Salary Range
$50,000 to $100,000+
Professional hackers break into an organization’s computer systems and networks, with permission, to determine if they are vulnerable to cyber criminals and spies. They are also known as ethical hackers, penetration testers, and white hat hackers (after the good guys in old Westerns who typically wore white hats versus the bad guys in black hats). Approximately 112,300 information security analysts are employed in the United States; professional hackers comprise a small percentage of this total.
Minimum Education Level
Bachelor's DegreeCertification/License
RecommendedOutlook
Much Faster than the AverageHands On
Problem-Solving
Technical

Internet Security Manager

Professional Hacker

Intern
- Chief Information Officers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Data Processing Technicians
- Database Specialists
- Digital Designers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Full Stack Developers/Engineers
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Help Desk Representatives
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Brokers
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Security Consultants
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Developers
- Internet Executives
- Internet Marketing and Advertising Consultants
- Internet Quality Assurance Specialists
- Internet Security Specialists
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Personal Privacy Advisors
- Search Engine Optimization Specialists
- Social Media Workers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- Webmasters
- Wireless Service Technicians