Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Chicago, IL vs Denver, CO

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

Chicago, IL
$176,072
/ year
-12%
difference
Denver, CO
$200,262
/ year
Bottom line: Denver wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Chicago
Denver
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$176,072
$200,262✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$113,865
$129,508✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$272,264
$309,670✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$117,551
$134,000✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$153,106
$175,668✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.15×
1.14×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$113,865
$129,508✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$272,264
$309,670✓ higher

What if you move from Chicago to Denver?

Gross salary change
+$24,190
12% increase
Take-home change
+$16,449
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$22,562
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

Chicago, IL$176,072
P10: $113,865Median: $176,072P90: $272,264
Denver, CO$200,262
P10: $129,508Median: $200,262P90: $309,670

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Chicago, IL is $176,072/yr compared to $200,262/yr in Denver, CO. Denver pays 12% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Chicago salary has the purchasing power of $153,106/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 Chicago vs Denver?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $117,551/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.