Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Melbourne vs Sydney

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

Melbourne
$168,148
/ year
-1%
difference
Sydney
$170,579
/ year
Bottom line: Melbourne offers better purchasing power (your money goes further) even if gross salary differs. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Melbourne
Sydney
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$168,148
$170,579✓ higher
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$108,741
$110,313✓ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$260,011
$263,770✓ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$104,252
$105,759✓ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$134,518✓ higher
$126,355
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.25×✓ lower
1.35×
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$165,286
$167,676✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$395,217
$400,930✓ higher

What if you move from Melbourne to Sydney?

Gross salary change
+$2,431
1% increase
Take-home change
+$1,507
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$8,163
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

Melbourne$168,148
P10: $165,286Median: $168,148P90: $395,217
Sydney$170,579
P10: $167,676Median: $170,579P90: $400,930

More Site Reliability Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Melbourne or Sydney?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Melbourne is A$255,585/yr compared to A$259,280/yr in Sydney. Sydney pays 1% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Melbourne salary has the purchasing power of $134,518/yr in a median-cost city, vs $126,355/yr for Sydney. Melbourne offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Melbourne takes home approximately $104,252/yr, vs $105,759/yr in Sydney. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.