AI Career Radar

Penetration Testers

Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.

AI exposure48 / 100Moderate exposure

Based on O*NET work context for this occupation. This score does not predict individual job losses.

What drives the score

Automation and repetition raise exposure; freedom to set tasks lowers it. Each measure uses a 0–100 scale.

Degree of automation46
Freedom to set tasks76
Repeating the same tasks76
$116,580Median annual wage, U.S.BLS OEWS
+5.1%Jobs, 2025 to 2035 (faster than average)BLS Employment Projections
61Skill durability (moderate)Transferability, out of 100

How well your skills transfer

Each skill is scored on how well it transfers into occupations that are growing and less exposed. The ones high on both importance and transfer are worth deepening.

Highest transferability first

Both scores out of 100

Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Critical Thinking
63
85
Active Listening
63
72
Monitoring
63
63
Judgment and Decision Making
63
63
Speaking
63
60
Complex Problem Solving
62
72
Active Learning
62
66
Coordination
62
47
Reading Comprehension
61
75
Time Management
61
50
Show 25 more skills
Skills ranked by transferability. Both scores use a 0–100 scale.
SkillTransferabilityImportance in current role
Writing
60
75
Social Perceptiveness
60
44
Learning Strategies
58
47
Instructing
58
41
Systems Analysis
57
63
Systems Evaluation
56
66
Service Orientation
56
41
Persuasion
54
44
Mathematics
53
38
Negotiation
52
31
Science
52
13
Management of Personnel Resources
50
25
Operations Analysis
49
28
Installation
48
0
Quality Control Analysis
47
53
Troubleshooting
47
35
Technology Design
47
22
Equipment Maintenance
47
19
Equipment Selection
47
16
Management of Financial Resources
47
9
Management of Material Resources
47
6
Operations Monitoring
46
35
Repairing
46
16
Programming
45
72
Operation and Control
43
6

Compare how well you can use each skill in growing, low-exposure occupations with its importance in your current role. How we score skills.

Jobs you could move to

Compare related occupations by skill overlap, retraining effort, pay and projected growth. Choose a priority to adjust the ranking. Licensing requirements may limit some routes.

79/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$175,140
10-yr growth
+15.8%
Skill gap
21%
Retraining
Moderate

Skills to build: Management of Financial Resources, Management of Personnel Resources, Operations Analysis, Social Perceptiveness

79/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$129,180
10-yr growth
+21%
Skill gap
10%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Coordination, Time Management

77/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$135,880
10-yr growth
+21.1%
Skill gap
15%
Retraining
Low

Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Speaking

74/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$232,140
10-yr growth
+8.3%
Skill gap
22%
Retraining
Moderate

Skills to build: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Time Management, Coordination

72/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$213,990
10-yr growth
+3.2%
Skill gap
22%
Retraining
Moderate

Skills to build: Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Management of Personnel Resources, Coordination

#6Marketing ManagersManagement
72/100 match
Median pay · U.S.
$166,790
10-yr growth
+6.9%
Skill gap
22%
Retraining
Moderate

Skills to build: Negotiation, Management of Personnel Resources, Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness

A second source of income, before you need it

This page can tell you where Penetration Testers could go and what the move costs. The other route is not a move at all: something small of your own, running alongside the job, started while there is no pressure on it.

Where to learn the missing half: Google Career Certificates for systems analysis · active learning, LinkedIn Learning for writing · speaking, edX for mathematics · reading and PlanetNoCode for complex problem solving. Some of those are affiliate links. It never changes what we list.

Snapshot: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025-2035. Scoring v2.1.0-onet-31.0. Method on the how it works page.