Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Los Angeles, CA vs Denver, CO

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

Los Angeles, CA
$179,296
/ year
-10%
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
Los Angeles
Denver
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$179,296
$200,262✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$115,950
$129,508✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$277,250
$309,670✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$119,743
$134,000✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$129,925
$175,668✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.38×
1.14×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$115,950
$129,508✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$277,250
$309,670✓ higher

What if you move from Los Angeles to Denver?

Gross salary change
+$20,966
10% increase
Take-home change
+$14,257
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$45,743
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

Los Angeles, CA$179,296
P10: $115,950Median: $179,296P90: $277,250
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 Los Angeles or Denver?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA is $179,296/yr compared to $200,262/yr in Denver, CO. Denver pays 10% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Los Angeles salary has the purchasing power of $129,925/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 Los Angeles vs Denver?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Los Angeles, CA takes home approximately $119,743/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.