White hat hackers, also known as ethical hackers, command competitive salaries that vary significantly based on experience, location, and specialization. In the United States, the average salary is around $100,000 to $147,000 annually, with experienced professionals earning much more.
White hat hackers are well paid. According to salary.com, the average base salary of a white hat hacker is over $100,000. The more ethical hacking projects they take up, the more experience they gain. And the higher the experience and expertise, the better the compensation.
According to surveys, ethical hackers receive the highest paycheck at companies in San Francisco (around $150,000) and the lowest pay by companies in Minneapolis (around $97,000). On the other hand, the average salary for a CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) in the US is around $90,000 per annum.
The Unprecedented Demand for Ethical Hackers
The answer lies in the fundamental shift in how organizations approach cybersecurity. No longer is it enough to simply react to attacks; proactive defense is the new imperative. This is where ethical hackers, also known as "white hat," hackers, come into play.
Career Outcomes
The average salary for ethical hackers in the UK is around £64,000, with typical salaries ranging from £53,000 to £98,000 depending on experience, location, and sector. There are excellent progression opportunities as you gain experience and further certifications.
4000 a month jobs
Yes, you absolutely can make $200,000 or more in cybersecurity, especially in senior, specialized, or high-demand roles like CISO, Senior Security Engineer, Cloud Security Engineer, or Security Consultant, with compensation increasing significantly with experience, certifications, and location (especially in tech hubs). While entry-level roles start lower, experienced professionals can reach $200k+ through strategic career growth and skill development in areas like cloud security, application security, and executive leadership.
Why was Kevin Mitnick known as the world's most famous hacker? Kevin's notoriety came from his highly publicized pursuit and arrest by the FBI in 1995 after he successfully penetrated the networks of numerous corporations.
Pursuing a cyber security career at any age offers numerous benefits, as the industry welcomes people from different backgrounds. Many skills from other jobs—like problem-solving, critical thinking, and risk management—are useful in Cyber Security.
AI may automate low- to mid-level attacks, but the critical, high-impact work still requires humans. The future isn't AI vs. humans; it's humans wielding AI, strategically and creatively.
There are many in cybersecurity, however, who have 9-5 jobs. I have met so many people who may be great at cybersecurity saying that they don't want to work in the industry because of the long hours. You can work in cybersecurity and have pretty normal hours. No two days are the same.
For minor cyber-trespassing offenses that do fairly little damage, you may face a year or less in jail for a first offense. For more serious offenses, you could face between 5 and 10 years in prison, and up to 20 years in prison if there are prior convictions.
Switzerland tops the list of countries with the highest monthly salaries in 2025, offering an impressive average of USD 8,247. Luxembourg follows in second place with USD 6,764, driven by its strong financial sector and high standard of living.
No, 30 is not too old to get into cybersecurity; it's a myth that tech is only for young people, as the field needs skilled professionals, values curiosity, and offers high demand, with many successful people starting later through certifications (like CompTIA Security+), hands-on projects (TryHackMe, Hack The Box), and relevant experience, making age less important than skill and motivation.
While malicious hackers break into systems with an interest in stealing information or disrupting business, ethical hackers use their skills to find the problems so that they can be corrected before someone can exploit weaknesses.
Kevin David Mitnick (August 6, 1963 – July 16, 2023) was an American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker. In 1995, he was arrested for various computer and communications-related crimes, and spent five years in prison after being convicted of fraud and illegally intercepting communications.
Gen Z struggles to find jobs due to a mix of economic shifts, AI disrupting entry-level roles, and evolving workplace expectations, facing fewer opportunities for new grads, demands for immediate contribution, and a perceived lack of soft skills despite digital fluency, leading to high underemployment and frustration with a job market that doesn't align with traditional career paths or offers high pressure without adequate support.
Applying the Pareto Principle
In an ever-growing mix of hundreds of potential cybersecurity concerns and even more proposed solutions, CIS applies the Pareto Principle – the concept that for many activities, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes2 – to help prioritize cybersecurity actions.
People expect just to take a course or watch programming videos and learn automatically. Without motivation and context, this passive learning style is the main reason many people quit early. Most people learn programming because of the great salaries. However, to master it, you need interest, passion, and a context.
Why are grey hat hackers illegal? Any time you break into a network or computer system that you don't have permission to enter, you're not acting ethically or legally. Even with good intentions, you'll be at risk for legal action if you engage in grey hat hacking.
China, Russia, the United States, India, North Korea, and Iran are among the countries with the most hackers in the world.
Top 10 Skills Every Certified Ethical Hacker Should Master
The highest paying jobs in the UK range from £65,000 to over £250,000 annually. Top roles include CEOs, investment bankers, surgeons, and airline pilots. Best earning jobs also feature CFOs, orthodontists, and software engineering managers.
While there is concern that automation may lead to job displacement, the reality is more nuanced. Experts expect AI to augment cybersecurity roles instead of replacing them. Accurate interpretation of AI findings and informed decision-making based on those insights require human oversight.
Good security standards follow the “90 / 10” rule. 90% of security safeguards rely on YOU to maintain good computing practices. 10% of security safeguards are technical.