Penetration Testing Certifications: Overview & Top 5 Certs

A guide to penetration testing certifications, including what they are, why they're valuable, and the best pen testing credentials for your cybersecurity career path.

This post will be updated annually with the top pen-testing certificates. Latest update: 2023

Penetration testing - a.k.a. “pentesting” - involves simulating attacks on networks and computer systems to identify vulnerabilities which can then be shored up by the cybersecurity team. Pen testing is a vital component of an organization’s information security strategy.

Pen testing certifications are professional credentials earned by IT security specialists who demonstrate a level of proficiency in this field. The leading pen-tester certificates are offered by various types of institutions, including cybersecurity industry associations, globally-recognized certifying bodies and technical training providers.

In this post, we will identify the best penetration testing certifications by experience-level and specialization. For each certificate we’ll highlight the key skills it covers, prerequisites, costs, benefits, training options and more.

Darril Gibson, certified technical trainer and best-selling author of IT study guides, lays out a rock-solid IT certification path to begin or advance your career as a network administrator.

Aspiring IT professionals frequently ask me questions like “How can I get into an IT job?” and “What is the best IT certification path for a network administrator?” Unfortunately, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer because there are so many variables, such as how much knowledge you start with and what type of jobs are available where you live.

However, if you are focused on landing an IT job and you‘re willing to take the time to master the materials, you can earn several certifications that will make you highly desirable as a network administrator, one of the industry’s most essential and opportunity-rich positions. Learn the material, earn the certifications, and you’ll have an opportunity to shine at network administration job interviews.

Trying to determine your ideal IT career path? Want to know which computer jobs will be in the greatest demand, offer the highest salaries and best opportunities for advancement once you finish training? ITCareerFinder assembled this comparison of the decade’s hottest technology careers to serve as your guide. These 10 computer jobs will experience the fastest growth, pay salaries well above the national average, boast top employment rates, and offer a range of opportunities for promotion.

Compare the best computer jobs by employment projections, key growth factors, salary and more, then click the links of your favorite IT career paths for deep dive career profiles featuring skills and responsibilities, desirable certifications, wage analyses, education requirements, training & degree programs, local job openings, and tips from IT insiders.

Methodology used to discover this decade’s best computer jobs centered around a four-point weighted analysis of employment growth forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, IT salaries from Indeed.com, the ratio of job listings to qualified applicants on leading technology job boards, and potential for upward mobility based on interviews with technology and employment experts, as well as recent IT hiring trends.

Discover the 10 best computer jobs for the future:

1. IT Security Specialist

   

   IT Security Specialist Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 33% (much faster than average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 47,100 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $104,000
   • IT Security Specialist Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Security will remain a top concern for IT executives and hiring managers as the frequency, scope, and complexity of cyber attacks continues to escalate. Year after year, IT executives report actively seeking professionals with information security skills, but finding it difficult to locate good talent. This indicates an incredible opportunity for technology professionals to advance their cyber security skills and certifications. Computer security skills in the greatest demand include IT operations security, secure web and mobile application development, risk management, information assurance, network security, and cloud security.

2. Mobile Application Developer

   

   Mobile App Developer Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 22% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 409,500 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $107,000
   • Mobile App Developer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Mobile application development is one of the world's fastest growing occupations. As smart phones and tablets continue to change the way we communicate, do business, and access news & entertainment, the demand for new and innovative mobile apps is growing at an incredible speed. This increased demand translates to one of the largest IT skills gaps ever realized – there are simply more mobile application development job openings than skilled developers to fill them. Google's Android and Apple's iOS (iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch) platforms will continue to offer the most career opportunities for mobile developers - view this graph for a breakdown of mobile OS market share.

3. Software Engineer

   

   Software Engineer Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 19% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 354,000 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $108,000
   • Software Engineer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Workforce demand for software engineers will rise along with technological advancement and the growing ubiquity of software. For example, rapid adoption of cloud technologies is driving demand for applications software engineers who can build secure and scalable cloud programs. Likewise, as the proliferation of computer systems continues and software spreads into new industries and smart devices, the need to develop the computer systems that power these initiatives will create jobs for systems software engineers.

4. Video Game Designer

   

   Video Game Designer Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 16% (much faster than avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 9,900 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $80,000
   • Video Game Designer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   The $140+ billion dollar gaming industry has more than tripled in size over the last decade. Beyond the booming market for PC and console games, the increased popularity, processing power, and graphics capabilities of mobile devices has unlocked a new world of job opportunities for video game designers, artists and programmers. Game designers with mobile development expertise will be especially sought after as smart phones and tablets continue to change how video games are played. Game designer employment will also benefit from emerging technologies and rising demand for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.

