Penetration Tester Jobs in Arlington, TX
Penetration testers in Arlington mostly work inside larger security teams, and the clearest local home for that work is the GM Financial cybersecurity group at its Arlington site on Embarcadero. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get in.
Current penetration tester Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Penetration Tester Work in Arlington
Arlington employers rarely post jobs titled penetration tester, so most local testers get there from inside a security team rather than by answering a pen test ad. The clearest example in the city is GM Financial, which runs its Arlington site at 4001 Embarcadero and posts cybersecurity engineer, analyst and intern roles there, while Texas Health Resources runs its technology staff out of its headquarters on East Lamar Boulevard in north Arlington.
The wider market sits a short drive away. GM Financial posts its cybersecurity architect, team lead and analyst roles in Irving, up SH 360, and its headquarters is in Fort Worth, so an Arlington tester can reach those offices from SH 360 or I-30 without moving.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Penetration Testers
These Arlington employers hire in the security and technology job families a penetration tester joins:
- GM Financial - the auto lender's Arlington site posts senior cybersecurity engineer, identity and access management, cybersecurity analyst and cybersecurity intern roles.
- Texas Health Resources - the health system hires technology staff at its East Lamar Boulevard headquarters through its Information Services and Technology job family.
Penetration Tester Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $75,000 to $95,000 a year.
- Experienced: about $100,000 to $130,000 a year.
- Senior or lead: about $135,000 to $180,000 a year.
These are estimates. Arlington employers rarely post pay for security roles, so the bands lean on the Bureau of Labor Statistics national figures for information security analysts, the group pen testers fall under: a May 2025 median of $129,180, with the bottom 10 percent under $75,090 and the top 10 percent above $199,850. Pay moves with offensive certifications, security clearance, and whether the job is in-house or billable consulting.
How to Become a Penetration Tester in Arlington
Pen testing is rarely a first IT job. Most people start in help desk, systems administration or a security analyst seat, then move into testing. Locally, Tarrant County College offers its IT cybersecurity associate degree (AAS) at every campus, including TCC Southeast at 2100 Southeast Parkway in south Arlington, and the program holds the NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation. UT Arlington's Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers bachelor's degrees in computer science and software engineering. Texas does not license penetration testers, so certifications such as CompTIA PenTest+ and OSCP, plus a portfolio of lab work, carry the weight.
What the Job Involves
A penetration tester attacks networks, web applications and sometimes physical sites with written permission, to find weaknesses before a real attacker does. The work runs in engagements: agree the scope and rules, run reconnaissance and scans, try to exploit what turns up, document every step, and write a report that ranks the findings and tells the client how to fix them. Retesting after fixes is part of the job.
Skills Employers Look For
- Network and web application exploitation
- Tools such as Burp Suite, Nmap and Metasploit
- Scripting in Python, Bash or PowerShell
- Active Directory and cloud attack paths
- Clear written reports for technical and business readers
- Strict respect for scope and rules of engagement
Career Path and Advancement
In Arlington the usual ladder runs from IT support or a security analyst role into vulnerability management, then into testing and red team work. GM Financial's own job titles show the next rungs: senior cybersecurity engineer in Arlington, then architect and team lead roles in Irving. Experienced testers also move into security engineering or application security, or into consulting across DFW.
Related Careers in Arlington
These Arlington security roles share skills with penetration testing:
- Security Engineer Jobs
- Cybersecurity Analyst Jobs
- SOC Analyst Jobs
- Information Security Specialist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a penetration tester in Texas?
No. Texas has no state license for penetration testers or other cybersecurity roles. Employers look at certifications such as PenTest+ or OSCP and at hands-on experience, and every test must be done under written authorization.
How much do penetration testers make in Arlington?
Arlington employers rarely post pay for these roles. As an estimate, entry testers earn about $75,000 to $95,000, experienced testers $100,000 to $130,000, and senior testers $135,000 or more, in line with the national BLS median of $129,180 for information security analysts.
Where can I study cybersecurity in Arlington?
Tarrant County College teaches its IT cybersecurity associate degree at TCC Southeast on Southeast Parkway, and UT Arlington offers computer science and software engineering degrees. Both are commutable from anywhere in the city.
Are there entry-level penetration tester jobs in Arlington?
Very few. Most testers start in IT support or a security analyst job and move into testing after two to four years. GM Financial's Arlington cybersecurity intern and associate analyst postings are one local way into that path.
Is penetration testing legal?
Yes, when it is authorized. Professional testers work under a signed contract that sets the scope and rules of engagement. The same techniques used without permission are a crime, so authorization is what separates the job from an attack.
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