Salary Comparison

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

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

Denver, CO
$186,824
/ year
-1%
difference
Chicago, IL
$188,707
/ year
Bottom line: Chicago wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Denver
Chicago
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$186,824
$188,707✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$120,818
$122,036✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$288,890
$291,802✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$124,862
$126,142✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$163,881
$164,093✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.14×✓ lower
1.15×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$120,818
$122,036✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$288,890
$291,802✓ higher

What if you move from Denver to Chicago?

Gross salary change
+$1,883
1% increase
Take-home change
+$1,280
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$212
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

Denver, CO$186,824
P10: $120,818Median: $186,824P90: $288,890
Chicago, IL$188,707
P10: $122,036Median: $188,707P90: $291,802

More Site Reliability Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Denver, CO is $186,824/yr compared to $188,707/yr in Chicago, IL. Chicago pays 1% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Denver salary has the purchasing power of $163,881/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 Denver vs Chicago?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Denver, CO takes home approximately $124,862/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.