CEH, CISSPCompTIA Security+, CISSP, CISA
Work EnvironmentPenetration testing firms, cybersecurity teamsIT departments, security operations centers
Common Industry UsageCybersecurity consulting, offensive securityDefensive security, risk management

Generally, Penetration Testing Engineers tend to earn higher salaries than Security Analysts due to specialized offensive skills and certifications. Both roles require cybersecurity knowledge, but Penetration Testers focus on identifying vulnerabilities through simulated attacks, which often commands a premium in compensation.

Can you make $500,000 a year in cyber security?

Penetration Testing Engineers can potentially earn $500,000 annually with extensive experience, advanced certifications like OSCP or CISSP, and roles in high-paying industries or senior leadership positions. Such salaries are typically achieved through a combination of technical expertise, specialized skills, and often managerial responsibilities. Entry-level or mid-career penetration testers usually earn significantly less, with salaries increasing with experience and reputation.

Is pentesting a good career?

Penetration Testing Engineers assess security vulnerabilities in systems and networks, often using tools like Kali Linux and Metasploit. The role offers high demand, competitive salaries, and opportunities for specialization and certification, making it a valuable career path in cybersecurity.

Can you make 300k in cyber security?

Penetration Testing Engineers can potentially earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications like OSCP or CISSP, and working in high-demand industries or senior roles. Salaries vary based on location, expertise, and the complexity of the security environment, but top-tier professionals in cybersecurity can reach or exceed this level with the right skills and opportunities.
More about Penetration Testing Engineer Salary jobs
What cities are hiring for Penetration Testing Engineer Salary jobs? Cities with the most Penetration Testing Engineer Salary job openings:
What states have the most Penetration Testing Engineer Salary jobs? States with the most job openings for Penetration Testing Engineer Salary jobs include:

Penetration Tester, Embedded Devices

TP-Link Systems Inc.

Irvine, CA

$80K - $132K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

About Us:

Headquartered in the United States, TP-Link Systems Inc. is a global provider of reliable networking devices and smart home products, consistently ranked as the world's top provider of Wi-Fi devices. The company is committed to delivering innovative products that enhance people's lives through faster, more reliable connectivity. With a commitment to excellence, TP-Link Systems serves customers in over 170 countries and continues to grow its global footprint.

We believe technology changes the world for the better! At TP-Link Systems Inc, we are committed to crafting dependable, high-performance products to connect users worldwide with the wonders of technology.

Embracing professionalism, innovation, excellence, and simplicity, we aim to assist our clients in achieving remarkable global performance and enable consumers to enjoy a seamless, effortless lifestyle.

Overview:

TP-Link Systems Inc. is seeking a skilled and proactive Penetration Testing Engineer, Embedded Devices to support our embedded product projects under the guidance of senior team members. This role is designed for candidates with a foundational technical background in cybersecurity, particularly in embedded devices. Under the mentorship of senior engineers, the successful candidate will be involved in a range of security activities for a single product category, including penetration testing, threat modeling and security assessment for specific modules, contributing to investigation, risk assessment and verification for incident response.

The ideal candidate is eager to learn, capable of working within defined boundaries, and driven to enhance the security of TP-Link's embedded devices.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Penetration Testing: Perform penetration testing on embedded products to identify vulnerabilities. Provide remediation recommendations and write detailed penetration test reports.
  • Threat Modelling and security assessment: Perform threat modeling to identify and evaluate potential risks for specific modules.
  • Incident Response and Vulnerability Management: Responsible for specific area's incident response, including investigation, containment, remediation, and post-incident analysis. Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure effective resolution.
  • Product cybersecurity certification: Analyze specific product security certification requirements and collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve product security certification.
  • Develop security tools: Assist in developing various pen-testing tools, automated testing platforms, and scripts to enhance testing efficiency and accuracy.
  • SDLC Integration: Participate in the development and improvement of the company's SDLC processes, ensuring security considerations are embedded during development.
  • Interpret global cybersecurity standards and regulatory requirements, supporting implementation of security requirements.

Requirements

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
  • Proven 1-3 years' experience as a Security Engineer (Embedded devices) or in a similar role.
  • Strong knowledge of protocol security design, cryptography, security frameworks and common vulnerabilities.
  • Experience with security tools such as Burpsuite, Nmap, Kali, Nessus, Metasploit, IDA, Ghidra, etc.
  • Capability to optimize penetration testing tools and Fuzzing strategies.
  • Ability to analyze SAST results, conduct basic reverse engineering.
  • Proficient in at least one programming language (e.g., C/C++, Python, Bash, or PowerShell).
  • Relevant advanced security certifications (e.g., OSWP, etc.) are highly preferred.
  • Published CVEs are highly preferred.

Soft Skills:

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently as well as collaborate with cross-functional teams.
  • Strong willingness to learn, able to work under guidance and take constructive feedback.
  • Team-oriented mindset, with the ability to follow technical direction and contribute constructively to group tasks.

Benefits

Salary range: $80,000-$132,000

  • Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance (partial premium coverage for dependents)
  • Employer quarterly contributions to 401k funds
  • 15 days accrued vacation
  • 11 paid holidays
  • Bi-annual reviews, and annual pay increases
  • Health and wellness benefits, including free gym membership
  • Quarterly team-building event

At TP-Link Systems Inc., we are continually searching for ambitious individuals who are passionate about their work. We believe that diversity fuels innovation, collaboration, and drives our entrepreneurial spirit. As a global company, we highly value diverse perspectives and are committed to cultivating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and valued. We are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants, and we prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Beyond compliance, we strive to create a supportive and growth-oriented workplace for everyone. If you share our passion and connection to this mission, we welcome you to apply and join us in building a vibrant and inclusive team at TP-Link Systems Inc.

Please, no third-party agency inquiries, and we are unable to offer visa sponsorships at this time.