Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Melbourne

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

Seattle, WA
$223,170
/ year
+33%
difference
Melbourne
$168,148
/ year
Bottom line: Seattle wins on all three metrics — higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Seattle
Melbourne
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$223,170✓ higher
$168,148
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$144,323✓ higher
$108,741
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$345,093✓ higher
$260,011
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$149,577✓ higher
$104,252
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$157,162✓ higher
$134,518
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.25×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$144,323
$165,286✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$345,093
$395,217✓ higher

What if you move from Seattle to Melbourne?

Gross salary change
$55,022
33% decrease
Take-home change
$45,325
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$22,644
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$223,170
P10: $144,323Median: $223,170P90: $345,093
Melbourne$168,148
P10: $165,286Median: $168,148P90: $395,217

More Site Reliability Engineer salary comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $223,170/yr compared to A$255,585/yr in Melbourne. Seattle pays 33% more in gross terms.

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

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Seattle salary has the purchasing power of $157,162/yr in a median-cost city, vs $134,518/yr for Melbourne. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $149,577/yr, vs $104,252/yr in Melbourne. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.