$ rates --index
The underlying unit cost behind every project quote. Day-rates rarely appear in vendor proposals; this index sources them from public reports.
Pen-tester day rates in 2026 sit at $1,500 to $3,000 per day for mid-market boutique firms, $2,500 to $5,000 per day for senior boutique-elite consultants, and $800 to $1,800 per day for freelance researchers via PtaaS marketplaces. UK day rates from CREST-accredited firms broadly mirror the US bands in GBP terms. Speciality (cloud, mobile, hardware, red team) adds a 20 to 40% premium.
Last verified June 2026
$1.5-3K/d
Mid-market boutique
US, vendor cost-guide
$2.5-5K/d
Senior boutique-elite
US, vendor cost-guide
$800-1.8K/d
Freelance via PtaaS
Marketplace effective rate
+20-40%
Speciality premium
Cloud, mobile, hardware, RT
$ region --map
| Region | Mid-market day rate | Senior day rate |
|---|---|---|
| US | $1,500 to $3,000 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| UK | £1,000 to £2,000 | £1,800 to £3,500 |
| EU | EUR 1,100 to EUR 2,200 | EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,800 |
| APAC | $900 to $1,800 | $1,800 to $3,500 |
Bands above sourced from publicly available vendor cost guides (Astra, Bishop Fox, Cobalt and similar). Freelance bands derived from public PtaaS-marketplace pay-rate guidance. Verified June 2026.
“Always ask for the day-rate. A vendor that will not quote the rate but will quote the total is selling you opacity at a premium.”