Ethical Hackers are cybersecurity professionals who legally test systems, networks, applications, and cloud environments to uncover vulnerabilities before cyber criminals can exploit them. To become an Ethical Hacker, you typically need a strong understanding of cybersecurity and networking fundamentals, recognised certifications, and practical experience gained through labs, projects, and real-world security exercises.
Demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow as organisations face increasingly complex threats across cloud platforms, remote work environments, connected devices, and AI-powered attacks. According to a recent Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the global cybersecurity workforce gap still stands at more than 4 million professionals. This significant skills shortage means there are strong opportunities for people looking to enter the field, with organisations actively seeking qualified cyber security talent across a wide range of roles.
In this guide, I'll explain what an Ethical Hacker does, what kind of salary they earn, which certifications employers look for, the skills that matter most, and the practical steps you can take to work towards an ethical hacking career.
Written by
With four years at Learning People and a solid foundation in IT and Cybersecurity, Chris guides people through the fast-evolving tech landscape and into their dream jobs. He combines hands-on technical expertise with insider industry insights to help learners make informed career decisions.
Want the most cost-effective way to launch your ethical hacking career?
Our complete Ethical Hacker training program is one of the fastest, most cost-efficient ways to go from "no experience" to "job market ready" in just a matter of months. We deliver everything you need to break into the cyber industry and get hired as an ethical hacker:
- Key qualification: Gain qualifications including the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH AI) certification, a recognised credential for people aiming for ethical hacking, penetration testing, and wider cybersecurity roles.
- Bespoke coaching: Get support with your CV, interview preparation, LinkedIn profile, and job search strategy, so you can present your skills clearly to employers.
- Exclusive network: Access opportunities through Learning People’s exclusive employer network.
Visit our Ethical Hacker course page to learn more about the course and pricing.
1. What is an Ethical Hacker?
An Ethical Hacker is a cybersecurity professional who identifies weaknesses in systems before cyber criminals can exploit them. They use many of the same tools and techniques as attackers, but legally, with permission, and for defensive purposes.
Ethical hacking adds incredible value by helping organisations protect sensitive data, reduce security risk, and fix vulnerabilities before they turn into costly incidents. A good Ethical Hacker does not just find problems. They explain what the risks are, how serious they are, and what the technical team should do next.
Ethical hacking is usually a specialist cyber security role rather than someone’s very first tech job, so many people work towards it through roles like SOC Analyst, Cyber Security Analyst or IT Support Technician.
That said, beginners can absolutely start working towards applying for Ethical Hacker roles with the right cyber training.
Can Ethical Hacking be an entry-level career?
Ethical Hacking is not usually a true entry-level cyber security role, but beginners can absolutely work towards it with the right plan.
Most employers want to see that you understand how systems work, how attackers think, and how to test for weaknesses safely and legally. That comes from building strong foundations, gaining recognised certifications, practising in hands-on labs, and creating evidence of your skills before applying for ethical hacking roles.
We even offer an Ethical Hacker training program aimed specifically at entry-level candidates with little to no experience, so it's definitely possible to start working towards a hacker role "from scratch".
What does an Ethical Hacker do?
Ethical Hackers test an organisation’s digital defences to find out where a real attacker could get in, what damage they could cause, and how those risks can be fixed. Their goal is to uncover vulnerabilities using controlled, legal testing before malicious attackers can find and exploit them.
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Penetration testing: Simulating real-world attacks to test how secure a system, application, or network really is.
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Vulnerability assessment: Finding, checking, and prioritising security flaws so teams know what to fix first.
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Testing web applications and networks: Evaluating websites, infrastructure, servers, wireless networks, and internal systems for weaknesses.
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Security reporting: Documenting findings in a clear report, including the risk, evidence, and recommended fixes.
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Supporting security improvements: Working with developers, IT teams, and security teams to strengthen defences after testing.
Day in the life of an Ethical Hacker
A typical day combines technical testing, research, documentation, and collaboration with security teams. Some days feel highly technical, while others involve more planning, writing, and talking people through the findings.
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Reviewing testing scope and objectives: Checking what has permission to be tested, what is out of scope, and what the organisation wants to learn.
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Running security assessments: Using approved tools and manual techniques to test systems, applications, or networks.
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Analysing vulnerabilities: Checking whether findings are genuine, how they can be exploited, and how much risk they create.
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Researching emerging attack techniques: Keeping up with new vulnerabilities, tools, and attacker methods.
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Writing reports and presenting findings: Turning technical results into clear advice that helps the organisation take action.
What is an Ethical Hacker's salary?
In the UK, entry-level Ethical Hacker or junior penetration testing roles often sit around £30,000 to £45,000, while mid-level roles can reach roughly £50,000 to £70,000 or more.
Senior Ethical Hackers and consultants with strong experience can earn above this range, especially in high-demand sectors such as finance, defence, and technology.
2. Certifications You Need to Become an Ethical Hacker
Certifications are one of the best ways to show employers that you have built the right cyber security knowledge, especially when you are changing careers or do not yet have years of cyber experience. For aspiring Ethical Hackers, they help validate your technical understanding, your knowledge of security principles, and your ability to work safely within recognised ethical hacking methods.
