Site Reliability Engineer vs Penetration Tester: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Site Reliability Engineer
Ensure platform reliability, scalability, and uptime at scale.
Penetration Tester
Conduct authorised attacks on systems to find and report vulnerabilities.
Penetration Tester earns more on average — the national median is $30,050/year (30%) higher than a Site Reliability Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Site Reliability Engineer vs Penetration Tester — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Site Reliability Engineer | Penetration Tester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $142,771 | $193,496 | Site $50,725 |
| New York, NY | $119,390 | $140,470 | Site $21,080 |
| Seattle, WA | $137,435 | $188,841 | Site $51,406 |
| Austin, TX | $112,635 | $145,769 | Site $33,134 |
| Chicago, IL | $108,126 | $135,251 | Site $27,125 |
| Boston, MA | $129,849 | $171,501 | Site $41,652 |
| London, UK | £79,751 | £102,480 | Site $22,729 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$135,006 | CA$166,911 | Site $31,905 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Site Reliability Engineer or Penetration Tester earn more?+
A Penetration Tester earns more on average. The national median salary for a Site Reliability Engineer is $99,130/year, compared to $129,180/year for a Penetration Tester — a difference of $30,050 (30%).
Which has better career growth — Site Reliability Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Site Reliability Engineer roles are growing at 27% YoY while Penetration Tester demand is growing at 30% YoY. Penetration Tester has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Site Reliability Engineer to Penetration Tester?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: Python.
Which is harder to automate — Site Reliability Engineer or Penetration Tester?+
Penetration Tester has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 35%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.