Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Chicago, IL

Side-by-side gross salary, after-tax take-home pay, and purchasing power comparison. Updated June 2026.

Boston, MA
$226,490
/ year
+20%
difference
Chicago, IL
$188,707
/ year
Bottom line: Chicago offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$226,490✓ higher
$188,707
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$146,470✓ higher
$122,036
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$350,227✓ higher
$291,802
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$151,835✓ higher
$126,142
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$161,779
$164,093✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.15×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$146,470✓ higher
$122,036
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$350,227✓ higher
$291,802

What if you move from Boston to Chicago?

Gross salary change
$37,783
20% decrease
Take-home change
$25,693
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$2,314
equivalent real income

Take-home pay is estimated using 2024 US federal tax brackets (single filer) + 7.65% FICA, or a blended international effective rate. Purchasing power converts gross salary to an equivalent in a US median cost-of-living city (index 1.00×). Full methodology →

Salary Range Comparison

Boston, MA$226,490
P10: $146,470Median: $226,490P90: $350,227
Chicago, IL$188,707
P10: $122,036Median: $188,707P90: $291,802

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Boston or Chicago?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $226,490/yr compared to $188,707/yr in Chicago, IL. Boston pays 20% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Site Reliability Engineer salary worth more in Boston or Chicago after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $161,779/yr in a median-cost city, vs $164,093/yr for Chicago. Chicago offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Site Reliability Engineer in Boston vs Chicago?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $151,835/yr, vs $126,142/yr in Chicago, IL. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.