5. Computer Systems Analyst

   

   Computer Systems Analyst Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 7% (as fast as average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 42,800 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $94,000
   • Computer Systems Analyst Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   As organizations continue to increase their reliance on technology, computer systems analysts will be needed to increase the efficiency of existing technologies and architect new systems. Health care is a key industry for systems analyst job growth, as aggressive government mandates and funding initiatives continue to drive increases in electronic medical record (EMR) adoption, electronic prescription services, and other health-centric software projects. The U.S. Department of Labor also predicts a 43% increase in systems analyst hiring at IT consulting firms, which translates to a huge amount of freelance and contract employment opportunities in this job role.

6. Web Developer

   

   Web Developer Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 13% (faster than average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 25,500 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $77,000
   • Web Developer Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Each year, a record number of businesses bring their offerings to the Internet. As the number of products and services online continues to grow, web developers and designers will enjoy increased job opportunities. Proliferation of social networks will boost demand for web developers as businesses look to engage a new generation of customers and spur a competitive advantage in this rapidly growing space. Responsive web design, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) skills are a hot commodity in this position as displays must increasingly adapt to varying device sizes and types, e.g., smart watches.

7. Health Information Technician

   

   Health Information Technician Employment Proj. | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 9% (as fast as average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 37,100 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $46,000
   • Health Information Technician Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Health care will produce more new computer jobs through 2025 than any other single industry. Aggressive government mandates and funding incentives for medical practices to adopt centralized electronic health records is driving unprecedented hiring of health information technicians trained and certified in these new technologies. Health information technicians may earn the lowest starting salary on this list, but the required education is the quickest (typically a 2-year degree program in Health IT), plus candidates learning now will be well-positioned for lucrative management positions as the health IT job market continues to mature.

8. Technology Manager

   

   Technology Manager Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 11% (faster than average)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 52,700 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $151,000
   • Technology Manager Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Job growth for information technology managers is directly tied to the growth rates of the IT workers they supervise. Record-breaking growth in a variety of technical jobs – including software development, project management, data analytics, and cloud computing – will continue through 2025 and beyond, in turn fueling strong demand for talented IT managers. Additional growth will be driven by increased focus on information security and the hiring of additional cyber security personnel.

9. Database Administrator

   

   Database Administrator Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

   • 10-Year Growth Pct: 8% (as fast as avg.)†
   • 10-Year Growth Volume: 13,200 new jobs
   • Average Salary: $99,000
   • DBA Career Path ››
   Key Growth Factors

   Businesses are racking up impressive amounts of digital information, spurring the need for trained and certified DBAs to store, organize, analyze and secure this data. In addition, as more databases are connected to the Internet and cloud, data security will become increasingly vital and complex; database administrators and developers - especially those with information security skills - will be hired to protect corporate data from hackers and other cyber threat vectors.

10. Network Administrator

    

    Network Administrator Employment Projections | 2020 - 2030

    • 10-Year Growth Pct: 5% (slower than avg.)†
    • 10-Year Growth Volume: 18,800 new jobs
    • Average Salary: $85,000
    • Network Administrator Career Path ››
    Key Growth Factors

    Demand for network administrators will rise as organizations invest in new computer systems and network technologies to increase productivity and gain a competitive advantage. The rapid adoption of mobile and smart devices and cloud computing means more organizations will use the Internet to conduct business online, translating to increased job opportunities for network professionals who can help businesses securely wield these emerging technologies.

Links Favored by Blog Readers:

• Find IT Training and Certification Prep
• Research and Compare IT Certifications
• Explore Information Technology Career Paths
• Browse and Apply to Local Tech Jobs

†The average ten-year growth rate for all occupations is 8% (bls.gov)

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook • Indeed.com

From medicine and software to energy and construction, engineering represents some of this decade's most lucrative and exciting career paths.

Sweeping advances in science, industry and computing have sparked a revolution in engineering employment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts rapid growth for a range of engineering occupations through the next decade and beyond, but record job creation is only part of what makes this sector so attractive; six of the top 7 highest paying [undergraduate] college majors are in engineering, according to a salary survey from the National Association of Colleges & Employers.

