USA is the country that faces the second-highest number of cyber-attacks leading to a higher number of openings for positions of Ethical hackers. The job comes with good credibility, scope of growth, and a great salary potential. The hacker’s job is of high responsibility but also gives you an interesting life. If you are a certified ethical hacker in the USA, sure there is a good job waiting for you or you might also be in demand. But, before you take up that job let’s first see about the Ethical hacker salary in the USA and know if you are offered the right amount.
This Blog Includes:
- What is Ethical Hacking?
- Ethical Hacker Salary In USA On Average
- Ethical Hacker Salary In USA Based On Level Of Experience
- Ethical Hacker Salary In USA In Different Sectors
- Ethical Hacker Salary In USA Based On Level Of Education
- Ethical Hacker Salary In USA In Different Cities
- Ethical Hacker Salary In USA Compared To Similar Professions
- FAQs
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hackers, also known as white-hat hackers, are cybersecurity experts who use their skills to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks. They help organizations protect sensitive data by simulating cyberattacks and providing solutions to strengthen security measures. With the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, the need for ethical hackers has never been greater.
Learn how to Build a Career in Ethical Hacking
Ethical Hacker Salary In USA On Average
An ethical hacker in the USA earns a pretty rewarding amount of salary. The following are the averages given every year:
- The average salary is 80,900 USD per year
- The average highest salary is 123,000 USD per year
- The average lowest salary is 42,800 USD per year
To give you a better understanding, the salary every month is also given below:
- The average salary is 6,741 USD per month
- The average highest salary is 10,250 USD per month
- The average lowest salary is 3,566 USD per month
Your salary as an ethical hacker might differ from the averages mentioned above as the salary at an individual level is decided based on many factors like education, experience, gender, etc.
Ethical Hacker Salary In USA Based On Level Of Experience
The level of experience is the most important factor that creates the differences in the levels of salary of different individuals. Experience years determines the level of expertise the individual has in the field and the proficiency in the skills, therefore people with higher experience are paid a higher amount of salary. If you have experience of ethical hacking of 2-5 years, you can expect to earn a 23% higher salary.
Expereince Level | Average Salary Per Year |
0-2 Years | USD 48,500 |
2-5 Years | USD 61,400 |
5-10 Years | USD 85,400 |
10-15 Years | USD 98,900 |
15-20 Years | USD 109,700 |
20+ Years | USD 114,300 |
Ethical Hacker Salary In USA In Different Sectors
The private and public sectors are seen to have a certain level of difference in the average pay of the employees in most of the professions. For the job of Ethical hackers, the public sector is likely to pay 6% higher salary to the employees compared to the private sector.
Sector | Average Salary Per Year |
Private sector | USD 93,100 |
Public sector | USD 98,800 |
Here is how you can Know about various professions and their average salary in the USA
Ethical Hacker Salary In USA Based On Level Of Education
The level of education is another important factor that helps determine the level of salary. A highly qualified individual is expected to have a higher level of knowledge in the subject and high proficiency in work productivity. With the help of a master’s degree, you earn around 43% higher salary when compared to that with a bachelor’s degree. The following table will be able to give more clarity:
Educational Qualification | Average Salary Per Year |
Diploma or Certificate | USD 61,400 |
Bachelor’s Degree | USD 78,200 |
Master’s Degree | USD 111,700 |
Ethical Hacker Salary In USA In Different Cities
The different cities of the same countries pay an average salary for the same profession with a slight difference in ratio. To learn which cities pay the better range of salary and are best to work in, let’s compare the salaries of cities in the USA with the help of the following image:
Cities | Average Salary Per Year |
Atlanta | USD 79,000 |
Boston | USD 83,000 |
Chicago | USD 99,900 |
Dallas | USD 92,900 |
Kent | USD 72,800 |
Los Angeles | USD 103,600 |
New York | USD 102,700 |
San Diego | USD 92,100 |
Vancouver | USD 66,200 |
Washington | USD 86,100 |
Ethical Hacker Salary In USA Compared To Similar Professions
To get a better understanding of the ethical hacker salary in the USA and see if it lies in the scale of the good pay range, let us compare the average salary of an ethical hacker to certain other similar professions in the same industry with the help of the following table:
Profession | Average Salary Per Year |
Android developer | USD 87,300 |
Application Developer | USD 95,000 |
Blockchain associate | USD 94,800 |
Business intelligence analyst | USD 99,700 |
Change administrator | USD 87,200 |
Computer programmer | USD 96,800 |
Database analyst | USD 92,600 |
Java developer | USD 99,600 |
Network analyst | USD 83,800 |
Network support specialist | USD 72,400 |
Program lead | USD 114,900 |
IT engineer | USD 81,300 |
Details about CEH: Understanding certified ethical hacker
FAQs
Yes, the job of an ethical hacker is pretty rewarding in the USA. the openings are high, skilled hackers are always in demand. The jobs provide you with good pay, life balance, growth opportunities and exposure that can help you in your career development ahead.
The pay raise is pretty fine in the industry of cybersecurity. Ethical hackers are getting one of the higher pay raises in the industry. The average pay raise that an ethical hacker can expect is 7% for every 12 months. However, the pay raise will completely depend upon your performance and employer and can vary from the average.
Yes, there is a certain difference in the ratio of male and female pay in the job role of ethical hacker in the USA. the males in the industry earn a 3% higher salary when compared to the women in the same profession.
Yes. In 2025, you can expect competitive salaries for ethical hackers based on your experience level. Beginners, intermediates, advanced, and expert professionals are all in demand
This was detailed information about the Ethical hacker salary in USA, to get information on more such salary and jobs-related topics, or to read more such blogs, follow Jobs Abroad. To get insight on studying abroad, follow Leverage Edu.
Relevant Reads