Ethical Hacker Salary For Freshers

As you know, ethical hacking, also called white-hat hacking, is the method of using hacking techniques to find security loopholes in computer systems, networks, and applications, with the explicit permission of the owner. Unlike “black-hat hackers,” who exploit the infrastructure’s weaknesses for malicious purposes, ethical hackers aim to strengthen security by proactively finding and reporting flaws before malicious actors can exploit them. This blog discusses the concept of ethical hacking in detail, along with information on the certified hacker salary for freshers in our country.

Ethical Hacking – A Detailed View

Ethical hacking is a defensive approach to security. It involves using the exact tools, techniques, and methodologies as malicious attackers, but with the explicit permission of the system owner. The primary goal is to discover security flaws before they can be exploited by criminals. It’s often referred to as “penetration testing” or “pen testing.” 

Why is Ethical Hacking Important?

• It allows organisations to find and patch weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them.
• By mimicking real-world attacks, ethical hackers help organisations understand their true risk landscape and build more resilient defences.
• Many industry regulations and standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS) require regular security assessments, for which ethical hacking is a key component.
• By identifying pathways to sensitive data, ethical hackers help secure it from theft or misuse.
• Understanding potential attack vectors can help organisations develop more effective incident response plans.
• Preventing a data breach is particularly less expensive than recovering from one in terms of financial loss, reputational damage, and legal penalties.

Eligibility Criteria To Learn Ethical Hacking in India

• Minimum 10th or 12th grade pass (for introductory courses)
• 10+2 with Science (for UG degrees like B.Tech)
• Relevant Bachelor’s degree (for PG degrees)
• Generally, 18+ years of age for professional certifications
• Basic computer and networking knowledge is essential
• Interest in cybersecurity and problem-solving is key
• Two years of info-sec work experience may waive training for some certifications.

Ethical Hacking Course in Chennai helps you learn the tools and technologies to become an efficient hacker.

How can you become a successful, certified ethical hacker?

Foundational certifications for beginners 

• CompTIA A+: This exam is for understanding hardware, software, and basic troubleshooting, which forms the foundation of any IT career. You can also do CCNA certifications.
• CompTIA Network+: This certification is necessary for learning networking concepts, protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP), network devices (routers, switches, firewalls), and network security. 
• CompTIA Security+: This is a recognized basic cybersecurity certification that covers core security concepts, threats, vulnerabilities, security controls, risk management, and incident response. It’s highly recommended before doing more specialized ethical hacking exams.
• EC-Council Ethical Hacking Essentials (E|HE): A foundational course by EC-Council that covers basic ethical hacking concepts.
• ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC): A free entry-level certification from (ISC) that covers foundational cybersecurity principles, a good starting point for absolute beginners. 

Core Ethical Hacking/Penetration Testing Certifications

• EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): This is the most recognized certification called “Certified Ethical Hacker.” It covers many ethical hacking domains, tools, and methodologies. The salary for certified ethical hacker ranges between 6 L to 12 L per year.
• EC-Council CEH Practical: An optional hands-on exam that tests your ability to apply ethical hacking techniques in a live, simulated environment. Passing both CEH (ANSI) and CEH Practical earns you the CEH Master designation.
• CompTIA PenTest+: This certification focuses on practical penetration testing skills, including planning, scoping, information gathering, attacks, reporting, and tools. It includes both multiple-choice and performance-based questions. Take help from the Ethical Hacking Tutorial for more practice.
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN): Offered by GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification), GPEN evaluates practical penetration testing abilities and knowledge across various domains, including legal aspects.

Advanced/Specialized Penetration Testing Certifications

• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): It is one of the respected hands-on penetration testing certifications. The OSCP requires candidates to compromise a series of machines in a 24-hour lab exam. It’s heavily focused on practical exploitation. The salary of a ethical hacker in India with this certification is very high.
• EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) Master: This is an expert-level certification from EC-Council, emphasizing advanced penetration testing skills in complex, real-world scenarios. Ethical Hacking Online Course helps you do these advanced certifications by providing you with a strong foundation.
• GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN): An advanced GIAC certification for those who perform sophisticated exploit research and penetration testing in complex network environments. It also includes a hands-on component (CyberLive).
• eLearnSecurity Certified Professional Penetration Tester (eCPPTv2): Another practical, hands-on certification known for its focus on real-world scenarios and comprehensive reporting.

