How to hire a penetration tester: 69 companies are hiring now
What you compete with, counted from today’s 116 open penetration tester postings: who is hiring, where, what they pay and how long postings stay up. Then six steps, each with a free template or tool.
- Companies hiring now
- 69
- Open postings
- 116
- Median advertised pay
- $213K
- Remote
- 36%
- Half are open for over
- 54 days
What you compete with
| Companies hiring this work now | 69: Dark Wolf Solutions (6), Armadin (6), SixGen, Inc. (4), CertiK (3), Chainguard (3), Elastic (3) |
|---|---|
| Countries named most | 🇺🇸United States (66), 🇮🇱Israel (12), 🇨🇦Canada (5), 🇬🇧United Kingdom (5), 🇲🇽Mexico (3) |
| Pay advertised | $170K – $247K for the middle half; median $213K (44 postings with a yearly US-dollar range) |
| Postings that state pay | 44% |
| Where the work is done | Remote 36% · hybrid 9% · on site or not stated 55% |
| Experience asked | Median 5 years |
| Skills named most | Python (56%), LLM (38%), AWS (35%), GCP (30%), Azure (29%) |
| Benefits named most | Parental leave (28%), Equity (25%), Visa sponsorship (4%), Relocation support (4%) |
| How long postings stay up | Half of today’s open postings have been up more than 54 days |
Counted from the 116 open postings for this work on Nov 14, 2026, read from employers’ own careers pages and recounted on every update.
Six steps to hire a penetration tester
- Set the pay range first. Today’s 44 penetration tester postings that state a yearly US-dollar range offer $170K to $247K for the middle half. Three quarters of them offer more than the lower figure. 44% of the postings state pay; in several US states and EU countries the law requires it. See penetration tester pay in detail.
- Write the description. Start from the penetration tester job description template, then check it with the job description checker: the pay, the place of work and the must-haves should be clear before the second paragraph.
- Decide where the person can work. 36% of today’s penetration tester postings are remote and 9% hybrid. If yours is remote, name the countries or time zones; “remote” alone brings applications you cannot accept.
- Post it where people look. Post the job free on this site, add it to your own careers page and send it to people you know who do this work.
- Screen for the skills that matter. Today’s postings name Python, LLM, AWS most often: check them in the work, not only in the resume. Score every candidate on the same points with the interview scorecard; the penetration tester interview questions show what good candidates prepare for.
- Decide quickly. Half of today’s open penetration tester postings have been up more than 54 days: a candidate who waits for your answer may be talking to other employers meanwhile. Tell every candidate when you will decide, and keep to it.
Questions about hiring penetration testers
- How much does it cost to hire a penetration tester?
- The pay is the largest part: today’s penetration tester postings that state a yearly US-dollar range advertise a median of $213K. Add advertising, agency fees if you use one and the hours your team spends interviewing; the cost per hire calculator on this site adds them up. Posting on this site is free.
- How long does it take to hire a penetration tester?
- Half of today’s open penetration tester postings have been up more than 54 days. A posting can close before the person starts, so plan for a few weeks more.
- Where can I find penetration testers?
- 69 companies are hiring penetration testers on this site today. Post your job here free, on your own careers page and in communities where penetration testers meet; the table on this page lists the countries named most in today’s postings.
Everything about penetration tester work
See also: penetration tester job description template · 116 open penetration tester jobs · cost per hire calculator · all hiring guides