Analytics Engineer vs Penetration Tester: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Analytics Engineer
Build and maintain the data models and pipelines that power business intelligence.
Penetration Tester
Conduct authorised attacks on systems to find and report vulnerabilities.
Penetration Tester earns more on average — the national median is $9,095/year (8%) higher than a Analytics Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Analytics Engineer vs Penetration Tester — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Analytics Engineer | Penetration Tester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $171,525 | $193,496 | Analytics $21,971 |
| New York, NY | $147,203 | $140,470 | Analytics +$6,733 |
| Seattle, WA | $173,765 | $188,841 | Analytics $15,076 |
| Austin, TX | $131,230 | $145,769 | Analytics $14,539 |
| Chicago, IL | $125,515 | $135,251 | Analytics $9,736 |
| Boston, MA | $158,382 | $171,501 | Analytics $13,119 |
| London, UK | £93,991 | £102,480 | Analytics $8,489 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$163,067 | CA$166,911 | Analytics $3,844 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Analytics Engineer or Penetration Tester earn more?+
A Penetration Tester earns more on average. The national median salary for a Analytics Engineer is $120,085/year, compared to $129,180/year for a Penetration Tester — a difference of $9,095 (8%).
Which has better career growth — Analytics Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Analytics Engineer roles are growing at 38% YoY while Penetration Tester demand is growing at 30% YoY. Analytics Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Analytics Engineer to Penetration Tester?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: Python.
Which is harder to automate — Analytics Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Penetration Tester has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 35%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.