Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Austin, TX

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

Seattle, WA
$223,799
/ year
+22%
difference
Austin, TX
$183,415
/ year
Bottom line: Austin offers better purchasing power despite Seattle paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Austin
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$223,799✓ higher
$183,415
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$144,730✓ higher
$118,614
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$346,066✓ higher
$283,619
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$150,005✓ higher
$122,544
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$157,605
$163,763✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.12×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$144,730✓ higher
$118,614
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$346,066✓ higher
$283,619

What if you move from Seattle to Austin?

Gross salary change
$40,384
22% decrease
Take-home change
$27,461
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$6,158
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

Seattle, WA$223,799
P10: $144,730Median: $223,799P90: $346,066
Austin, TX$183,415
P10: $118,614Median: $183,415P90: $283,619

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Frequently Asked Questions

▶Does a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Seattle or Austin?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $223,799/yr compared to $183,415/yr in Austin, TX. Seattle pays 22% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $157,605/yr in a median-cost city, vs $163,763/yr for Austin. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $150,005/yr, vs $122,544/yr in Austin, TX. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.