The birth of social media marked the advent of virtual identities. The passed pandemic acquainted us with a remote lifestyle, lifelined by computers for work, entertainment, and social interactions. Functioning virtually is gradually becoming a norm as we ascend into a cyber age. In this article we are discuss basic Ethical Hacker Salaries in 2025
With such new cyberspaces becoming integral to our existence, their safety becomes a major concern.
The National Cybercrime Reporting portal has recorded a 15.3% rise in complaints in the latter part of 2025. It reflects on possible hostility online for individuals, businesses, and communities. In this context, Ethical Hacking contingencies help you predict and prepare for any possibility of cyberattacks that can cause serious damage.
Table of Contents
Ethical Hacker Definition
Ethical hackers conduct security assessments, employing similar techniques that are likely to be used by cybercriminals. These preemptive procedures help in identifying vulnerabilities in a system, application, or organization’s infrastructure that a hacker could potentially exploit.
Overview of Ethical Hacking
Ethical Hacker also called white hats, imitate the approach methods and behavior of cyber attackers to understand the weak links of one’s cyber security.
Further, these professionals provide an intricate solution to detect, protect, and recover from any online attacks that put information and operation at risk.
Fortinet’s 2022 global research report suggests that Cybersecurity is now turning out to be a broad-level priority for prominent organizations. Nearly 76% of the administrative heads globally are seeking out more headcounts in IT and cybersecurity. As a result, there is a drastic hike in Ethical hackers’ salaries.
With demand for cyber security personnel coming to the forefront now more than ever, let’s delve into a comparative study on the scope of ethical hacking roles across prominent countries.
Ethical Hacking Trends
USA Average
According to Payscale, the average Ethical Hacker salary in the USA in 2022 is $98k.
Education
- An Ethical Hacking Certification or Diploma qualifies for a salary of $60,000 per annum
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Ethical Hacking gets a salary of 77,500 USD (+29%)
- A Master’s Degree earns an average salary of 111,000 USD (+43%)
Ethical Hacking Salary increments based on years of Experience
- Less than 1 year: the average salary increments dabble around 3%
- 1-4 years: the ethical hacking salaries witness the highest growth scaling upto 30%
- 5-9 years: the payscales ascend upto an average of 27%
- 10-19 years: ethical hacking salaries rise by an average of 25%
- 20 years+: wages witness increase at the rate of 9%
Ethical Hacker Salaries and Roles in the USA
| Job Roles | Range | Average |
| Cyber Security Analyst | $59k – $127k | $89,457 |
| Cyber Security Engineer | $78k – $152k | $112,066 |
| Information Security Analyst | $56k – $124k | $80,397 |
| Security Engineer | $70k – $143k | $101,736 |
| Security Analyst | $54k – $107k | $75,352 |
| Penetration Tester | $65k – $134k | $95,289 |
| Information Security Manager | $79k – $154k | $119,469 |
| Information Security Engineer | $75k – $138k | $105,282 |
| Security Architect, IT | $88k – $183k | $131,147 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | $110k – $230k | $178,290 |
| Information Security Officer | $77k – $134k | $103,396 |
| Security Consultant, (Computing / Networking / IT) | $71k- $165k | $109,773 |
Average Ethical Hacking Salaries in Top Companies
- Deloitte & Touche LLP- $115,000
- Sentek Global- $132,656
- International Business Machines Corp.- $124,556
- General Dynamics Corp.- $127,407
- KBR- $115,312
- Accenture- $115,500
The difference in Ethical Hacking salaries in Govt. or Non-Govt. positions
The salaries of government ethical hackers evidently are more than their counterparts in the private sector ranging from $85,000 to $130,000 per year. In contrast, the private sector white hats earn between $60,000 to $90,000 annually.
The primary reason for this stark difference in ethical hacking salaries is the higher level of security clearance needed for government roles.
Gender Parity
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total employed ethical hackers in the United States is comprised of relatively decent segregation of 57% male and 43% female personnel.
