Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
San Francisco, CA vs Toronto

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

San Francisco, CA
$268,071
/ year
+66%
difference
Toronto
$161,650
/ year
Bottom line: San Francisco wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
San Francisco
Toronto
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$268,071✓ higher
$161,650
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$173,360✓ higher
$104,538
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$414,524✓ higher
$249,963
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$179,005✓ higher
$100,223
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$159,566✓ higher
$129,320
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.68×
1.25×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$173,360✓ higher
$142,172
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$414,524✓ higher
$339,950

What if you move from San Francisco to Toronto?

Gross salary change
$106,421
66% decrease
Take-home change
$78,782
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$30,246
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

San Francisco, CA$268,071
P10: $173,360Median: $268,071P90: $414,524
Toronto$161,650
P10: $142,172Median: $161,650P90: $339,950

More Site Reliability Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in San Francisco or Toronto?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in San Francisco, CA is $268,071/yr compared to CA$219,844/yr in Toronto. San Francisco pays 66% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Site Reliability Engineer salary worth more in San Francisco or Toronto after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your San Francisco salary has the purchasing power of $159,566/yr in a median-cost city, vs $129,320/yr for Toronto. San Francisco offers stronger real purchasing power.

▶What is the take-home pay for a Site Reliability Engineer in San Francisco vs Toronto?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in San Francisco, CA takes home approximately $179,005/yr, vs $100,223/yr in Toronto. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.