Conduct authorized cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Median salary in Waco: $97K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Waco, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Penetration Testers in Waco earn approximately 18% lower than the US national median for this role — a $21,000 discount on annual base salary. Waco's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 82 (US avg = 100).
Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $9,021 per year at this salary level compared to a California Penetration Tester on the same gross pay. A Waco Penetration Tester would need to earn $106,946 in California to net the same take-home.
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 Waco median reaches $143,849 in five years.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $97K by 2030.
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The median Penetration Tester salary in Waco, TX is $97,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Waco–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.
Entry-level Penetration Testers in Waco with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $72,000 and $97,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $97,000 to $125,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $125,000 to $160,000 or more.
Waco has a cost of living index of 82 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 18% further in Waco than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax — giving Waco-based Penetration Testers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Bachelor's in CS; CEH, OSCP certifications. This role is 60% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Waco-based professionals.