Ethical Hacker Salary in USA in 2023: How to improve PayScale?

A previous version of the Official Annual Cybercrime Report estimated that by 2021, the annual worldwide cost of cybercrime would surpass $6 trillion, which is a 2X increase ($3 trillion) from the cost in 2015. Without a question, hackers have developed a reputation as bad characters who use shady techniques to hurt people. But not all hackers; some of them just use their skills and expertise for good. White-hat, ethical, and pen-tester hackers are what we refer to as these hackers. So, be prepared to dedicate years to gaining the knowledge and expertise required to become a Cyber Security engineer. In this article, we are going to learn more about ethical hacker salaries in the USA so that you can make the right career decision. We will also discuss factors that affect ethical hacker salaries.

What Does an Ethical Hacker Do?

The term “ethical hacker” refers to a specialist hired for their exceptional technical and non-technical ability and expertise employed in identifying and fixing exploits/vulnerabilities on target networks and systems. Fundamentally, ethical hackers differ from the dreaded “black hat” hackers in that they work alongside the owners of the system or network. In the USA, an ethical hacker with experience makes $13,065 per month. 

Both local laws and any rules that the administrators of the system or network think suitable must be followed by the ethical hacker. White hackers’ main objective is to assess the security posture of a firm or organization. Inside the formal security industry, a cyber security specialist is a more common term for an ethical hacker. 

If you want to be a certified white hat hacker, then an online Hacking course is helpful for you. Ethical Hacking salary in the US is sufficient to lead a life in the USA. 

An ethical hacker’s responsibilities include the following: 

• To categorize and define system and network resources. 
• To determine the relative relevance of the aforementioned resources. 
• To recognize potential risks to the relevant resources 
• To create a plan for handling and prioritizing major potential issues 
• To develop and put into practice strategies for reducing the impact of an attack to conduct tests on target resources, such as software, hardware, and online resources 
• To maintain system updates and install the newest vendor service packs 
• To ingeniously create fresh tactics that will neutralize all potential hazards and counter novel hacking techniques 

Average Cyber Security Engineer Salary in the USA

1. For Freshers

The average salary of an ethical hacker in the USA earns $121,875 a year, or $58.59 per hour. Starting pay for an entry-level ethical hacking job salary in the US is $112,000 annually. For a fresh ethical hacker salary per month in USA is $9,800. This is the genuine salary for an experienced ethical hacker pay scale in USA. 

2. For Experienced

An experienced, ethical hacker salary in US is $121,875 a year, or $58.59 per hour. The highest-paid employees can earn up to $156,780 a year. An experienced, ethical hacker salary in us per month is $13,065. 

Factors That Affect Your Certified Ethical Hacker Salary in US

Based on location, country, certifications, organization size, and kind, needed skills & knowledge, and experience, there may be various prospects for growth and increased compensation for ethical hackers, as indicated by the certified ethical hacker salary in USA. 

1. Location/Country

Your geographic location has a significant impact on what is the amount of money you can make as a CEH. Differing places may experience varying and variable pay curves as a result of different economies, market demands, and a lack of skilled labor. Some developed nations, such as the USA, UK, India, Canada, and Australia, pay highly, while others pay certified hackers less. It is entirely dependent on regional demands and market conditions. 

As was already mentioned, the USA, UK, India, Canada, and Australia are some of the highest-paying countries where you can relocate to start your ethical hacking profession with a reasonable entry-level ethical hacker wage per month. Below is a compensation table for ethical hacking jobs depending on geography to help you understand how the average certified ethical hacker income differs by place. The salary of an ethical hacker in the USA differs by location. The average salary of ethical hackers in USA based on the company is $121,875/year. 

2. Certification Specialisation

The market is having trouble finding qualified CEHs. Organizations are increasingly concerned about the security and privacy of their data due to an increase in cyberattacks and data theft, and they are looking for deserving, Certified Ethical Hackers that are highly skilled in their position. In addition, certification demonstrates your technical experience and proficiency in a certain field, which is why employers are prepared to offer competitive CEH compensation packages. A certified ethical hacker salary in America is sufficient to lead safe and enjoyable life there. 

It is simple for you to start your adventure with a lucrative CEH job Salary when you enroll in approved ethical hacking training. This will help you meet industry needs and upgrade yourself with the most in-demand industry-specific abilities. 

3. Organization Size & Type

Organization size and type are significant factors that influence your ethical hacking job compensation. Ethical hackers aid in enhancing the safety of computer systems in businesses. 

Large firms and organizations have extensive databases and system configurations. Their top goal is to protect their vital systems and data. Because ethical hackers aid firms in enhancing the security of their systems, large organizations are more ready to offer high CEH job salaries than any small organization with limited resources. Additionally, they can contribute more money toward the employer portion of insurance and may be more inclined to do so for other benefits like bonuses and profit-sharing. So the main thing is that ethical hacker income in USA is based on the size of the organization & type. 

4. Desired Skills & Knowledge

Your ability, the industry-required skill set you to possess, and your certification all play a significant role in the amount of money you make as a certified ethical hacker. Make sure to keep an eye on the job description skills when applying for an ethical hacker position in any firm and match those to the information you have acquired from prior training or ethical hacking techniques. The average salary of ethical hacker in US based company is $121,875/year; this depends upon the skills & knowledge of the employer. 

Your chances of landing a high CEH pay are increased by receiving professional, ethical hacking instruction from a reputable training facility, which may help you update your knowledge with abilities that the industry demands. Cyber Security training programs help you to gain more skills and Knowledge in this journey. 

5. Experience Level

Experiences and skills are the most important factors that determine your earning potential. An ethical hacker’s pay may rise each year they are employed by a business. The rate of ethical hacking salary in US per month depends on the experience you provide on that particular work to complete it quickly without any mess. The average salary of an ethical hacker in USA paid by years of experience, for instance, as reported by Glassdoor, is shown in the table below. 

