Simulates real attackers against an organization over weeks or months, testing whether its people, processes and defenses can detect and stop them. BLS does not publish separate figures for penetration testers; it counts them within penetration tester (SOC 15-1299), whose median pay is $116,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1299
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Red Team Operator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $116,580a year, or $56.05/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $56KTop 10% $188K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.1%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 27,000471,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025471.2K
- Projected 2035495.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 471.2K Projected 2035 495.3K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Red Teamer, Red Team Specialist, Adversary Emulation Engineer, Offensive Security Engineer, Red Team Lead.
Pay
How much do Penetration Testers make?
Every red team operator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$116,580
Middle half earn $79,370 to $157,500
- 10th
- $55,940
- 25th
- $79,370
- 75th
- $157,500
- 90th
- $188,470
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,940 |
| 25th | $79,370 |
| Median | $116,580 |
| 75th | $157,500 |
| 90th | $188,470 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $116,580
- Median hourly wage
- $56.05/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $122,230
- People employed
- 435,370
Versus all US occupations
At $116,580, Penetration Testers earn 129% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $65,600 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
The median is typical for the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $188,470 or more while the bottom 10% earn $55,940, a gap of 3.4×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $156,590, and still leads at $142,483 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Penetration Testers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $156,590 | $142,483 | 17,200 |
| 2Maryland | $144,680 | $137,844 | 19,060 |
| 3Colorado | $139,580 | $135,446 | 11,800 |
| 4Virginia | $139,030 | $137,512 | 17,000 |
| 5Delaware | $137,470 | $137,734 | 860 |
| 6California | $134,440 | $121,423 | 80,150 |
| 7Washington | $128,940 | $120,490 | 14,360 |
| 8Connecticut | $127,720 | $123,270 | 3,100 |
| 9New Mexico | $127,090 | $137,824 | 1,650 |
| 10Hawaii | $120,100 | $109,230 | 2,080 |
Job outlook
Is Red Team Operator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Penetration Testers | +5.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Penetration Testers to change 5.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 24,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 27,000 openings are projected each year, 5.7% of the 471,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Red Team Operator
Most red team operators have several years of experience in penetration testing, system administration or security operations, and a bachelor's degree in computer science or cybersecurity is common. Skills include Windows and Active Directory internals, networking, scripting and evasion of security tools.
Hands-on certifications are valued, including OffSec's OSCP and OSEP, and GIAC's penetration testing credentials. Military and government cyber operations roles are another common feeder. Practice on legal training ranges and capture-the-flag events builds the skills, and authorization rules are strict: all work happens under written contracts with clear rules of engagement.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does a Red Team Operator do?
Red team operators play the role of a determined adversary. Unlike a standard penetration test, which looks for as many vulnerabilities as possible in a defined scope, a red team engagement has a goal, such as reaching a sensitive database, and tries to achieve it quietly, the way a real attacker would. Operators may use phishing, stolen credentials, custom malware and sometimes physical entry to see how far they can get without being caught.
The real purpose is to test the defenders. Afterward, red teams walk the security operations team through each step, showing what was detected and what was missed. Many engagements emulate a specific threat group using MITRE ATT&CK techniques, and some teams work side by side with defenders in purple team exercises.
Day-to-day tasks
- Plan engagements with objectives and rules of engagement
- Emulate specific threat groups using known techniques
- Gain initial access through phishing or exposed systems
- Move through networks while avoiding detection
- Build custom tools and payloads
- Document every action for the final report
- Debrief defenders on what was detected and missed
- Run purple team exercises with security operations
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Red team operators work at large enterprises with internal red teams, security consultancies, banks, government agencies and defense contractors. Most work is remote or desk-based, though some engagements include on-site physical testing at client buildings. Engagements may require work outside business hours to mimic attackers. Government roles may require a clearance.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.4
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Monitoring3.5
- Speaking3.4
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Programming3.9
- Systems Evaluation3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Systems Analysis3.5
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Programming | 3.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.5 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Application server software · in demand
- Configuration management software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Enterprise system management software · in demand
- Expert system software · in demand
- Internet directory services software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Red Team Operator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code IRE) built on O*NET's Penetration Tester profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Red Team Operator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative5.4
- Conventional4.9
- Realistic4.4
- Enterprising2.9
- Social2.0
- Artistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Red Team Operator
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with penetration testers highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Red Team Operator$116,580
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Red Team Operator | $116,580 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Red Team Operator appears on
Questions
Red Team Operator: frequently asked questions
How much do Penetration Testers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for penetration testers. It counts them within penetration tester, whose median pay is $116,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $79,370 and $157,500, and the top 10% earn $188,470 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Red Team Operator?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Penetration Testers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation.
Is Red Team Operator a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.1% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 27,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Red Team Operator do?
Red team operators play the role of a determined adversary. A typical task: plan engagements with objectives and rules of engagement. Employers most often ask for Application server software, Configuration management software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Penetration Testers the most?
The highest state medians for Penetration Testers are District of Columbia ($156,590), Maryland ($144,680), Colorado ($139,580) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Red Team Operator?
O*NET scores Penetration Testers highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.