Ethical Hacker Salary (2025): What You'll Make and Why

The average ethical hacker salary in the United States is $147,108, according to Glassdoor [1]. How much you earn will depend on several factors, including your level of experience, education, industry, company, location, and whether you have relevant certifications.

Average US base salaries for ethical hackers, as of January 2025, are as follows [1,2,3,4]:

Salary aggregate websites often rely on data submitted by individuals using the site. Some websites may have received larger amounts of higher- or lower-than-average salaries, affecting the site’s calculated average.

What is an ethical hacker?

An ethical hacker, or white hat hacker, performs simulated attacks on an organization’s network so that it can build defenses against malicious hackers. They possess a deep understanding of cutting-edge hacking techniques and help organizations boost their security against cyberattacks. Since today’s organizations have a vast amount of data stored within their networks and in the cloud, they require the skilled work of ethical hackers to improve their cybersecurity and identify and resolve any vulnerabilities.

Common factors that impact an ethical hacker salary

The wide pay range for an ethical hacker suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on certifications, skill level, education, location, experience, and expertise.

Experience

One of the most impactful factors in determining your salary potential is experience. Ethical hackers may receive a bump in pay every year they’re employed. For example, consider the annual average base pay by years of experience in the US, according to Glassdoor [1]: 

• 0–1 year of experience: $93,317

• 1–3 years of experience: $113,046

• 4–6 years of experience: $128,600

• 7–9 years of experience: $142,655

Education

Generally speaking, more education tends to correlate with higher salaries. In penetration and vulnerability testing, 55 percent of job listings request at least a bachelor's degree and 44 percent require a master's degree or higher [5]. While this ultimately depends on the company and your unique circumstances, having a graduate degree could lead to a higher paying ethical hacking salary.

Certifications

Earning a certification in ethical hacking or cybersecurity can validate your skills to potential employers, which could translate to an increase in pay. According to Payscale, those with a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential earn an average base pay of $86,436 [6].

Salaries for other cybersecurity professionals

Pursuing a career in cybersecurity could lead to a range of career paths and roles. Here are a few different job titles to consider, along with their average base salaries in the US, according to Glassdoor (January 2025):

• Computer forensic analyst: $80,199 [7]

• Cryptography analyst: $113,844 [8]

• Cybersecurity analyst: $95,324 [9]

• Penetration tester: $112,384 [10]

• Cybersecurity consultant: $132,229 [11]

• Security engineer: $137,144 [12]

Next steps towards discovering ethical hacking skills

Ready to develop both technical and workplace skills for a career in cybersecurity? The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Coursera is your gateway to exploring job titles such as security analyst, SOC (security operations center) analyst, and more. Upon completion, you’ll have exclusive access to a job platform with over 150 employees hiring for entry-level cybersecurity roles and other resources that will support you in your job search.