Skills that Affect Ethical Hacker Salaries in the USA

There are various skills that an employer is looking for in a CEH. Have a look at some of them and prepare yourself to fit into their expectations.

• tester for penetration 
• Assessor of vulnerabilities 
• analyst for information security 
• security advisor 
• security specialist 
• Manager of information security and architecture 

Stand upon these skills the salary of a CEH is based in the USA. 

Highest Paying Cities for Ethical Hackers in USA

In the USA there are many cities where they pay a high cost to ethical hackers. An ethical hacker salary in USA per month is much more sufficient to lead life easily in the US condition. 

Some of those high-paying cities are listed below with the average salary range they provide. 

Top Paying Industries for Ethical Hackers in USA

1. Medical Care

Depending on the function, the pay for Ethical Hacker varies in the US healthcare industry. CEH, meanwhile, earns an average income of $142,000 in the sector. Between the cities, it varies. As an example, the average wage in the US is $119,000. However, it is $165,000 in California. In medical care industry this is the median ethical hacker earnings in USA. 

2. Retail

Despite the software’s expansion into retail, CEH in this sector earns less than those in other sectors. The ethical hacking job salary in US retail sector is lower than those offered to customers by firms in the IT sector. 

3. Technology Industry

The IT industry is similar to the core software business, except for its scope being limited to communication and cybersecurity. A certified Hacker makes about $124,000 per year. Independent hackers, however, make more money. However, it depends on their ability to get clients by using their contacts. 

Top Paying Companies for Ethical Hackers in USA

There are numerous businesses all around the world that pays the highest salary to ethical hacker in the USA. The top 10 organizations that give the highest payment to ethical hackers are 

1. Tesla

According to Glassdoor, Tesla pays ethical hackers an average income of about $167,552 annually, which is 39% more than the yearly wage of ethical hackers employed in the US. 

2. Lenovo

Lenovo pays ethical hackers a yearly salary of roughly $145,745 on average. Additionally, it provides a wide range of employee perks, such as paid holidays, health insurance, and employee support. 

3. Bank of America

At Bank of America, ethical hackers make an average of $158,947 a year. Additionally, the staff members are given perks including paid time off, paid vacation, and retirement plans. 

4. Google

Google reportedly pays its ethical hackers an average salary of $120,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. It also offers additional employee perks including health insurance, performance bonuses, and tuition help. 

5. IBM

The average yearly wage for IBM’s ethical hackers is $110,457. Other perks like retirement plans, disability benefits, etc. are also provided to the employees. 

6. HackerRank

HackerRank pays its ethical hackers an average annual income of about $116,355, which is 13% more than the average annual compensation of ethical hackers employed in the US.

7. Small Caesars

Little Caesars pays their ethical hackers an annual salary of around $110,457. Additionally, generous benefits, including life insurance and retirement plans, are provided to employees. 

Ethical Hacker Salary Comparison by Gender in USA

A few of the many factors that may impact the earnings gap between men and women include age, the number of hours worked, the presence of children, and education. The various jobs that men and women hold and the wages associated with them have an impact on the disparities in overall earnings. 

Ethical Hacker Bonus and Incentive Rates in the USA 

But in this job field, men are dominating. 91.5% of men are doing this job, whereas only 8.5% of women are doing this job. But seeing the salary range, the gap is minimal. Men’s income is around $99,236/year, whereas a woman makes about $87,737/year. 

If you are considering a career as a Cyber Security Engineer, know that it is one of the most in-demand positions. Furthermore, according to 64% of the polled businesses, 50 such developers will be hired this year. 15,000 engineers and HR experts from around the world responded to the poll. 

According to the data above, the career of a Cyber Security engineer has a promising future, thus it is worthwhile to pursue. 

Ethical Hacker Bonus and Incentive Rates in USA

Although the typical income range for ethical hackers is between $94,250 and $120,535, as of December 27, 2022, the median ethical hacker salary in the United States is $105,652. Salary ranges might differ depending on a number of important factors, such as education, experience, and other skills that you may have in addition to your core competencies. The bonus will then be paid to the employer account at that time. For ethical hackers with experience and newcomers alike, bonuses vary. 

The demand for ethical hackers is also expected to rise along with the number of cyber threats and the necessity for cybersecurity. In other words, because no company/organization wants to be exposed as vulnerable, the future of ethical hacking positions is secure for the foreseeable future. 

How Do I Advance My Ethical Hacking Career?

Experience and education are crucial. A solid educational foundation or bachelor’s degree in computer science is quite beneficial. Working in network support, network engineering, or any other profession connected to information security might help you obtain expertise early in your career. 

The Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) accreditation from the EC-Council is sought after by many businesses recruiting ethical hackers and is frequently the first cybersecurity expert can obtain. Various more well-known cybersecurity credentials include –

• Information systems security professional with certification (CISSP),
• SANS/GIAC Certification,
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) 

Ransomware and other threats are continuously becoming more sophisticated due to the growing use of cloud computing and inconsistent security patches; because of this, the demand for ethical hackers is increasing. 

Conclusion

The statistics show that ethical hackers are in high demand and typically earn more money than other IT specialists. We hope that this CEH Salary article has addressed all your questions about CEH employment salaries and that you are now prepared to launch a career in cybersecurity and CEH. 

Instead of wasting any more of your valuable time, make a good decision now and begin your career in the field through a cybersecurity certification program or ethical hacking certification program right immediately. If you want more information on ethical hacking or salary in the cybersecurity industry, you can also leave a remark. KnowledgeHut Hacking Certifications course provides all this certification in their academy, and the courses are much appreciated by the companies.