Penetration Testers in Arkansas
Want to work as a Penetration Testers in Arkansas? Here’s what you need to know. All computer occupations not listed separately. Excludes “Computer and Information Systems Managers” (11-3021), “Computer Hardware Engineers” (17-2061), “Electrical and Electronics Engineers” (17-2070), “Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary” (25-1021), “Special Effects Artists and Animators” (27-1014), “Graphic Designers” (27-1024), “Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars” (29-9021), and “Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers” (49-2011).
What do Penetration Testers Make in Arkansas?
The penetration testers working in Arkansas, the median annual wage is $77,830 per year (or about $37.42/hour).Pay can range from $40,960 at the 10th percentile to $131,060 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| 25th percentile | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Median (50th) | $77,830 | $37.42 |
| 75th percentile | $110,360 | $53.06 |
| 90th percentile | $131,060 | $63.01 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Arkansas nationwide is 0.22, suggesting fewer penetration testers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, penetration testers earn a median of $93,800 per year ($45.10/hour), below the Arkansas median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 91,324 penetration testers nationwide. In Arkansas alone, approximately 800 people work in this role. That trails the typical state, which employs around 3,420 penetration testers.
Top Arkansas Metros for Penetration Testers
These are the Arkansas metros with the most penetration testers in Arkansas.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 360 | $86,940 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 140 | $55,070 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 60 | $92,810 |
Top States for Penetration Testers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most penetration testers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 85,270 |
| Texas | 59,680 |
| Maryland | 19,940 |
| Georgia | 18,590 |
| Florida | 18,320 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,710 |
| District of Columbia | 17,210 |
| Virginia | 14,020 |
| North Carolina | 13,660 |
| Washington | 13,620 |
| Missouri | 13,180 |
| New Jersey | 12,490 |
| Illinois | 11,440 |
| Tennessee | 11,190 |
| New York | 9,860 |
| Colorado | 8,690 |
| Michigan | 7,400 |
| Massachusetts | 6,100 |
| South Carolina | 5,840 |
| Arizona | 5,740 |
Highest-Paying States for Penetration Testers
These states pay the most for penetration testers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Virgin Islands | $179,830 |
| Maryland | $141,540 |
| District of Columbia | $137,610 |
| Virginia | $132,810 |
| Delaware | $132,670 |
| Washington | $131,800 |
| California | $128,750 |
| Colorado | $119,560 |
| West Virginia | $113,030 |
| Hawaii | $112,050 |
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Assess the physical security of servers, systems, or network devices to identify vulnerability to temperature, vandalism, or natural disasters.
- Collect stakeholder data to evaluate risk and to develop mitigation strategies.
- Conduct network and security system audits, using established criteria.
- Configure information systems to incorporate principles of least functionality and least access.
- Design security solutions to address known device vulnerabilities.
- Develop and execute tests that simulate the techniques of known cyber threat actors.
- Develop infiltration tests that exploit device vulnerabilities.
- Develop presentations on threat intelligence.
- Develop security penetration testing processes, such as wireless, data networks, and telecommunication security tests.
- Discuss security solutions with information technology teams or management.
- Document penetration test findings.
- Evaluate vulnerability assessments of local computing environments, networks, infrastructures, or enclave boundaries.
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Amazon Web Services AWS software, Ansible software, Apple iOS, Apple macOS, Bash In-demand technologies: Amazon Web Services AWS software, Bash, C
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Computer Science
- Computer Information Systems
- Information Science
- Information Technology
- Data Processing
- Computational Science
- Human Computer Interaction
- Mathematics & Computer Science
- Accounting & Computer Science
- Medical Illustration & Informatics
- Security Science and Technology
- Biomathematics & Bioinformatics
- Chemistry
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to penetration testers include:
- Security Managers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Security Management Specialists
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Computer Network Support Specialists
Also Known As
Application Security Assessor, Application Security Hacker, Application Security Tester, Certified Hacker, Certified Tester, Consulting Advisory Tester, Cyber Analyst, Cyber Assessment Tester, Cyber Assessor, Cyber Security Engineer, Cyber Security Tester, Cyber Tester, Cybersecurity Engineer (Cyber Engineer), Cybersecurity Specialist, Embedded Tester.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 15-1299.04