The qualifications that you need to work as an ethical hacker include a computer-related degree, cyber security certification, and hacking skills. While you could find a job that accepts experience alone, you should earn an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in a field like computer science or cyber security. You can also pursue a general professional certification such as Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. There are also special certifications such as GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) and accreditations like Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP).

If you are interested in a job related to Ethical Hacker, here are some popular related job searches with the most open positions on ZipRecruiter.

Top Types Of Ethical Hacker Jobs

List of the top 10 highest paying Ethical Hacker positions in 2026, with salary ranges, according to ZipRecruiter.

Adversarial Machine Learning
Salary range: $39,000 - $47,500
Adversarial Machine Learning is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Adversarial Machine Learning jobs pay between $39,000 (25th percentile) and $47,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Adversarial Machine Learning job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Freelance Cyber Security Ethical Hacking
Salary range: $111,000 - $150,000
Freelance Cyber Security Ethical Hacking is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Freelance Cyber Security Ethical Hacking jobs pay between $111,000 (25th percentile) and $150,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Freelance Cyber Security Ethical Hacking job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Remote Cyber Security Ethical Hacking
Salary range: $102,000 - $142,000
Remote Cyber Security Ethical Hacking is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Remote Cyber Security Ethical Hacking jobs pay between $102,000 (25th percentile) and $142,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Remote Cyber Security Ethical Hacking job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Remote Ethical Hacker Intern
Salary range: $30,000 - $40,000
Remote Ethical Hacker Intern is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Remote Ethical Hacker Intern jobs pay between $30,000 (25th percentile) and $40,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Remote Ethical Hacker Intern job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Freelance Penetration Testing Ethical Hacking
Salary range: $96,000 - $141,000
Freelance Penetration Testing Ethical Hacking is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Freelance Penetration Testing Ethical Hacking jobs pay between $96,000 (25th percentile) and $141,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Freelance Penetration Testing Ethical Hacking job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Soc Level 1
Salary range: $77,500 - $109,500
Soc Level 1 is a typical job search query Most salaries for Soc Level 1 jobs pay between $77,500 (25th percentile) and $109,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Soc Level 1 job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.
Remote Ethical Hacker
Salary range: $82,500 - $99,000
Unlike a criminal hacker, as a remote ethical hacker, your responsibilities are to assist your clients by assessing their cybersecurity system by attempting to discover website or network vulnerabilities, identify security issues, and help test the systems by conducting attacks that simulate real-world hacking. Your duties include collaborating with other cybersecurity experts to assess the current performance and capabilities of a digital security system, develop and test different types of digital security tools, such as firewalls, and provide suggestions for further actions to increase security and safety.
Web Pentester
Salary range: $55,000 - $94,500
Web Pentester is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Web Pentester jobs pay between $55,000 (25th percentile) and $94,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Web Pentester job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Internship Web Penetration Tester
Salary range: $96,000 - $141,000
Internship Web Penetration Tester is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Internship Web Penetration Tester jobs pay between $96,000 (25th percentile) and $141,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Internship Web Penetration Tester job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.
Freelance International Ethical Hacker
Salary range: $50,500 - $128,500
Freelance International Ethical Hacker is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Freelance International Ethical Hacker jobs pay between $50,500 (25th percentile) and $128,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Freelance International Ethical Hacker job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

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