Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Boston, MA vs Denver, CO

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

Boston, MA
$211,445
/ year
+6%
difference
Denver, CO
$200,262
/ year
Bottom line: Denver offers better purchasing power despite Boston paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Boston
Denver
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$211,445✓ higher
$200,262
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$136,740✓ higher
$129,508
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$326,962✓ higher
$309,670
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$141,604✓ higher
$134,000
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$151,032
$175,668✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.40×
1.14×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$136,740✓ higher
$129,508
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$326,962✓ higher
$309,670

What if you move from Boston to Denver?

Gross salary change
$11,183
6% decrease
Take-home change
$7,604
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$24,636
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$211,445
P10: $136,740Median: $211,445P90: $326,962
Denver, CO$200,262
P10: $129,508Median: $200,262P90: $309,670

More Site Reliability Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Boston, MA is $211,445/yr compared to $200,262/yr in Denver, CO. Boston pays 6% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Boston salary has the purchasing power of $151,032/yr in a median-cost city, vs $175,668/yr for Denver. Denver offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Boston, MA takes home approximately $141,604/yr, vs $134,000/yr in Denver, CO. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.