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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What separates a comfortable Site Reliability Engineer salary from a tight one? Usually just a zip code. The national median salary for Site Reliability Engineers in 2026 is $168,764, with entry-level positions averaging $121,510 and senior roles reaching $239,645. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $307,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Technology within the broader Technology industry, Site Reliability Engineers typically hold Bachelor's in CS. The employment landscape is shaped by very high demand, and the day-to-day is remote-eligible. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$187,050 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Site Reliability Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $307,400 — $187,050 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($120,350). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Site Reliability Engineers in 2026: $121,510 at entry (P10), $168,764 at midpoint, and $239,645 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $118,135 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $88,397 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $287,100, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $121,317. The $165,783 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Site Reliability Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $307,400 — $187,050 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($120,350). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Site Reliability Engineer is $121,510, while senior-level (P90) earners average $239,645. That $118,135 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Site Reliability Engineers at $203,689 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $179,075) is $24,614.
At the 90th percentile, Site Reliability Engineers pull in an average of $239,645. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $121,510 | $168,764 | $239,645 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £72,859 | £101,193 | £143,693 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$94,443 | CA$131,171 | CA$186,263 |
| Australia | 13 | A$109,469 | A$152,041 | A$215,898 |
| Sweden | 24 | 689,550 kr | 957,708 kr | 1,359,946 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $146,656 | $203,689 | $289,239 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $141,723 | $196,838 | $279,509 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $140,940 | $195,750 | $277,965 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $130,500 | $181,250 | $257,375 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $128,934 | $179,075 | $254,287 |
| Washington | 8 | $126,455 | $175,631 | $249,396 |
| New York | 5 | $119,016 | $165,300 | $234,726 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $119,016 | $165,300 | $234,726 |
| Florida | 22 | $118,114 | $164,048 | $232,948 |
| Colorado | 11 | $116,074 | $161,214 | $228,923 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $115,884 | $160,950 | $228,549 |
| Nevada | 5 | $115,675 | $160,660 | $228,137 |
| Arizona | 12 | $115,101 | $159,863 | $227,005 |
| Oregon | 5 | $114,840 | $159,500 | $226,490 |
| Idaho | 3 | $114,492 | $159,017 | $225,804 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $113,587 | $157,760 | $224,019 |
| Utah | 4 | $113,274 | $157,325 | $223,402 |
| Virginia | 7 | $111,410 | $154,736 | $219,725 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $109,968 | $152,733 | $216,881 |
| Alaska | 1 | $109,620 | $152,250 | $216,195 |
| Illinois | 5 | $108,367 | $150,510 | $213,724 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $105,676 | $146,772 | $208,417 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $104,400 | $145,000 | $205,900 |
| Montana | 1 | $104,400 | $145,000 | $205,900 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $104,052 | $144,517 | $205,214 |
| Texas | 40 | $103,539 | $143,804 | $204,201 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $103,356 | $143,550 | $203,841 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $102,834 | $142,825 | $202,812 |
| Georgia | 6 | $102,486 | $142,342 | $202,125 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $102,312 | $142,100 | $201,782 |
| Kansas | 4 | $101,790 | $141,375 | $200,753 |
| Michigan | 6 | $101,442 | $140,892 | $200,066 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $100,224 | $139,200 | $197,664 |
| Maryland | 1 | $100,224 | $139,200 | $197,664 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $99,180 | $137,750 | $195,605 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $99,180 | $137,750 | $195,605 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $96,570 | $134,125 | $190,458 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $96,048 | $133,400 | $189,428 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $94,743 | $131,588 | $186,854 |
| Missouri | 4 | $94,743 | $131,588 | $186,854 |
| Alabama | 5 | $94,378 | $131,080 | $186,134 |
| Indiana | 3 | $92,916 | $129,050 | $183,251 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $92,916 | $129,050 | $183,251 |
| Iowa | 2 | $91,872 | $127,600 | $181,192 |
| Ohio | 6 | $91,698 | $127,358 | $180,849 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $87,696 | $121,800 | $172,956 |
Geography shapes Site Reliability Engineer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $203,689 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($307,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $145,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $307,400 | 212 | $145,000 | $165,035 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $287,100 | 198 | $145,000 | $156,093 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $266,800 | 184 | $145,000 | $147,151 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $262,450 | 181 | $145,000 | $145,234 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $258,100 | 178 | $145,000 | $143,318 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $256,650 | 177 | $145,000 | $142,680 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $256,650 | 177 | $145,000 | $142,680 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $250,850 | 173 | $145,000 | $140,125 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $250,850 | 173 | $145,000 | $140,125 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $245,050 | 169 | $145,000 | $137,570 |
From a career planning perspective, Site Reliability Engineer offers a $118,135 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in CS. Day-to-day, expect remote-eligible work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Site Reliability Engineers is $168,764 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $121,510, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $239,645.
The highest-paying city for Site Reliability Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $307,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($307,400), Santa Clara ($287,100), Irvine ($266,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Site Reliability Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $120,350. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Site Reliability Engineers (10th percentile) average $121,510 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $221,328. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Site Reliability Engineers average $239,645 nationally — $118,135 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Site Reliability Engineers can earn up to $436,508.
The top-paying states for Site Reliability Engineers are California ($203,689 median), Massachusetts ($196,838 median), Hawaii ($195,750 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Site Reliability Engineer involves Bachelor's in CS. The field is in the Technology sector (Technology), and the career outlook is very high demand. Work style is typically remote-eligible.
With a national median of $168,764 and representation across 288 metro areas, Site Reliability Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $118,135 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: very high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.