CEH vs PenTest+
Certified Ethical Hacker and CompTIA PenTest+ compared with live job-market data: demand, salary, difficulty, and cost — updated weekly.
The short answer
PenTest+ leads on market demand (101 vs 42 US job postings), while CEHleads on average salary ($118,000). Both carry a 3/5 difficulty rating, so the decision comes down to career direction rather than effort.
Side-by-Side Data
| CEH | PenTest+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Job Postings | 42 | 101leads |
| Market Share | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Demand Trend | Declining | Stable |
| Avg Salary | $118,000leads | $110,000 |
| Difficulty (1-5) | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| Exam Cost | $950-$1,199 | $404 |
| Study Time | 40-80 hours | 30-60 hours |
Job counts and market share from live US job postings, updated weekly. Want a different matchup? Use theinteractive comparison tool.
CEH
Certified Ethical Hacker
EC-Council offensive security certification teaching the 5-phase hacking methodology. The 4-hour exam has 125 questions; CEH Master adds a 6-hour practical with 20 live challenges. Requires 2 years security experience or official training.
PenTest+
CompTIA PenTest+
CompTIA's penetration testing certification covering planning, scoping, vulnerability scanning, and exploitation. The 165-minute exam (PT0-002) has up to 85 questions requiring 750/900 to pass. Recommends 3-4 years of hands-on security experience.
CEH vs PenTest+: FAQ
Which pays more, CEH or PenTest+?+
CEH is associated with the higher average salary: about $118,000 vs $110,000 for PenTest+, based on current US job market data.
Which is more in demand, CEH or PenTest+?+
PenTest+ currently appears in 101 US job postings versus 42 for CEH — roughly 2.4× the demand. Data updates weekly from live job listings.
Is PenTest+ harder than CEH?+
Both are rated 3/5 difficulty on our scale, though exam formats and prerequisites differ — see each certification's page for specifics.
Should I get both CEH and PenTest+?+
Many professionals eventually hold both, but sequencing matters. A common path is starting with CEH (3/5 difficulty) and progressing to PenTest+. Compare requirements on each certification's detail page before committing.