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Recommended certification |
Professional value |
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Helps you understand how networks are built, managed, and protected, which is essential before learning ethical hacking. |
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Demonstrates practical cyber security knowledge across threats, risk, access control, and organisational security. |
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Shows that you understand ethical hacking tools, attack techniques, vulnerability testing, and defensive methods. |
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Validates practical penetration testing skills, including vulnerability scanning, controlled exploitation, reporting, remediation, and safe testing methods. |
Our cybersecurity courses can be shaped around your current experience, career goals, and target roles, whether you are starting from scratch, moving across from IT, or working towards ethical hacking and penetration testing.
3. Key Skills Required for an Ethical Hacker
Successful Ethical Hackers require technical security knowledge, as well as curiosity, problem-solving ability, and strong communication skills. The technical side helps them understand where risks sit, but the human side is what helps them explain those risks clearly and work with others to fix them.
Technical and hard skills
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Networking fundamentals: You need to understand how devices, servers, routers, firewalls and protocols communicate before you can spot where something has gone wrong.
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Operating systems: Ethical Hackers often work across Windows and Linux environments, so being comfortable with both gives you a stronger base for testing and investigation.
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Security testing tools: Tools such as Nessus and OpenVAS help you scan environments, review findings and decide which issues need closer attention.
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Web application security: Many security risks sit inside websites and apps, so it helps to understand common issues like broken access controls, poor authentication and insecure data handling.
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Scripting and automation: Basic Python, Bash or PowerShell can help you automate simple tasks, analyse results and work more efficiently.
Core soft skills
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Analytical thinking: Ethical hacking involves spotting patterns, testing assumptions and working out what a finding actually means in context.
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Attention to detail: Small mistakes can create serious openings, so careful testing and accurate documentation matter.
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Communication: You need to turn technical findings into clear, useful recommendations that technical teams and non-technical stakeholders can act on.
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Persistence: Security testing can involve dead ends, false positives and a fair bit of trial and error. Patience helps.
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Ethical judgement: This role depends on trust. You need to work responsibly, follow agreed rules, and understand the line between authorised testing and harmful activity.
Did You Know? Cyber professionals earn above the national average salary
The mean UK salary for cyber and IT security roles overall in 2025 was £51,734, which is 24% above the national mean salary.
The mean salary has stayed steady for these roles, with a very strong growth trajectory since November 2025, growing from £42,416 to £51,234 (+20%).
Find more cyber security job market insights in our frequently updated industry mini-report.
4. The Roadmap: How to Become a Data Scientist Step-By-Step
Becoming an Ethical Hacker usually takes a structured approach. Most people do not start by applying straight for penetration testing roles. Instead, they build technical foundations, gain recognised certifications, practise in safe environments, and work towards specialist security positions over time.
Step 1: Learn how cybersecurity and networking work
The first step is to understand how systems are supposed to work before you try to test how they can be attacked. That means learning the basics of networking, operating systems, firewalls, access controls, threats, malware, encryption, and risk.
Ethical hacking is not just about running tools. You need to understand what is happening underneath, why a weakness exists, and how a fix will affect the wider system. In my experience, this is where a lot of people build real confidence, because the “hacking” side suddenly starts to make much more sense.
Step 2: Build hands-on skills through labs and practical exercises
Hands-on practice is one of the best ways to turn cyber theory into something useful. Platforms such as TryHackMe, Hack The Box, Capture The Flag exercises, and home labs can help you practise testing techniques in safe, legal environments.
This is especially helpful if you are changing careers and do not yet have professional cyber experience. Employers want to see that you can apply what you have learned. Even small lab exercises can help you practise methodical thinking, note-taking, troubleshooting, and explaining what you found.
Step 3: Gain recognised cybersecurity certifications
Certifications help employers understand your level of knowledge, especially when your CV does not yet show years of cyber experience. They are not the whole answer, but they are a strong signal that you have studied recognised skills and can work to an industry standard.
A beginner might start with foundational cyber training such as, CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ before moving into qualifications such as CompTIA Security+ and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker C|EH AI. From there, more technical certifications can help you move closer to penetration testing and offensive security work. The best route depends on your starting point, which is why it helps to map your training against the types of roles you want to apply for.
Step 4: Create evidence of your skills
This is the part many people miss, but it can make a real difference when you are trying to stand out. You can build evidence through lab write-ups, GitHub projects, short security reports, notes from Capture The Flag exercises, or a simple portfolio that explains what you tested, what you found, and what you learned.
You are not expected to publish sensitive information or pretend to have commercial experience you do not have. The goal is to show your thinking, your process, and your ability to communicate clearly.
Step 5: Apply for junior cyber roles and specialist pathways
Ethical Hacker is often the destination rather than the first job title. A practical route is to apply for roles that build relevant cyber experience while you continue developing your testing skills.
These roles can include SOC Analyst, Cyber Security Analyst, Junior Penetration Tester, Security Operations, or Vulnerability Management positions. Each can help you understand how organisations defend themselves, how incidents are handled, and where security weaknesses appear in the real world. From there, ethical hacking becomes a much more realistic next step because you are not applying with interest alone. You are applying with training, practice, certifications, and evidence behind you.
Conclusion: What’s My Next Move for Becoming an Ethical Hacker?
Your next move is to compare current Ethical Hacker and Penetration Tester job descriptions, then note the skills, certifications, tools, and practical experience employers keep asking for. That gives you a much clearer picture of where you are now and what you need to build next.
From there, create a realistic skills gap plan. Focus on recognised cyber security certifications, hands-on labs, project evidence, and a CV that shows your progress clearly. At Learning People, we can help you map that route, choose the right training, prepare for applications and interviews, and work towards landing your first cyber security role.