MLOps 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.
MLOps Engineer
Build and maintain infrastructure for deploying machine learning models at scale.
Penetration Tester
Conduct authorised attacks on systems to find and report vulnerabilities.
Penetration Tester earns more on average — the national median is $30,050/year (30%) higher than a MLOps Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
MLOps Engineer vs Penetration Tester — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | MLOps Engineer | Penetration Tester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $144,519 | $193,496 | MLOps $48,977 |
| New York, NY | $119,390 | $140,470 | MLOps $21,080 |
| Seattle, WA | $139,997 | $188,841 | MLOps $48,844 |
| Austin, TX | $107,475 | $145,769 | MLOps $38,294 |
| Chicago, IL | $108,552 | $135,251 | MLOps $26,699 |
| Boston, MA | $133,124 | $171,501 | MLOps $38,377 |
| London, UK | £79,867 | £102,480 | MLOps $22,613 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$130,108 | CA$166,911 | MLOps $36,803 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a MLOps Engineer or Penetration Tester earn more?+
A Penetration Tester earns more on average. The national median salary for a MLOps Engineer is $99,130/year, compared to $129,180/year for a Penetration Tester — a difference of $30,050 (30%).
Which has better career growth — MLOps Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
MLOps Engineer roles are growing at 52% YoY while Penetration Tester demand is growing at 30% YoY. MLOps Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from MLOps 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 — MLOps Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Penetration Tester has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 22%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.