Of this, male ethical hackers’ salary median annual wage is $99,410, while female ethical hackers’ salaries have a median annual wage of $87,790, reflecting a clear pay parity.
Popular Cities
- Washington, District of Columbia – $96,560
- New York, New York – $87,375
- San Antonio, Texas – $71,227
- Atlanta, Georgia – $80,243
- San Diego, California – $99,224
Singapore Average
According to Payscale, the average Ethical Hacker salary in 2022 is S$62k.
Education
- An Ethical Hacking Certification or Diploma qualifies for a salary of S$4,400 per month
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Ethical Hacking gets a salary of S$6,970 (+58%)
- Al Master’s Degree earns an average salary of S$9,690 (+39%)
Ethical Hacker Salaries increments based on years of Experience
- Less than 1 year: the average salary increments dabble around 6%
- 1-4 years: the ethical hacking salaries witness the highest growth scaling upto 30%
- 5-9 years: the payscales ascend up to an average of 27%
- 10-19 years: ethical hacking salaries rise by an average of 22%
Ethical Hacker Salaries and roles in Singapore
| Job Roles | Range | Average |
| Cyber Security Analyst | S$10k – S$95k | S$50,043 |
| Security Analyst | S$3k – S$75k | S$48,796 |
| Cyber Security Engineer | S$4k – S$147k | S$62,400 |
| Penetration Tester | S$5k – S$89k | S$57,484 |
| Information Security Analyst | S$36k – S$99k | S$74,300 |
| Security Consultant, (Computing / Networking / IT) | S$41k- S$77k | S$62,400 |
| Information Security Specialist | S$71k-S$101k | S$79,120 |
| Network Security Engineer | S$15k – S$38k | S$26,248 |
| Security Consultant, IT | S$39k – S$76k | S$50,190 |
| Information Security Manager | S$78k – S$150k | S$90,000 |
Top Companies
- Marriott International, Inc.: S$95,113
- Deutsche Bank: S$60, 500
- NCS Group: S$55,446
The difference in Ethical Hacking salaries in Govt. or Non-Govt. positions
In Singapore, the ethical hacking salaries relatively are higher in government roles.
Ethical hackers employed under the Singapore administration relatively draw higher salaries ranging anywhere between S$70,000 to S$90,000. In comparison, the white hats recruited in non-governmental organizations take home annual salaries of S$60,000 to S$80,000.
Gender Parity
According to a report published by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), only 10% of the cybersecurity workforce in Singapore is female.
The report shows, female hackers earn 14.5% less than their male counterparts reflecting a major gender pay gap.
Popular Cities
- Singapore S$26,093 – S$84,404
Australia Average
According to Payscale, the average Ethical Hacker salary in 2022 is AU$100k.
Education
- An Ethical Hacking Certification or Diploma qualifies for a salary of AU$63,400 per year
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Ethical Hacking gets a salary of AU$81,800 (+29%)
- A Master’s Degree earns an average salary of AU$117,000 (+43%)
Ethical Hacking Salary increments based on years of Experience
- Less than 1 year: the average salary increments dabble around 2%
- 1-4 years: the ethical hacking salaries witness the highest growth scaling up to 36%
- 5-9 years: the payscales ascend up to an average of 23%
- 10-19 years: ethical hacking salaries rise by an average of 25%
- 20 years+: wages witness an increase at the rate of 6%
Ethical Hacker Salaries and roles in Australia
| Job Roles | Range | Average |
| Cyber Security Analyst | AU$55k – AU$139k | AU$77,910 |
| Security Architect, IT | AU$150k – AU$195k | AU$173,684 |
| Penetration Tester | AU$61k-AU$85k | AU$73,056 |
| Security Engineer | AU$72k – AU$92k | AU$84,500 |
| Senior Security Consultant | AU$120k – AU$160k | AU$132,257 |
| Ethical Hacker | AU$83k -AU$102k | AU$95,476 |
| Information Security Analyst | AU$76k – AU$117k | AU$106,500 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | AU$148k – AU$233k | AU$170,000 |
| Cyber Security Engineer | AU$90k – AU$160k | AU$120,000 |
| Information Security Specialist | AU$65k – AU$130k | AU$90,018 |
Average Ethical Hacking Salaries in Top Companies
- Deloitte: AU$155,000
- ES2: AU$130,000
- National Australia Bank: AU$202,500
- Telstra Corporation Ltd: AU$75,000
- The Chemist Warehouse AU$55,000
The difference in Ethical Hacking salaries in Govt. or Non-Govt. positions
Non-government ethical hackers in Australia typically earn a lower salary than government hackers. In government positions, ethical hackers’ salaries largely range between $88,000 to $118,000 per year, while non-government roles take home anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000 per year.
