Texas Career Check. Education & Career Planning

Occupation Summary

Penetration Testers

O*NET 15-1299.04

Description:

Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.

Annual Wages:
$113,248.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 28.88%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)

  1. Assess the physical security of servers, systems, or network devices to identify vulnerability to temperature, vandalism, or natural disasters.
  2. Collect stakeholder data to evaluate risk and to develop mitigation strategies.
  3. Conduct network and security system audits, using established criteria.
  4. Configure information systems to incorporate principles of least functionality and least access.
  5. Design security solutions to address known device vulnerabilities.
  6. Develop and execute tests that simulate the techniques of known cyber threat actors.
  7. Develop infiltration tests that exploit device vulnerabilities.
  8. Develop presentations on threat intelligence.
  9. Develop security penetration testing processes, such as wireless, data networks, and telecommunication security tests.
  10. Discuss security solutions with information technology teams or management.
  11. Document penetration test findings.
  12. Evaluate vulnerability assessments of local computing environments, networks, infrastructures, or enclave boundaries.
  13. Gather cyber intelligence to identify vulnerabilities.
  14. Identify new threat tactics, techniques, or procedures used by cyber threat actors.
  15. Identify security system weaknesses, using penetration tests.
  16. Investigate security incidents, using computer forensics, network forensics, root cause analysis, or malware analysis.
  17. Keep up with new penetration testing tools and methods.
  18. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of hacking trends.
  19. Prepare and submit reports describing the results of security fixes.
  20. Test the security of systems by attempting to gain access to networks, Web-based applications, or computers.
  21. Update corporate policies to improve cyber security.
  22. Write audit reports to communicate technical and procedural findings and recommend solutions.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Penetration Testers employed Annual Growth Rate
Computer systems design and related services 18 1.32
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services 5.7 1.04
Employment services 3.2 0.20
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 2.8 0.38
Software publishers 2.7 1.24
Insurance carriers 2.3 0.57
Architectural, engineering, and related services 2 0.54


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $54.45
2024 National average hourly wage $56.11
2022 National employment 449,400
2022 Texas employment 53,003
Texas projected employment by 2032 68,310
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 5,280




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.





Other Activities


No work importance values found.


  • Certified Penetration Testing Consultant (C)PTC)
  • Mile2
  • Certified Penetration Testing Engineer (C)PTE)
  • Mile2
  • Certified Powershell Hacker (C)PSH)
  • Mile2


No tools found.


Technology

Application server software: Docker; GitHub; Kubernetes;
Cloud-based management software: Google Cloud software;
Computer aided design CAD software: Ghidra;
Configuration management software: IBM Terraform;
Data base management system software: Database management systems;
Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Web Services AWS software; Microsoft SQL Server; Structured query language SQL;
Development environment software: Ruby; Rust programming language; Software development tools; Software libraries; Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE; Web application software; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Microsoft Azure DevOps Services; Microsoft Azure software; Microsoft PowerShell; C; Go;
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Management information systems MIS;
Enterprise system management software: Splunk Enterprise;
Expert system software: Ansible software;
Internet directory services software: Microsoft Active Directory;
Network monitoring software: IBM QRadar SIEM; Wireshark;
Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software: Firewall software;
Object or component oriented development software: C#; C++; Perl; Objective C; Oracle Java; Python;
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;
Operating system software: Linux; Magellan Firmware; Apple iOS; Apple macOS; Bash; Google Android; Operating system software; Shell script; UNIX;
Program testing software: System testing software; Kali Linux; MITRE ATT&CK software;
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;
Transaction security and virus protection software: Nmap; Metasploit; Invicti Acunetix; HP WebInspect; Tenable Nessus; Rapid7 Nexpose; Portswigger BurP Suite;
Transaction server software: Web server software; IBM Middleware;
Web platform development software: JavaScript; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP; RESTful API; PHP; Security assertion markup language SAML;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Penetration Testers include:
  • 15-1299.07 Blockchain Engineers
  • 15-1231.00 Computer Network Support Specialists
  • 15-1211.00 Computer Systems Analysts
  • 15-1299.08 Computer Systems Engineers/Architects
  • 15-1242.00 Database Administrators
  • 15-1212.00 Information Security Analysts
  • 15-1299.05 Information Security Engineers
  • 15-1252.00 Software Developers
  • 15-1253.00 Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
  • 17-2112.02 Validation Engineers


No sources of additional information found.
Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.