Ethical hacker careers

Penetration Tester

A penetration tester’s role is to simulate cyberattacks on an organisation’s systems, networks, and applications to detect vulnerabilities before malicious hackers do. Learn Artificial Intelligence Course in Chennai as an additional support. They conduct various types of tests, including network, web application, mobile, and cloud penetration testing. Their responsibilities include planning test scopes, executing tests using manual methods and automated tools, and documenting findings. The certified ethical hacker salary for this role ranges from ₹6 lakhs to ₹12 lakhs.

Cybersecurity Analyst

A cybersecurity analyst has to monitor an organisation’s computer systems for security breaches and respond to incidents. Key responsibilities include implementing security measures, conducting risk assessments, and staying learnt on the latest cyber threats. The ethical hacking salaries fall between ₹4 lakhs and ₹8 lakhs for this role.

Vulnerability Analyst

A vulnerability analyst uses vulnerability scanning tools and conducts manual reviews to pinpoint flaws in software, hardware, and configurations. Key Interview Tips are essential to know before your actual interview. Their role involves reporting these vulnerabilities, explaining their potential impact, and providing recommendations for remediation. The average ethical hacker income ranges from ₹5 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs per year.

Security Consultant

A Security Consultant works with clients to understand their business needs and risk tolerance, then designs and recommends tailored security solutions. Responsibilities include conducting security audits, developing incident response plans, and providing training on best practices. Ethical hacker pay for this role is around 8 L to 18 L in India.

Security Auditor

A Security Auditor reviews security controls, processes, and systems to ensure they are effective and adhered to. Their duties involve conducting comprehensive audits, identifying control weaknesses, and generating detailed reports for management. The certified ethical hacking salary for this role is between 7 L and 14 L per annum.

Challenges faced by ethical hackers

• They have to work in a constantly evolving threat atmosphere, and new technologies require continuous learning.
• Restricted testing boundaries prevent them from fully exploring attack vectors.
• They have to navigate strict rules to avoid unintentional damage or legal repercussions.
• You can expect a rise in ethical hacking salary gradually with experience and expertise. 
• They should learn many updated and specialised hacking tools constantly.
• Should clearly explain complex technical vulnerabilities to non-technical stakeholders.
• They are expected to work within limited project timelines.
• It is difficult for ethical hackers to separate genuine vulnerabilities from misleading scan results.
• They should build and maintain client trust despite identifying critical security flaws.
• Ethical hackers are expected to work under high-pressure situations, and it is demanding to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.

Tools To Be Learnt To Become A Successful Ethical Hacker

• Kali Linux
• Nmap
• Metasploit Framework
• Burp Suite
• Wireshark
• John the Ripper
• Hashcat
• Nessus
• OpenVAS
• Sqlmap
• Aircrack-ng
• Maltego
• Social Engineering Toolkit (SET)

Trending Ethical Hacking Jobs In India

• Cloud Security Engineer:

Specializes in securing cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) and protecting cloud-based data and applications. The ethical hacker salary India for this role is between 15 L and 21 L per year.

• Application Security Engineer:

Focuses on identifying and fixing security threats in web and mobile applications throughout their development. The average ethical hacking pay for this role in India ranges from 10 L to 22 L per annum.

• Red Team Analyst / Red Teamer:

Simulates sophisticated cyberattacks to test an organisation’s defensive capabilities and overall resilience. The average ethical certified hacker salary in India is between 18 L and 40 L per year.

• DevSecOps Engineer: 

Integrates security practices and tools directly into the software development and operations pipeline for continuous security. The ethical hacker certification salary in India for this role falls between 8 L and 18 L annually.

• Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst:

Proactively searches for hidden threats and analyzes intelligence to anticipate and neutralise potential cyberattacks. The average certified ethical hacker pay in India is between 9 L and 18 L per year.

Professional scope for ethical hackers across industries

• IT & Software: Ensure software and computer systems are safe from attacks.
• Banking & Finance: Protecting money, customer data, and online banking systems.
• Healthcare: Securing patient records and hospital systems from data breaches.
• E-commerce & Retail: Keeping online shopping safe, including payments and customer details.
• Government & Defence: Guarding national secrets and critical government systems.
• Manufacturing & Industry: Protecting factory operations and industrial equipment from cyber disruption.
• Telecommunications: Securing phone networks and communication services.
• Consulting Firms: Helping many companies improve their security as an external expert.

In conclusion, you can take up ethical hacking as your career path, as there are enough job roles and ample scope across multiple industries. If you are interested in continuously learning new tools and technologies, ethical hacking will help you reach greater heights in your career trajectory. The ethical hacking salary in India is relatively higher than the other software domains.