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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

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