Featured Engineering Programs

These top-rated online courses and degrees in computer engineering are currently enrolling students.

Request info for program details, requirements, start dates, tuition fees & financial aid options.

Request Info

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Software Engineering

Southern New Hampshire University

• Cloud Application Development
• Cybersecurity and Secure Coding
• UI/UX Design and Development
• Software Reverse Engineering

Request Info

 

Request Info

Robotics Specialization Certificate

Coursera

• Introduction to Robotics Engineering
• Robot Flight, Perception & Navigation
• Program Robots' Movements in MATLAB
• Role of Robotics in Human Healthcare

Request Info

 

Taking into account growth potential, compensation, and emotional "x-factors" for each position, here are the top five engineering careers for the future:

ITCareerFinder analyzes the latest technology trends and employment data to identify 10 IT skill sets that will boost your market value in 2023 (and beyond).

With more employers moving toward skills-based hiring and compensation models, acquiring new, in-demand skill sets is the key to remaining relevant and commanding higher pay in the coming year.

Assessments of recent job posting data confirms that skills, not degrees, are fast becoming the new currency of work.

For instance, professional networking site LinkedIn has seen a 21% rise in job postings that advertise for skills and responsibilities rather than qualifications and requirements. Given the trend, there’s never been a better time to boost your abilities and your paycheck.

If you’re looking to advance your career by acquiring new technology skills in 2023, here are ten of the hottest areas you may want to consider and some of the best skills to learn in each:

As the economy diversifies, so do the choices you face when you're preparing to enter the workforce. A four-year degree is no longer a must for many lucrative positions, nor is it an automatic ticket to career success. And with the cost of a traditional college education continuing to rise, student loans are becoming more of a burden, as well.

In short, it pays to look around at the growing number of alternatives that can jump-start you on a career path. Specialized professions in the culinary arts, sewing, carpentry, and money management (everything from credit to budgeting to investing) offer a wealth of opportunities through affordable certificate programs and apprenticeships.

But nowhere are the opportunities greater than in the IT field, which is good news because you can pursue training and certification in much of this space online. This has become even more crucial during the pandemic, as distance learning has become the norm in many places.

And if you're trying to save money (and who isn't?), here's some good news: There are numerous free online courses to explore, and plenty of places to get started.

Follow these steps to gain real-world expertise without a college degree:

ITCareerFinder analyzes key data points in technology, employment and livability to uncover the best cities for IT professionals to call home.

This page will be updated annually with the latest and greatest tech cities. Current year: 2022.

Many of the best computer jobs can now be done remotely. This is a welcome change for many of us. For everyone else, choosing the right city to live, work and play in can be vital to happiness and success. This study merges key statistics on America's high-tech workforce with livability factors in over 150 cities to find the best places to live in - or relocate to - as an IT professional.

To determine the best cities for tech jobs, we analyzed key employment data like IT salaries, the number of jobs and the percentage of workforce in technical roles, as well as the leading indexes for cost of living and quality of life, because after all, once the 9-to-5 is over you still have to live there.

Jump down to the bottom of the page for the ranking methodology and source list, or read on for this year’s top 8 cities for IT professionals.

Here are the best cities for technology jobs and workers:

Veteran systems administrator and project manager, Scott Matteson, shares tips and insights from his 2+ decades in the IT field.

Working in the field of Information Technology means more than fixing computers or troubleshooting email issues. Thriving in this career requires you to sort out an intricate tangle of problems, priorities and people on a daily basis. Keeping your technical skills relevant and up-to-date is always a challenge, but one that’s well within reach if you train on the job, enjoy learning new things, and keep your thumb on the pulse of the tech community.

However, it’s harder to figure out how to deal with “back end” tasks like juggling priorities, managing stress and developing positive working relationships with peers, customers and managers. In fact, handling interpersonal relationships can be more challenging (and rewarding) than managing the tech itself – and it’s essential since the technology goes hand in hand with the people who use it.

IT roles are changing; support may be located remotely, systems might be off site, and some jobs will disappear entirely. However, there will always be pain points, pressure and personalities in the field. I've worked in the IT space since 1994, primarily in the realm of support and implementation. Along the way I've made a few observations with accompanying advice which I want to share with you. Many of these apply to my role as the “go-to” guy who can get things running, but I think they are universally relevant to any role where you're seen as a resource or a decision-maker on which other people depend to do their jobs.

So without further ado, here are 20 things I've learned in my 20 years in IT: