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Penetration Tester salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a penetration tester is $127,400 per annum, before tax, up $26,400 since 2018.
Consulting and contract work usually pays more than permanent in-house testing, and contract rates are quoted per day rather than per year. A security clearance opens government and defence work, which pays accordingly, and practical certifications such as OSCP or CREST are what move a tester up the bands. Pay also moves with how much of the job is client-facing consulting compared with internal testing.
Roles that pay more than penetration tester
The largest typical pay rise is $7,800 a year, moving into Cyber Security Architect.
- Cyber Security Architect+$7,800/yr
- Cyber Security Analyst+$600/yr
How to negotiate a higher penetration tester salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time penetration tester salary is $127,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Use demand as leverage. Penetration Testers are on the national skills shortage list, so employers are more likely to move on price to keep or attract someone in a role they're struggling to fill.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Cyber security and Networks and systems administration tend to command a premium over general penetration tester experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Cyber Security Architect pays a typical $7,800 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Penetration Tester salary questions
How much do penetration testers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a penetration tester is $127,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is penetration tester pay rising or falling?
The median penetration tester salary is up $26,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than penetration tester?
Cyber Security Architect pays a typical $7,800 a year more and draws on similar skills to penetration tester.