How Much Does a Site Reliability Engineer Make in 2025?
Site reliability engineers, also known as software developers or quality assurance analysts, develop computer applications that allow users to do specific tasks and the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks.
Moreover, a site reliability engineer (SRE) is responsible for ensuring the reliability, availability, and performance of large-scale software systems and infrastructure by blending software engineering with IT operations. The role originated at Google and is now widely adopted across the tech industry.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the number of site reliability engineer jobs to grow by 17% over the next ten years. This is faster than the national average and is projected to produce over 140,100 job openings annually from 2023 to 2033. Salary.com reports that the average salary for site reliability engineers in 2025 is $93,401 per year.
This salary guide presents a detailed overview of site reliability engineer salaries, including salary data in every state and city in the US, key factors that influence them, and proven tips for increasing earnings.
What is the Average Site Reliability Engineer’s Salary?
According to Salary.com, the average salary for site reliability engineers in the United States for 2025 is $93,401 per year.
2025 Average Salary for Site Reliability Engineers $93,401 per year ($45 per hour)
As of this writing, the average site reliability engineer income is $45 per hour, with hourly wages that can go up to $50 or down to $39. Meanwhile, the average weekly and monthly salaries for site reliability engineers are $1,796 and $7,783, respectively.
What is the Pay Range for a Site Reliability Engineer?
Salary.com reveals that the salary range for site reliability engineers starts at $80,410 per year and can reach as high as $104,291. However, it is also important to note that this salary range for site reliability engineers may vary and is heavily affected by key factors, including education, level of experience, geographic location, and occupation demand.
Site Reliability Engineer Salary Range: $93,401 per year ($39 to $50 per hour)
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $39 | $1,546 | $6,701 | $80,410 |
| 25th Percentile | $42 | $1,665 | $7,217 | $86,601 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $45 | $1,796 | $7,783 | $93,401 |
| 75th Percentile | $48 | $1,906 | $8,258 | $99,101 |
| 90th Percentile | $50 | $2,006 | $8,691 | $104,291 |
Salary.com also reported that the average total compensation received by site reliability engineers is $142,805. This already includes benefits and the average additional cash compensation such as bonuses, health insurance, and time off.
Site Reliability Engineer Salary Factors
As previously mentioned, several factors can affect site reliability engineer salaries. These include experience, location, and skills. Let’s explore each of these in detail.
Years of Experience
The average salary for reliability engineers, based on years of experience, ranges from $91,268 per year for entry-level site reliability engineers to $96,479 per year for expert-level site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience.
| Levels | Years of Experience | Average Salary per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level Site Reliability Engineer | <1 | $91,268 |
| Intermediate Level Site Reliability Engineer | 1-2 | $91,471 |
| Senior Level Site Reliability Engineer | 2-4 | $93,926 |
| Specialist Level Site Reliability Engineer | 5-8 | $96,308 |
| Expert Level Site Reliability Engineer | 8+ | $96,479 |
Place of Work
BLS reported that the specific workplace significantly influences site reliability engineer salaries. For instance, a site reliability engineer earns more by working in software publishers' services with $149,990 in 2023. This figure is about 1.01% and 1.34% higher than the salaries of site reliability engineers in manufacturing and computer systems design, respectively.
| Place of Work | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Software Publishers | $149,990 |
| Manufacturing | $134,910 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $133,650 |
| Finance and Insurance | $132,880 |
| Computers Systems Design and Related Services | $129,890 |
Skill Set
Site reliability engineers with certain in-demand skills are also in line to increase their salaries. For instance, the Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report show that a site reliability engineer with skills in preventive maintenance can earn up to 5.48% more than those without.
On the other hand, a site reliability engineer having root cause analysis and preventive maintenance skills is more likely to land a job with 25.69% and 18.07% demand, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive Maintenance | 18.07% | +5.48% |
| Customer Satisfaction | 7.17% | +5.30% |
| Material Science | 2.64% | +5.05% |
| Data Analysis | 6.02% | +4.94% |
| Six Sigma | 6.22% | +3.17% |
| Root Cause Analysis | 25.69% | +3.00% |
Site Reliability Engineer Salary by City and State
A city or state must ensure compliance with the state minimum wage; therefore, the choice of location can also significantly change the earning potential for this job title in the US. Talented and experienced site reliability engineers can take advantage of this information to identify the most strategic locations for both living and working.
Highest Paying States for Site Reliability Engineers
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest median annual wage for site reliability engineers in the United States, at $103,401.
