Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Los Angeles, CA vs Houston, TX

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

Los Angeles, CA
$225,756
/ year
+44%
difference
Houston, TX
$156,642
/ year
Bottom line: Los Angeles wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Los Angeles
Houston
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$225,756✓ higher
$156,642
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$145,995✓ higher
$101,300
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$349,092✓ higher
$242,219
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$151,336✓ higher
$105,253
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$163,591✓ higher
$159,839
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.38×
0.98×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$145,995✓ higher
$101,300
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$349,092✓ higher
$242,219

What if you move from Los Angeles to Houston?

Gross salary change
$69,114
44% decrease
Take-home change
$46,083
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$3,752
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$225,756
P10: $145,995Median: $225,756P90: $349,092
Houston, TX$156,642
P10: $101,300Median: $156,642P90: $242,219

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Los Angeles or Houston?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Los Angeles, CA is $225,756/yr compared to $156,642/yr in Houston, TX. Los Angeles pays 44% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Los Angeles salary has the purchasing power of $163,591/yr in a median-cost city, vs $159,839/yr for Houston. Los Angeles offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Site Reliability Engineer in Los Angeles vs Houston?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Los Angeles, CA takes home approximately $151,336/yr, vs $105,253/yr in Houston, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.