Market research summary
The benchmark Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker contractor day rate in the United States is $92/hour in 2026, with a typical range of $84/hour–$102/hour. The equivalent permanent salary median is $154K.
Median day rate
$92/hour
United States benchmark · 2026
Typical range
$84/hour – $102/hour
P25 to P75 rate range
Career level is a major driver of Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker contractor rates in the United States. Entry-level day rates start around $63/hour, rising to about $157/hour at lead or principal level.
Junior
$63/hour
Mid-level
$91/hour
Senior
$124/hour
Principal/Lead
$157/hour
$110/hour
$99/hour – $121/hour
$103/hour
$96/hour – $109/hour
$101/hour
$92/hour – $113/hour
$100/hour
$91/hour – $111/hour
$96/hour
$87/hour – $106/hour
$93/hour
$85/hour – $103/hour
$91/hour
$83/hour – $102/hour
$82/hour
$78/hour – $94/hour
$82/hour
$76/hour – $92/hour
$81/hour
$75/hour – $92/hour
$78/hour
$72/hour – $87/hour
$74/hour
$74/hour – $74/hour
Calculate your take-home from this rate
Pre-filled with the $92/hour median benchmark
The benchmark Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker day rate in the United States is $92/hour in 2026, with the market typically ranging from $84/hour to $102/hour. This reflects published contract market data for cybersecurity & risk roles across the United States.
The equivalent permanent Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker salary sits at $154K in the United States. At the $92/hour contract benchmark, the gross annual contract equivalent is $162K, a premium over the permanent equivalent that reflects the contractor's responsibility for taxes, holiday pay, sick pay, and employer pension contributions.
Weighing this contract role against a remote permanent offer?
Based on the $154K permanent equivalent, 3-day commute assumptions
Remote permanent break-even
$131,400
to match $154K hybrid true net
Annual commute impact
−$15,506
direct costs and time value
Compare this contract role to any remote permanent salary with full tax and commute calculations.
Remote vs hybrid calculatorThe benchmark Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker contractor rate in the United States is $92/hour in 2026, with a typical range of $84/hour–$102/hour. This reflects published market-rate data for freelance and contract engagements.
Take-home from a $92/hour rate depends on your tax residency, structure, and whether Superannuation is paid on top of or inside the rate. The rate ↔ salary calculator on this page converts the day rate to an equivalent annual salary; from there, use the Australia Take-Home Calculator (/us/calculators/au-take-home-calculator) for an ATO resident after-tax estimate.
The Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker permanent salary median is $154K in the United States. At $92/hour, the gross contract equivalent is around $162K/year before tax and business costs. After-tax, contracting at the median rate typically produces a higher net take-home than the permanent equivalent for the same role.
Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker contractor rates vary by location in the United States. San Francisco Bay Area commands the highest median at $110/hour, while Washington DC sits lower at $74/hour. See the city breakdown above for the full list.
Contractors with specialist or in-demand skills typically command rates above the $92/hour median. Review the skills premium section above for specific uplift data relevant to this role.
Demand for Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker contractors in the United States follows broader tech market conditions. Check the market intelligence pages for the latest hiring signals and rate trends.
A Penetration Tester / Ethical Hacker permanent role at the United States median of $154K with a typical 3-day commute carries approximately $15,506 per year in direct costs and lost time. You would need a fully remote permanent salary of at least $131,400 to match its true net value. Contract roles typically command higher gross compensation, but on-site contract work adds the same commute burden. Use the remote vs hybrid calculator to compare any specific contract rate against a remote permanent offer.
Contractor market intelligence: United States
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