Gender Parity
According to a recent study by the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network (ACSGN), the gender pay gap in the ethical hacking industry in Australia is much lower than in other industries. Women make up around 30% of the ethical hacker workforce in Australia.
The pay-gap amounts to an average of only 5.4% lower than men.
However, the studies reveal women only take up 10% of senior-level roles in the ethical hacking industry.
Popular Cities
- Sydney, New South Wales- AU$ 94,315
- Melbourne, Victoria- AU$100,271
Canada Average
According to Payscale, the average Ethical Hacker salary in 2022 is C$83k.
Education
- An Ethical Hacking Certification or Diploma qualifies for a salary of C$79,800 per year
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Ethical Hacking gets a salary of C$105,000 (+32%)
- A Master’s Degree earns an average salary of C$144,000 (+37%)
Ethical Hacking Salary increments based on years of Experience
- Less than 1 year: the average salary increments dabble around 7%
- 1-4 years: the ethical hacking salaries witness the highest growth scaling upto 36%
- 5-9 years: the payscales ascend to an average of 21%
- 10-19 years: ethical hacking salaries rise by an average of 28%
- 20 years+: wages witness increase at the rate of 7%
Ethical Hacking roles in Canada
| Job Roles | Range | Average |
| Security Analyst | C$51k- C$98k | C$73,508 |
| Cyber Security Analyst | C$45k- C$101k | C$74,965 |
| Information Security Analyst | C$54k – C$97k | C$75,690 |
| Senior Security Consultant | C$71k- C$127k | C$100,543 |
| Penetration Tester | C$41k – C$99k | C$65,245 |
| Cyber Security Engineer | C$43k – C$134k | C$104.805 |
| Security Architect, IT | C$105k – C$147k | C$120,798 |
| Information Security Manager | C$97k – C$123k | C$111,929 |
| Security Engineer | C$81k – C$109k | C$97,000 |
| Information Security Officer | C$71k-C$168k | C$115,000 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | C$105k- C$221k | C$170,000 |
Average Ethical Hacking Salaries in Top Companies
- EY (Ernt & Young): C$80,000
- Telus Corporation: C$106,500
The difference in Ethical Hacking salaries in Govt. or Non-Govt. positions
Depending on the scope of the role, generally non-government ethical hackers earn more than government ethical hackers in Canada. But there are conflicting numbers that suggest otherwise.
As an observation, the overall wage range largely concludes on similar averages for both sectors.
Also Read:- How to Hack Wi-Fi Passwords?
Government ethical hacker salaries in Canada range anywhere from $60,000 to over $100,000 per year, while Non-governmental counterparts draw $50,000 to $90,000 per year.
Gender Parity
The gender breakdown shows that women make up less than 10% of the ethical hacking workforce in Canada.
In terms of salaries in ethical hacking roles, a survey conducted by the Canadian Cybersecurity Association infers that women make on average 11.7% less than their male counterparts on the job.
Popular Cities
- Toronto, Ontario- C$74,000
- Montréal, Québec- C$69,750
- Moncton, New Brunswick- C$108,000
- Ottawa, Ontario- C$70,000
- Vancouver, British Columbia- C$84,000
UAE Average
According to Payscale, the average Ethical Hacker salary in 2022 is AED175k.
