Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Penetration Tester salary in Kansas
The average Penetration Tester salary in Kansas is $106,500 per year on WePayFairly's 2026 basis. The 25th-to-75th-percentile range is $82,500 to $134,500. Based on BLS state wage data, aged to 2026.
The following occupation, experience, industry and career information describes the role nationally. For Kansas pay, use the state figures above and the state salary questions below.
Total cash compensation
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
ShareLink copied
About this role
Penetration Tester is a professional role within the function in the Computer and Mathematical job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
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.
Top skills:Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingComplex Problem Solving
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Penetration Tester pay by experience level
Entry level$58,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$82,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$120,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$163,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$195,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+8.2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
31,300
projected openings per year
Growing faster than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Penetration Tester salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
123,970 workers
$130,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
97,870 workers
$129,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
86,390 workers
$135,000
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
76,660 workers
$135,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
25,080 workers
$138,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
25,080 workers
$138,000
Administrative and Support Services
23,190 workers
$112,000
Educational Services
17,310 workers
$91,500
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
16,520 workers
$136,500
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
16,520 workers
$136,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $92,870 to $116,580.
+25.5% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$58,000
Early career25th percentile
$82,000
Median50th percentile
$120,500
Experienced75th percentile
$163,000
Top earners90th percentile
$195,000
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingComplex Problem Solving
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$126,500
2027$131,000
2028$135,500
2029$140,500
2030$145,000
2031$150,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
Get your Personal Pay Report for Penetration Tester
Keep your market comparison in a print-ready PDF, with negotiation targets, a script using your numbers, and a five-year market-pay illustration. Career ladder where available.
StateYears of experienceCurrent salary
One-time purchase. Review the final total, including any applicable tax, in Stripe before you pay. Report available immediately after successful payment. Full refund on request within 7 days of purchase. Refund terms. Prefer to explore first? Run a free market check.
Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
Your free market check includes an estimated percentile and pay gap when you enter your salary. The paid report adds a PDF, negotiation targets and script, and a five-year market-pay illustration. See a full sample report
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Kansas salary questions
How much does a Penetration Tester make in Kansas?
The average base salary for a Penetration Tester in Kansas is $106,500 per year, or about $51.20 per hour, on WePayFairly's 2026 basis.
What is the median Penetration Tester salary in Kansas?
The median is $107,000 per year on the same 2026 basis. The median is the middle wage in the state distribution; the average is $106,500.
What is the typical Penetration Tester salary range in Kansas?
The 25th-to-75th-percentile range in Kansas is $82,500 to $134,500 per year on the 2026 basis. These percentiles describe the state wage distribution; individual pay varies by employer and experience.
How does Penetration Tester pay in Kansas compare with the national average?
The Kansas average of $106,500 is $20,000 (15.8%) below the national average of $126,500. Both figures use WePayFairly's 2026 basis.
Where do these Kansas salary figures come from?
The state figures come from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state data. WePayFairly applies the same compounded market movement factor used elsewhere on this page to express the published figures on a 2026 basis. They are estimates, not a guarantee of a particular offer.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Penetration Tester pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