- District of Columbia: $103,401 per year (or $50 per hour)
- California: $103,001 per year (or $50 per hour)
- Massachusetts: $101,601 per year (or $49 per hour)
- New Jersey: $101,201 per year (or $49 per hour)
- Alaska: $101,101 per year (or $49 per hour)
Site Reliability Engineer Salary by State
| State | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $101,101 |
| Alabama | $85,801 |
| Arkansas | $84,401 |
| Arizona | $91,001 |
| California | $103,001 |
| Colorado | $95,301 |
| Connecticut | $99,801 |
| District of Columbia | $103,401 |
| Delaware | $94,601 |
| Florida | $88,401 |
| Georgia | $90,101 |
| Hawaii | $97,601 |
| Iowa | $89,401 |
| Idaho | $87,201 |
| Illinois | $95,201 |
| Indiana | $89,701 |
| Kansas | $88,901 |
| Kentucky | $87,901 |
| Louisiana | $88,801 |
| Massachusetts | $101,601 |
| Maryland | $96,301 |
| Maine | $91,101 |
| Michigan | $92,001 |
| Minnesota | $95,601 |
| Missouri | $88,701 |
| Mississippi | $83,301 |
| Montana | $88,201 |
| North Carolina | $88,801 |
| North Dakota | $92,301 |
| Nebraska | $88,001 |
| New Hampshire | $94,401 |
| New Jersey | $101,201 |
| New Mexico | $86,501 |
| Nevada | $92,401 |
| New York | $99,301 |
| Ohio | $90,901 |
| Oklahoma | $86,401 |
| Oregon | $94,801 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,001 |
| Rhode Island | $96,801 |
| South Carolina | $87,501 |
| South Dakota | $84,901 |
| Tennessee | $87,301 |
| Texas | $91,101 |
| Utah | $89,401 |
| Virginia | $94,101 |
| Vermont | $91,701 |
| Washington | $101,301 |
| Wisconsin | $91,901 |
| West Virginia | $84,101 |
| Wyoming | $89,601 |
Highest Paying Cities for Site Reliability Engineers
According to the Salary.com data, the city of San Jose, California, is the highest-paying city for site reliability engineers with $117,801 per year or $57 per hour. Recent site reliability engineer salaries show that the 6 highest paying cities are as follows:
- San Jose, California: $117,801 per year (or $57 per hour)
- San Francisco, California: $116,601 per year (or $56 per hour)
- Oakland, California: $114,101 per year (or $55 per hour)
- New York, New York: $108,201 per year (or $52 per hour)
- Queens Village, New York: $107,501 per year (or $52 per hour)
- Paramus, New Jersey: $106,801 per year (or $51 per hour)
Ways to Increase Your Salary as a Site Reliability Engineer
Site reliability engineers (SREs) can enhance their earnings by combining advanced education, specialized technical skills, leadership development, and strategic career decisions. Here are six effective ways to increase your salary as an SRE:
- Pursue advanced education and certifications: While a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields is typically required, obtaining advanced degrees such as a master’s or specialized certifications in cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud), Kubernetes, or DevOps practices can significantly boost your market value and salary potential.
- Develop specialized technical expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in high-demand areas like automation, container orchestration, cloud infrastructure, security, and programming languages such as Python or Go can open doors to higher-paying roles and expanded responsibilities.
- Gain strong leadership and project management skills: Demonstrating the ability to lead SRE teams, manage complex projects, and coordinate cross-functional collaboration can justify promotions and salary increases. Skills in incident management, capacity planning, and process improvements are also highly valued.
- Work in high-paying industries and geographic locations: SRE salaries vary by industry and region. Technology companies, finance companies, and large enterprises often offer higher pay. Additionally, working in tech hubs like San Francisco, Seattle, or New York City tends to yield better compensation.
- Commit to continuous professional development: Staying current with emerging technologies, best practices, and industry trends through workshops, online courses, and professional communities increases your expertise and marketability, positioning you for salary growth.
- Negotiate salary and pursue advanced roles: Research current market rates and confidently negotiate your salary during job offers or performance reviews. Taking on senior, staff, or director-level SRE positions typically comes with higher pay, bonuses, profit sharing, and benefits. Building a strong professional network and seeking mentorship can support these efforts.
By combining these strategies, especially education, technical specialization, leadership, strategic work settings, ongoing learning, and negotiation, you can effectively increase your salary as a site reliability engineer.
Average National Salaries by Source
As of July 11, 2025, data references from five major salary-reporting websites indicate that the national average salary for site reliability engineers in the US is $133,336 (unweighted).
SALARY.COM AVG. SALARY
$93,401/year
INDEED.COM AVG. SALARY
$147,631/year
PAYSCALE AVG. SALARY
$128,065/year
GLASSDOOR AVG. SALARY
$165,000/year
ZIPRECRUITER AVG. SALARY
$132,583/year