Education
- An Ethical Hacking Certification or Diploma qualifies for a salary of AED159,000 per year
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Ethical Hacking gets a salary of AED209,000 (+32%)
- A Master’s Degree earns an average salary of AED287,000 (+37%)
Ethical Hacking Salary increments based on years of Experience
- Less than 1 year: the average salary increments dabble around 4%
- 1-4 years: the ethical hacking salaries witness the highest growth scaling up to 35%
- 5-9 years: the payscales ascend to an average of 31%
- 10-19 years: ethical hacking salaries rise by an average of 26%
- 20 years+: wages witness an increase at the rate of 3%
Ethical Hacker roles in the UAE
| Job Roles | Range | Average |
| Cyber Security Analyst | AED 35k -AED 373k | AED 121,356 |
| Cyber Security Engineer | AED 13k -AED 556k | AED 146,501 |
| Information Security Analyst | AED 10k -AED 258k | AED 200,000 |
| Security Architect, IT | AED 45k – AED 344k | AED 276,000 |
| Senior Security Consultant | AED 34k -AED 366k | AED 180,000 |
| Security Analyst | AED 82k – AED 285k | AED 250,000 |
| Security Engineer | AED 13k -AED 139k | AED 48,000 |
| Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) | AED 35k – AED 371k | AED 61,042 |
Average Ethical Hacking Salaries in Top Companies
- Emirates Bank: AED246,000
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank: AED450,000
The difference in Ethical Hacking salaries in Govt. or Non-Govt. positions
The ethical hacker salaries working with government organizations tend to be higher than fellow private sector job holders in UAE. Additionally, ethical hackers working in the financial sector draw higher numbers than those working in other domains.
Gender Parity
The gender breakdown of the ethical hacking workforce in the UAE is not available, as most ethical hacking jobs are contracted on a project basis to independent contractors or freelancers.
However, a survey conducted by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2 in 2020 found that women only accounted for 11.5% of the global ethical hacking workforce, suggesting that the gender gap in this field is still wide.
Popular Cities
- Dubai- AED181,176
- Abu Dhabi- AED179,000
India Average
According to Payscale, the average Ethical Hacker salary in 2022 is Rs.514,635.
Education
- An Ethical Hacking Certification or Diploma qualifies for a salary of Rs264,000 per year
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Ethical Hacking gets a salary of Rs362,000 (+37%)
- A Master’s Degree earns an average salary of Rs466,000 (+29%)
Ethical Hacking Salary increments based on years of Experience
- Less than 1 year: the average salary increments dabble around 15%
- 1-4 years: the ethical hacking salaries witness the highest growth scaling upto 48%
- 5-9 years: the payscales ascend to an average of 23%
- 10-19 years: ethical hacking salaries rise by an average of 13%
- 20 years+: wages witness increase at the rate of 6%
Ethical Hacking roles in the USA
| Job Roles | Range | Average |
| Network Security Engineer | Rs245k – Rs1m | Rs513,169 |
| Cyber Security Analyst | Rs308k – Rs1m | Rs539,675 |
| Security Architect | Rs1903k – Rs2380k | Rs2,142,000 |
| Cyber Security Manager | Rs1006k – Rs1415k | Rs1,211,000 |
| Chief Information Security Officer | Rs977k – Rs7m | Rs2,329,209 |
| Ethical Hacker | Rs139k – Rs3m | Rs498,957 |
Average Ethical Hacking Salaries in Top Companie
- Wipro Technologies Ltd. Rs 101,980
- Tata Consultancy Services Limited Rs 290,874
- Infosys Limited Rs 121,641
The difference in Ethical Hacking salaries in Govt. & Non-Govt. positions
Categorically, the ethical hacker salaries in private sectors in India exceed the government counterparts. The salaries in the private sector range anywhere between Rs.25,000 to Rs.1,50,000 per month, while government compensations scale between Rs.15,000 to Rs.50,000 per month.
