Exam Atlas

Career path

How to become a penetration tester with certifications

By The Exam Atlas Editorial Team · Verified 2026-06-08

The path at a glance - scroll right to follow it from university to the top. Pay climbs left to right.

  1. University Computer Science · Cybersecurity
  2. Security / IT foundation ~US$55k-80k CompTIA Security+ · CompTIA Network+
  3. Junior Penetration Tester ~US$80k-110k Certified Ethical Hacker
  4. Penetration Tester ~US$100k-140k Experience
  5. Senior Pentester / Lead ~US$140k-200k+ CISSP No exam
  1. Start

    University

    Majors that feed this path - the start, before any exam:

    Computer ScienceCybersecurity
  2. Exam-gated

    Build security and networking foundations

    Security / IT foundation ~US$55k-80k

    You cannot attack what you do not understand. Security+ covers the core concepts and Network+ the networking underneath. Skip Network+ only if you already have solid networking knowledge.

    Exams to take: CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701), CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)

  3. Exam-gated

    Learn offensive concepts

    Junior Penetration Tester ~US$80k-110k

    CEH covers the breadth of attack techniques and tooling and is widely recognised by HR filters and government roles. Treat it as conceptual breadth, not proof you can actually exploit systems.

    Exams to take: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

  4. Experience

    Prove hands-on skill (the part that hires you)

    Penetration Tester ~US$100k-140k

    Spend serious time on practical labs, capture-the-flag events and hands-on, exam-style practical certifications (such as OSCP, which is outside this catalogue). Recruiters in offensive security weigh demonstrated practical ability above multiple-choice certs.

    Experience: 1-3 years of hands-on offensive practice (lab write-ups, capture-the-flag results, authorised testing) you can show in a portfolio

    Key abilities: Deductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityFlexibility of ClosureOriginality

  5. Destination

    Broaden for seniority

    Senior Pentester / Lead ~US$140k-200k+

    As you move toward lead or consultant roles, breadth across security helps. A senior credential like CISSP supports management-track moves, though it is not an offensive credential itself.

    Exams to take: CISSP (ISC2)

Offensive security rewards proof over paper more than almost any other IT field. The foundations and CEH on this page get you recognised and past automated filters, but the thing that actually lands a penetration-testing job is demonstrable, hands-on skill: lab write-ups, capture-the-flag results, and ideally a practical, hands-on certification.

Be deliberate and ethical about how you build that skill. Practise only on systems you own or are explicitly authorised to test, document what you learn, and treat the legal and reporting side as seriously as the exploitation. The best testers are trusted precisely because they are careful.

Salary and outlook

Penetration-testing pay varies by region, seniority and whether you work in consultancy or in-house. US testers commonly earn from around US$80k early-career into the US$130k-160k range and beyond for senior and specialised roles (Glassdoor). Demand for offensive-security skills is strong within the broader, fast-growing security field - the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 33% growth for information security analysts from 2023 to 2033. Figures are indicative; practical skill drives the top of the range.

What matters more than the certifications

Offensive security is unusually proof-driven: a portfolio of lab write-ups, capture-the-flag results and a hands-on practical certification typically outweighs multiple-choice certs and even formal qualifications. Hiring managers want evidence you can find and exploit real weaknesses and report them clearly and ethically.

Common mistakes

Relying on CEH alone is the classic mistake - it proves concepts, not hands-on ability, so pair it with demonstrable practical skill. The other is practising on systems you are not authorised to test; offensive skills carry real legal and ethical weight, and employers hire testers they can trust. Keep everything you do legal, documented and permissioned.

Compare the exams on this path

VS AWS Cloud Practitioner vs CompTIA Security+: which first IT certification? Compare → VS CCSP vs CISSP: which ISC2 security certification should you take? Compare → VS CCNA vs CompTIA Network+: which networking certification first? Compare → VS CEH vs CompTIA Security+: offensive hacking or security foundations? Compare → VS CISSP vs CISA: which security certification should you choose? Compare → VS CISSP vs CISM: which security certification should you take? Compare → VS CISSP vs Security+: which cybersecurity certification fits you? Compare → VS OSCP vs CEH: which offensive security certification should you take? Compare → VS CompTIA Security+ vs CySA+: which should you take first? Compare → VS Security+ vs Network+: which CompTIA cert should you take first? Compare →

FAQ

Is CEH enough to become a penetration tester?
CEH proves you understand the concepts and helps pass HR and government filters, but on its own it does not prove you can exploit real systems. Most hiring managers also want demonstrated hands-on ability from labs or a practical certification.
CEH or OSCP?
They serve different purposes. CEH is broad and multiple-choice, good for recognition and compliance roles; OSCP (outside this catalogue) is a hard, hands-on practical exam that many in the field value more as proof you can actually do the work. Some pentesters hold both.
Do I need a degree?
Often not. Offensive security is unusually skills-first: a strong portfolio of lab work, write-ups and a practical certification can outweigh formal qualifications.
Where do I practise legally?
Use dedicated lab platforms, capture-the-flag sites and your own isolated home lab. Never test systems you do not own or have explicit written permission to test.
What does a penetration tester earn?
It varies widely by region, seniority and whether you work in consultancy or in-house. Check live figures on salary aggregators; demonstrated practical skill drives the top of the range more than certificates do.

Sources