Ethical Hacker Salary in the United States

Ethical Hacker Salary

How much does an Ethical Hacker make?

As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for an Ethical Hacker in the United States is $104,432. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $93,068 to $112,767, with most professionals earning between $82,721 and $120,356.

Develop a Job description
Pay Equity
Salary Grading Scale
Pay Strategy
2024 Compensation Trend
Compensation Consulting
Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits
Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
View as table View as graph
Ethical Hacker Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $82,721 US April 01, 2025
25th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $93,068 US April 01, 2025
50th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $104,432 US April 01, 2025
75th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $112,767 US April 01, 2025
90th Percentile Ethical Hacker Salary $120,356 US April 01, 2025
25% $93,068 10% $82,721 90% $120,356 75% $112,767 $104,432 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Employers: Find Surveys For This Job Employers: Price Your Company Jobs Employees: View your Salary
Change Search Criteria
See it in Action

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

See user submitted job responsibilities for Ethical Hacker.

Search Ethical Hacker Job Openings

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

Not the job you're looking for? Search more salaries here:

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

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
93068
112767
104432

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
93068
112767
104432
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 $93,068 to $112,767 with the average base salary of $104,432. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $93,068 to $112,767 with the average total cash compensation of $104,432.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

93068
112767

 

Skills associated with Ethical Hacker: Penetration Testing

Recently searched related titles: Network Solution Architect

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