Security·Advanced
Penetration Tester
Target role — Offensive Security
Find and prove exploitable weaknesses before attackers do — legally, ethically, and with reports clients can act on.
By the end, you'll have shipped
A documented lab pentestExploited web & network targetsA professional pentest reportAn offensive-security certification
Career insight
3,200+
Open roles
active openings, last 30 days
$120k
Median salary
$85k–$170k · US median base, mid-level
Strong demand
Hiring demand
niche, certification-gated
No degree required
Typical entry
Skills and portfolio carry interviews
Most-requested skills
ScriptingReporting
Related roles
Security AnalystRed TeamerApplication Security EngineerSecurity Consultant
The path · 5 stages · 14 checkpoints
Stage progression
1
Foundations & Ethics
Deep fundamentals plus the legal and ethical frame that makes this a career, not a crime.
Networking & Protocols
2 weeks
Linux & Scripting
2 weeks
Law, Ethics & Scope
Ethics1 week
2
Reconnaissance
You can't exploit what you haven't found.
3
Exploitation
Prove the weakness by safely exploiting it.
4
Post-Exploitation
After the foothold: escalate, pivot, persist — and clean up.
5
Reporting & Certification
The deliverable clients pay for — and the cert that opens doors.