CCAIRHow to become a Penetration Tester
Penetration testers are hired to attack an organization's systems with permission, find weaknesses before criminals do, and explain how to fix them. It is a popular goal, but few people are hired into it straight from school.
- First job?
- Usually a second jobCommon first jobs are vulnerability management analyst, systems administrator or SOC analyst.
- Coding
- Some scripting
- Start with
- INE eJPT
- Median US pay
- $129,180BLS May 2025, Information Security Analysts
What the job is like
The ethical hacker: you break in, with permission, so the real attackers can't. A typical week might include:
- Scan a client's network for weak spots agreed in advance
- Try to get from an ordinary account to full control
- Write a report that ranks what to fix first
How to get in
Common first jobs are vulnerability management analyst, systems administrator or SOC analyst.
- Learn networking and Linux first; most testing builds on them.
- Do capture-the-flag challenges and write up each one.
- Look for vulnerability management or junior security analyst jobs while you build skills.
Certifications
Start with
- INE eJPT
- CompTIA PenTest+
Later, with experience
- OffSec OSCP
Free places to practise and learn
Habits that help in every cyber role
- Build a small home lab (an old laptop or free virtual machines is enough) and write up what you try.
- Do beginner capture-the-flag challenges and keep a simple public portfolio of what you learned.
- Go to a local ISSA, ISACA, OWASP or BSides meeting. Most are free for students, and many jobs come from people you meet there.
Questions about this role
Can I get a Penetration Tester job straight out of school?
Usually not. Common first jobs are vulnerability management analyst, systems administrator or SOC analyst.
Do I need to know how to code to become a Penetration Tester?
Some. Basic scripting (for example Python or Bash) helps, but you don't need to be a software developer.
What certification should I get first to become a Penetration Tester?
Good starting points: INE eJPT; CompTIA PenTest+. Later, with experience: OffSec OSCP.
How much does a Penetration Tester make?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $129,180 a year (May 2025) for Information Security Analysts, the closest official category. Starting pay is usually lower and varies by city and employer.
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NICE work role: Vulnerability Analysis. Pay: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025. Reviewed 2026-10-17 by Dr. Benjamin M. Ampel, Director of CCAIR.