Data 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.
Data Engineer
Build and maintain data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL infrastructure.
Penetration Tester
Conduct authorised attacks on systems to find and report vulnerabilities.
Data Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $10,320/year (8%) higher than a Penetration Tester. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Data Engineer vs Penetration Tester — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Data Engineer | Penetration Tester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $202,499 | $193,496 | Data +$9,003 |
| New York, NY | $131,540 | $140,470 | Data $8,930 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $188,841 | Data $83,411 |
| Austin, TX | $153,836 | $145,769 | Data +$8,067 |
| Chicago, IL | $154,010 | $135,251 | Data +$18,759 |
| Boston, MA | $179,962 | $171,501 | Data +$8,461 |
| London, UK | £108,711 | £102,480 | Data +$6,231 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$181,115 | CA$166,911 | Data +$14,204 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Engineer or Penetration Tester earn more?+
A Data Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a Data Engineer is $139,500/year, compared to $129,180/year for a Penetration Tester — a difference of $10,320 (8%).
Which has better career growth — Data Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Data Engineer roles are growing at 34% YoY while Penetration Tester demand is growing at 30% YoY. Data Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Data 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 — Data Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Penetration Tester has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 42%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.