Penetration Testers in North Carolina
Considering working as a Penetration Testers in North Carolina? Below are the key facts. 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 North Carolina?
For penetration testers working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $106,240 per year (or roughly $51.08/hour).Pay can range from $49,180 at the 10th percentile to $187,690 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| 25th percentile | $75,630 | $36.36 |
| Median (50th) | $106,240 | $51.08 |
| 75th percentile | $143,830 | $69.15 |
| 90th percentile | $187,690 | $90.24 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in North Carolina relative to the national average — is 0.98.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, penetration testers earn a median of $93,800 per year ($45.10/hour), higher than the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 91,324 penetration testers nationwide. In North Carolina alone, about 13,660 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 3,420 penetration testers.
Top North Carolina Metros for Penetration Testers
These are the North Carolina metros with the most penetration testers in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3,490 | $114,300 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 3,020 | $110,620 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,950 | $121,140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 1,010 | $96,780 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 370 | $89,690 |
| Asheville, NC | 350 | $103,720 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 350 | $99,260 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 230 | $90,380 |
| Wilmington, NC | 230 | $99,590 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 140 | $92,880 |
| Greenville, NC | 120 | $104,260 |
| Burlington, NC | 100 | $81,370 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 60 | $116,790 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 60 | $85,570 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 40 | $80,060 |
Top States for Penetration Testers Employment
View the states that employ 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
The highest-paying states 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?
Programs that train for this career include:
- 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
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