Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Seattle, WA vs Sydney

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

Seattle, WA
$223,799
/ year
+31%
difference
Sydney
$170,579
/ 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
Sydney
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$223,799✓ higher
$170,579
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$144,730✓ higher
$110,313
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$346,066✓ higher
$263,770
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$150,005✓ higher
$105,759
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$157,605✓ higher
$126,355
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.42×
1.35×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$144,730
$167,676✓ higher
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$346,066
$400,930✓ higher

What if you move from Seattle to Sydney?

Gross salary change
$53,220
31% decrease
Take-home change
$44,246
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
$31,250
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
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 Seattle or Sydney?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Seattle, WA is $223,799/yr compared to A$259,280/yr in Sydney. Seattle pays 31% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Site Reliability Engineer salary worth more in Seattle or Sydney 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 $126,355/yr for Sydney. Seattle offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Seattle, WA takes home approximately $150,005/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.