TechnologyUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Penetration Tester Salary
in Midland, TX

Conduct authorized cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Median salary in Midland: $109K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$109K
per year
Take-home: $77K

Salary range in Midland

Entry level (25th)$81,000
Median (50th)$109,000
Senior (75th)$140,000
Top earner (90th)$179,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in Midland, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

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What the numbers say for Midland

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

8% discount vs national median

Penetration Testers in Midland earn approximately 8% lower than the US national median for this role β€” a $9,000 discount on annual base salary. Midland's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 92 (US avg = 100).

No state income tax β€” $10K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $10,137 per year at this salary level compared to a California Penetration Tester on the same gross pay. A Midland Penetration Tester would need to earn $120,176 in California to net the same take-home.

Strong 8.2% annual wage growth

This role's national salaries are growing at 8.2% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Midland median reaches $161,645 in five years.

Key facts for Midland

Median salary
$109K
annual
Take-home pay
$77K
after fed/state tax
COL index
92
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,200
per month
YoY growth
+8.2%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Midland Penetration Tester to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $109K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” Midland

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Penetration Tester salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$91K$99K$107K$115K$123K201920212023202520272029
2026
$112K
projected
2027
$115K
projected
2028
$117K
projected
2029
$120K
projected
2030
$123K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$109,000+$0
2028 projected$109,000+$0
2029 projected$109,000+$0
2030 projected$109,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Penetration Tester Salary in Midland, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Penetration Tester salary in Midland, TX is $109,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Midland–TX metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Penetration Tester in Midland

Entry-level Penetration Testers in Midland with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $81,000 and $109,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $109,000 to $140,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $140,000 to $179,000 or more.

Cost of living in Midland for Penetration Testers

Midland has a cost of living index of 92 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 8% further in Midland than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving Midland-based Penetration Testers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Penetration Tester

Bachelor's in CS; CEH, OSCP certifications. This role is 60% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Midland-based professionals.

Penetration Tester salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Midland (current)$109K92
Houston$124K91
San Antonio$109K87
Dallas$132K96
Austin$144K110
Fort Worth$124K93