Penetration Tester Salary in India depends on the field experience, skills, and certifications one has. The average salary of a pen tester ranges from ₹3 to ₹17 lakhs per year, where entry-level roles start at ₹3 lakhs and experienced professionals earn about ₹20 lakhs or even more. If you have 1 to 7 years of professional experience, the salary typically falls between ₹2 lakhs to ₹18.8 lakhs, based on 750 reported salaries.

As the cyber attacks increase, companies and businesses are looking for qualified penetration testers. According to the ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, a global shortage of 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals exists, which has made pen testing a high-demand career. This is because businesses depend on penetration testers to find security loopholes before hackers do, which helps them stay safe from cyberattacks.

For those focusing on web security, the web application penetration tester salary in India is in a similar range. However, professionals with strong expertise and certifications can earn even more. This means, learning ethical hacking, network security, and penetration testing techniques push your career well in the field of cybersecurity.

Here’s a guide where you will find everything you need to know about the average salary of penetration testers in India, salary trends for the next five years, and factors that impact earnings.

Career Path of Penetration Tester in India

Penetration testing involves legally breaking into systems to look for security vulnerabilities before the hackers do. This might be the penetration tester career for you if you have a problem-solving and cybersecurity flair. Here are the steps to become a penetration tester​:

1. Develop the Right Skills

In order to be a proficient penetration tester, you should have a good foundation in IT and security systems. Some of the important skills you should concentrate on are:

• Network and application security
• Programming (Python, BASH, Java, Ruby, Perl)
• Security threat and vulnerability identification
• Linux, Windows, and macOS operating system familiarity
• Security testing tools usage
• Cloud security and cryptography
• Preparing in-depth security reports

The penetration tester fresher salary in India varies based on the skills a pen tester has, but becoming an expert in these areas can help you with a job that has a good starting package.

2. Enroll in a Course or Training Program

A formal course will enable you to study penetration testing more systematically. Training programs also include hands-on training, so you can try what you learn in actual scenarios.

3. Get Certified with the Best Training Provider

A certified penetration tester course makes sure employers that you possess the skills they’re after. Some of the top certifications for penetration testers are:

• Orbus Penetration Tester Training
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• CompTIA PenTest+
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Having these certifications can increase the licensed penetration tester salary in India, as companies prefer certified professionals and trained experts for the job.

4. Obtain Hands-On Experience

Employers would like you to have hands-on experience in most cases. You can achieve this by:

• Practicing in virtual hacking labs
• Participating in bug bounty programs where firms offer you money to discover security vulnerabilities
• Engaging in cyber competitions such as Capture the Flag (CTF)

5. Begin with an Entry-Level IT Position

Working in IT before can be useful if you have no direct experience. Most pen testers begin by working as security analysts or system administrators before jumping into ethical hacking. The junior penetration tester salary in India may start lower but grows as you keep gaining experience.

5. Apply for Positions

After you feel ready with your skills, begin applying for penetration testing positions. In addition to LinkedIn and Indeed, look at cybersecurity-specific job sites such as Dice and Cybersecurityjobs.com to get the most desirable opportunities.

If you gain years of experience, you can move up the career ladder very easily, where the senior penetration tester salary in India can be significantly higher.

Penetration testing is not easy to break into, but if you like the challenge of ethical hacking, it’s a great career choice!

Average Penetration Tester Salary in Other Countries

Penetration testers from various countries have vastly different salaries based on demand, living costs in a country, and industry needs. Let’s take a look at how different the average salary of penetration tester from various parts of the world is.

Factors Affecting Penetration Tester Salary in India

The salary of a penetration tester in India depends on a lot of important factors. Usually, freshers start with a lower package and those having experience with skills can even get much higher packages with time. Here are the key factors that impact the salary:

1. Experience Level and Growth

Field experience is really important when it comes to salary like in most careers. A penetration tester fresher salary in India is normally less, but as you get professional experience in ethical hacking and security assessments, the earnings start to increase. A senior penetration tester salary in India is much higher only due to their experience in handling complicated security vulnerabilities.

2. Technical Skills and Expertise

A strong skill set in cybersecurity tools, ethical hacking, and programming languages like Python and Java can help increase the salaries. Professionals specializing in web application penetration tester salary in India often earn more due to high demand for web platforms and application security.

3. Certifications and Training

Industry-accepted certifications have the ability to greatly improve the earning potential. Credentials like CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) and OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) are also highly valued by employers. A licensed penetration tester salary in India is generally higher because certified experts are considered more capable and reliable.

4. Location and Job Market

Your workplace city decides your pay. Major cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Delhi offer better pay to cybersecurity professionals. The penetration tester salary in India per month varies widely depending on demand in different places.

5. Industry and Company Size

Banking and financial, medical, and IT firms offer good pay since they deal with very confidential information. Big organizations also offer better salary packages than small startups.

6. Specialization and Career Path

IoT security, cloud security, or specialized skills in ethical hacking are always sought-after skills in penetration testers. A junior penetration tester salary in India is lower compared to those with technical expertise, but when the experts advance in their careers and skills as well as become niche holders, they advance into higher remunerative job levels.

Penetration Tester Salary Trends in 5 Years

The salary of a penetration tester in India is sure to keep rising as companies focus more on cybersecurity. As cyber attacks are on the rise, corporations are willing to pay well for skilled penetration testers, especially those who are well-trained with certifications and experience in web application security.

Here’s what’s driving salary growth:

1. Rising Pay Due to High Demand

Cyberattacks are on the rise more than ever before, and organizations need penetration testers to protect their networks. Such demand is raising the pay scales. Even a penetration tester fresher salary in India has gone up, which makes it a good career option.

2. Remote Jobs & Flexible Salaries

After COVID-19, the majority of cybersecurity experts began remote working, and because of this, organizations currently are hiring penetration testers from anywhere in cities. This shift has made salaries more flexible.

3. Shortage of Skilled Professionals

There aren’t enough competent penetration testers out there, so companies are offering higher salaries. Those with certifications like CEH or OSCP are paid more. A licensed penetration tester salary in India is usually higher because there’s a demand for certified professionals.

4. Future Salary Growth

Salaries are expected to keep rising, especially for specialists in cloud security and AI-driven testing. So if you’re a junior penetration tester in India just starting out in the industry or a senior penetration tester in India with years of experience, the job market looks promising.

5. Monthly Salary Expectations

The salary of a penetration tester in India on a monthly basis differs on the basis of the experience and skill level of an individual. Freshers will receive ₹25,000 to ₹94,000 on a monthly basis, and experienced testers will receive ₹3 lakh or more per month.

If you’re thinking of a career in this sector, Orbus’s Penetration Testing Certification Course can help to build the skills required to be successful.

Conclusion

Penetration testing is an extremely emerging profession with excellent career opportunities. As cyber attacks increase day by day, companies are in immediate need of skilled professionals to safeguard their networks. An Indian penetration tester’s salary is quite competitive, and web application penetration testers can earn even more. An average Indian penetration tester’s salary varies depending on expertise, skills, and qualifications, and therefore continuous learning and hands-on experience are essential for professional growth.

Orbus is a trusted platform that provides expert-led training, real-world challenges, and industry-recognized certifications to empower learners to become cybersecurity experts. If you are new to the industry or need to enhance your skills, Orbus has the appropriate guidance to create a strong foundation in penetration testing. Begin today and take your cybersecurity career to the next level!