Penetration Testers build complex problem solving, programming and systems evaluation skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (77%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists | 77% | $130,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Electronics Engineers, Except Computer” | Not compared | None |
| 2 | Validation Engineers | 76% | $102,440Pay for the broader BLS group “Industrial Engineers” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 75% | $161,740 | — | None |
| 4 | Security Management Specialists | 74% | $83,050Pay for the broader BLS group “Business Operations Specialists, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Statistical Assistants | 74% | $50,330 | — | None |
| 6 | Data Scientists | 74% | $120,230 | — | None |
| 7 | Remote Sensing Technicians | 74% | $62,280Pay for the broader BLS group “Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Intelligence Analysts | 73% | $93,790Pay for the broader BLS group “Detectives and Criminal Investigators” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 73% | $81,490Pay for the broader BLS group “Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Social Science Research Assistants | 72% | $61,990 | — | None |
Compared with Penetration Testers, median —. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as penetration testers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
77% skill match · $130,220 (broader BLS group)
Installation · Operation and Control · Equipment Selection
76% skill match · $102,440 (broader BLS group)
Operations Analysis · Operation and Control · Management of Personnel Resources
75% skill match · $161,740
Operations Analysis · Equipment Selection · Installation
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (77% skill match, median $130,220), Validation Engineers (76% skill match, median $102,440) and Computer Hardware Engineers (75% skill match, median $161,740), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than penetration testers at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
24 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones. One usually needs a graduate degree: Statisticians.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.