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Hacker salary
Average hacker salary
$88,716
Average Hacker Salary
The average hacker salary in the United States is $88,716 per year, equating to about $43 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, specialization, and geographic location. For example, entry-level hackers can expect to earn lower salaries, while professionals with advanced skills in cybersecurity and ethical hacking may command higher compensation.
Salary by State
In terms of regional differences, states like California and New York tend to offer some of the highest salaries for hackers, often exceeding the national average. Additionally, cities with a strong tech presence, such as San Francisco and Seattle, frequently provide more lucrative opportunities.
Career Opportunities
As the demand for cybersecurity professionals grows, hackers are increasingly sought after in various industries including finance, healthcare, and technology. Exploring job boards such as Zippia can help you find roles that match your skills and salary expectations.
Let Zippia find your next hacker job
Let Zippia find your next hacker job
Where can a Hacker earn more?
Hacker salary estimates from across the web
Average hacker salary by state
The highest-paying states for hackers are Maryland, Virginia, and California. The lowest average hacker salary states are Minnesota, South Dakota, and Idaho.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for hackers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $95,918 | $46.11 |
| 2 | Virginia | $104,228 | $50.11 |
| 3 | Maryland | $106,544 | $51.22 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $97,934 | $47.08 |
| 5 | New York | $98,206 | $47.21 |
| 6 | West Virginia | $89,519 | $43.04 |
| 7 | Arizona | $94,973 | $45.66 |
| 8 | Michigan | $90,452 | $43.49 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $96,272 | $46.28 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $93,568 | $44.98 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| 12 | California | $101,091 | $48.60 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $93,328 | $44.87 |
| 14 | Ohio | $92,299 | $44.37 |
| 15 | Utah | $89,640 | $43.10 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $92,040 | $44.25 |
| 17 | Alaska | $89,755 | $43.15 |
| 18 | Vermont | $91,325 | $43.91 |
| 19 | Illinois | $91,721 | $44.10 |
| 20 | Nevada | $88,706 | $42.65 |
| 21 | Delaware | $90,722 | $43.62 |
| 22 | Maine | $87,985 | $42.30 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $84,497 | $40.62 |
| 24 | Oregon | $86,691 | $41.68 |
| 25 | Texas | $84,001 | $40.39 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $85,378 | $41.05 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $85,789 | $41.24 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $79,551 | $38.25 |
| 29 | Indiana | $82,111 | $39.48 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $79,420 | $38.18 |
| 31 | Alabama | $78,998 | $37.98 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $84,166 | $40.46 |
| 33 | Georgia | $84,165 | $40.46 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $89,244 | $42.91 |
| 35 | Iowa | $80,293 | $38.60 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $79,343 | $38.15 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $81,333 | $39.10 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $79,984 | $38.45 |
| 39 | Florida | $77,505 | $37.26 |
| 40 | Kansas | $77,941 | $37.47 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $78,509 | $37.74 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $78,786 | $37.88 |
| 43 | Colorado | $79,622 | $38.28 |
| 44 | Montana | $74,011 | $35.58 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $77,229 | $37.13 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $76,514 | $36.79 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $76,931 | $36.99 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $76,288 | $36.68 |
| 49 | Idaho | $76,265 | $36.67 |
| 50 | Missouri | $74,526 | $35.83 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $66,020 | $31.74 |
Highest paying cities for hackers
The highest-paying cities for hackers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Morrisville, NC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $104,742 | $50.36 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $98,450 | $47.33 |
| 3 | Morrisville, NC | $95,107 | $45.72 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $92,335 | $44.39 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $90,805 | $43.66 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $84,469 | $40.61 |
| 7 | Macon, GA | $83,889 | $40.33 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $79,525 | $38.23 |
| 9 | Palm Bay, FL | $78,431 | $37.71 |
| 10 | Maryland Heights, MO | $75,246 | $36.18 |
Hacker salary details
A hacker's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a hacker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| Average | $88,716 | $7,393 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying hacker jobs
The highest paying types of hackers are foreman, forest resource specialist, and tree chipper.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreman | $55,073 | $4,589 | $26.48 | 8,405 |
Top companies hiring hackers now:
Which companies pay hackers the most?
Hacker salaries at Citi and Atlassian are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average hacker salary at companies like KLA and Lenovo are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi | $137,189 | $65.96 |
| 2 | Atlassian | $126,112 | $60.63 |
| 3 | KLA | $123,648 | $59.45 |
| 4 | Lenovo | $114,125 | $54.87 |
| 5 | Bank of America | $106,988 | $51.44 |
| 6 | Ultimate Software | $106,594 | $51.25 |
| 7 | CyberCoders | $103,045 | $49.54 |
| 8 | Charter Communications | $98,027 | $47.13 |
| 9 | Indeed | $94,621 | $45.49 |
| 10 | TEKsystems | $90,914 | $43.71 |
| 11 | Motion Recruitment | $90,550 | $43.53 |
| 12 | GeoLogics | $84,155 | $40.46 |
| 13 | MSU Federal Credit Union | $75,246 | $36.18 |
| 14 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $58,800 | $28.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Hacker salary trends
The average hacker salary has risen by $16,396 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average hacker earned $72,320 annually, but today, they earn $88,716 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for hackers over the last decade.
Compare hacker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average hacker salary over time
Compare hacker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Hacker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,700 | $42.65 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $85,800 | $41.25 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $83,900 | $40.31 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $81,400 | $39.15 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $78,900 | $37.96 | +2.7% |
Recently added hacker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next Health | Health Hacker | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | Los Angeles, CA | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | Montecito, CA | 05/10/2025 | $43,827 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | Los Angeles, CA | 04/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | Chicago, IL | 04/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Bank of America | Manual Ethical Hacker | Chicago, IL | 04/21/2025 | $98,000 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | New York, NY | 03/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Bittnet | Ec-Council CEH V12-Certified Ethical Hacker | Aspen, CO | 02/19/2025 | $36,506 |
| Next Health | Health Hacker | Nashville, TN | 02/18/2025 | $33,392 |
Hacker salary FAQs
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