Gender Parity
According to a survey conducted by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), in 2019, there were 10.9 million IT security professionals in India, of which only 3.2% were women.
Of this minimal resource, women comprise only 8% of the ethical hacking workforce in India.
Furthermore, the gender pay gap in the ethical hacking industry is significant, with men earning an average of 20% more than women.
Popular Cities
- Bangalore, Karnataka Rs 695,257
- Mumbai, Maharashtra Rs 645,586
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu Rs 577,749
- Pune, Maharashtra Rs 648,707
- Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Rs 609,675
Factors Affecting Ethical Hacking Salaries
1. Location
The location of work plays a significant role in actuating the ethical hackers’ salaries. The pay for the same job profiles for ethical hackers tends to change from city to city due to the change in the cost of living, the presence of suitable work ambiance, and the corporate culture.
2. Experience
In the context of ethical hacking, the experience here is specific to particular domains and system applications. Personnel adept with applications demanded by the clientele tends to find projects easily. Moreover, the ethical hacking salary range directly depends on the experience particular to the work profiles. The more experience, the higher the pay scale.
3. Company
The innate roles offered by ethical hackers tend to be different in different organizations. Even though the positions may fall under the umbrella of cyber security, the job profiles may drastically differ. An ethical hacker’s salaries depend on the nature of the information that is subjected to security tests.
It is suggestible to do thorough market research before joining any company as cyber security personnel.
4. Role
1. Ethical Hacker
An ethical hacker inspects for any vulnerabilities in the performance of the digital security applications of an organization and suggests the best security practices.
2. Network Security Engineer
A network security engineer supervises the entire technology load of an organization including web security applications, virtual private network programs, and security-related hardware, and software.
3. Cyber Security Analyst
Cybersecurity analysts examine the strength of an organization’s security standards against real threats. They collaborate with other cybersecurity professionals in equipping the organization against hackers and malware.
4. Penetration tester:
A pen tester’s job is to perform repetitive mirror cyberattack tests to better the responsive security measures of the organizations against malware.
5. Information security manager:
At an administrative level, the information security manager upgrades the security systems, and reports testing data, results, and contingency recovery suggestions.
6. Cyber security engineer:
Cyber security engineer performs major administrative functions in planning, implementation, and supervision of the security systems and infrastructure, ensuring the data safety of the organization.
7. Security Consultant:
A Security Consultant connects with clients as a part of an agency or as an individual and provides advisory services on the aspects of security systems, programs, and assets.
Conclusion
The Bureau of Labor Statics estimates, by 2025, there will be 35 million vacancies in the information security industry. With the trends expanding far and wide, the potential for a meaningful and challenging vocation in the cybersecurity sector is higher than ever. This opens up a plethora of career opportunities for everyone who wants to pursue ethical hacking.
So, ethical hacking certifications can be a great hack for your flourishing career.
All the best!
FAQs
What are the minimum academic qualifications required to start learning ethical hacking?
It is favorable for a candidate with an academic background in information technology to excel in ethical hacking. But technically, there is no mandatory requirement other than completion of the 12th for enrolling in an ethical hacking course.
How long will it take to become an ethical hacker?
One needs a minimum of 12 months to develop ethical hacking skills from scratch. This period can typically extend up to 6 years or at times longer than that depending on the innate problem-solving acumen, and coding abilities.
Are there any good online ethical hacking courses?
Henry Harvin’s certified ethical hacking (CEHv11) course is one of the finest on the web, with a holistic curriculum comprising over 20 modules suitable for freshers and professionals alike.
Can ethical hackers offer services as freelancers?
A certified ethical hacker can offer his/her services as a freelancer. But it is crucial to ensure good visibility online as freelance cybersecurity personnel and have decent networking to assure regular clientele.
Do ethical hackers require any computer hardware knowledge?
An ethical hacker must have a decent knowledge of the hardware functioning of a computer to comprehend the software operations.
Alongside, this the individual needs to be adept in problem-solving acumen, networking skills, programming, cryptography, and database skills.