However, some employers may care more about the candidate's knowledge and experience than their formal educational backgrounds.<\/p>\r\n
The cybersecurity profession tends to attract people with advanced technical and problem-solving skills.<\/p>\r\n
The Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> (BLS) includes penetration testing in the job duties information security analysts perform. The agency projects a 35% increase in demand for information security analysts from 2021 and 2031. The BLS also reports a median annual salary of $102,600 in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Some penetration testing jobs carry other titles, such as \"ethical hacker\" or \"assurance validator.\" These positions have similar duties to a penetration tester: to seek, identify, and attempt to breach existing weaknesses in digital systems and computing networks.<\/p>\r\n These systems and networks include websites, data storage systems, and other IT assets.<\/p>\r\n Many people confuse penetration testing with vulnerability testing. These two cybersecurity specializations have distinct differences.<\/p>\r\n Vulnerability testers<\/a> look for flaws and weaknesses during a security program's design and setup phases. Penetration testers specifically seek out flaws and weaknesses in active systems.<\/p>\r\n Penetration testing teams simulate cyberattacks and other security breaches designed to access sensitive, private, or proprietary information. They utilize existing hacking tools and strategies and devise their own.<\/p>\r\n During a simulated attack, pen testers document their actions to generate detailed reports indicating how they managed to bypass established security protocols.<\/p>\r\n Penetration testing teams help their employers avoid the public relations fallout and loss of consumer confidence that accompany actual hacks and cyberattacks<\/a>. They also help businesses and organizations improve their digital security measures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\n \n \n <\/a>\n\n \r\n Pen testers spend most of their time<\/a>conducting assessments and running tests. These duties may target internal or external assets. Pen testers can work both on site and remotely.<\/p>\r\n During the morning, the tester or testing team decides on a strategy for the project at hand, and sets up the required tools. In some cases, this involves rounding up what professionals call \"open-source intelligence\" or OSINT, which real-life hackers draw on when trying to bypass security measures and initiate attacks.<\/p>\r\n In the afternoon, teams carry out the tests they spent the morning designing. Other duties include performing simulations to assess other aspects of internal risk.<\/p>\r\n For instance, penetration testing teams may target select employees with phishing scams or other false breaches to see how those responses affect established security protocols.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n \n \n <\/a>\n\n \r\n The BLS predicts explosive growth in the cybersecurity field. The projected employment growth for security analysts is 35% from 2021-203<\/a>1, which far outpaces the average rate for all other occupations.<\/p>\r\n The BLS projects around 19,500 annual job openings for information security analysts, a field which includes penetration testers.<\/p>\r\n As of December 2022, Payscale reported a typical base salary of nearly $90,000 per year<\/a> for pen testers. At the low end (bottom 10%), pen testers earn about $70,000 per year. At the high end (top 10%), they make up to $125,000 per year. Pay rates in major metro areas and leading tech hubs tend to be on the higher end of the scale.<\/p>\r\n As in many career paths, experience and education influence earning potential. With additional experience and skills,penetration testers<\/a>can make more money.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Annual Average Salary<\/p><\/strong>\r\n Source: <\/strong>Payscale<\/a><\/em><\/small><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\n In the 1960s, computer systems became capable of exchanging data across communication networks. Security experts quickly realized these data exchanges were vulnerable to external attacks.<\/p>\r\n The increasing role of computers in government and business made it necessary to create effective safeguards.<\/p>\r\n In 1967, more than 15,000 computing experts and public and private sector officials met at the Joint Computer Conference. They discussed the issue of network penetration, a concept that would become known as penetration testing.<\/p>\r\n Early efforts bythe RAND Corporation<\/a> helped create a systematic approach to penetration testing. Advanced computer security systems like the Multiplexed Information and Computing Service (Multics) then emerged. Multics functioned as the industry's gold standard until about 2000.<\/p>\r\n Since that time, penetration testing has become increasingly complex and specialized. Today, pen testers draw on various advanced tools to identify and close off system vulnerabilities. Penetration testing has also become a big business, with 2021 estimates placing the value of the global cybersecurity industry at $217.9 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n \n \n <\/a>\n\n \r\n Cybersecurity offers many career paths beyond penetration testing. Senior roles with high levels of responsibility often require multiple years of experience and advanced degrees.<\/p>\r\n Other positions are open to job-seekers with the same educational backgrounds as penetration testers. These include information security analysts, security software developers, and network security architects.<\/p>\r\n Candidates can pursue security-related career paths after earning a computer science degree with a cybersecurity specialization. However, general computer science, computer engineering, and information technology degrees may also qualify job-seekers for entry-level roles.<\/p>\r\n As their careers advance, professionals may choose to supplement their existing education with higher degrees. Others elect to pursue industry-standard certifications offered by organizations such as CompTIA<\/a>, EC-Council<\/a>, and GIAC<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Additional certifications can help cybersecurity professionals advance into roles with high pay and strong growth potential.<\/p>\r\n For instance, the BLS projects that demand for information security analysts will grow by 35%<\/a> between 2021-2031. The median annual pay for information security analysts exceeded $100,000<\/a>since May 2020.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat Does a Penetration Tester Do?<\/h2>\r\n
Key Soft Skills for Penetration Testers<\/h3>\r\n
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Key Hard Skills for Penetration Testers<\/h3>\r\n
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A Day in the Life of a Penetration Tester<\/h3>\r\n
Penetration Tester Main Responsibilities<\/h4>\r\n
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Salary and Career Outlook for Penetration Testers<\/h2>\r\n
$90,000<\/span>
\r\n History of Penetration Testers<\/h2>\r\n
Similar Specializations and Career Paths<\/h2>\r\n
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