Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Sydney vs Austin, TX

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

Sydney
$170,579
/ year
-7%
difference
Austin, TX
$183,415
/ year
Bottom line: Austin wins on all three metrics โ€” higher salary, more take-home pay, and greater purchasing power. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Sydney
Austin
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,579
$183,415โœ“ higher
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$110,313
$118,614โœ“ higher
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$263,770
$283,619โœ“ higher
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$105,759
$122,544โœ“ higher
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$126,355
$163,763โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35ร—
1.12ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$167,676โœ“ higher
$118,614
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$400,930โœ“ higher
$283,619

What if you move from Sydney to Austin?

Gross salary change
+$12,836
7% increase
Take-home change
+$16,785
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$37,408
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 1.00ร—). Full methodology โ†’

Salary Range Comparison

Sydney$170,579
P10: $167,676Median: $170,579P90: $400,930
Austin, TX$183,415
P10: $118,614Median: $183,415P90: $283,619

Frequently Asked Questions

โ–ถDoes a Site Reliability Engineer earn more in Sydney or Austin?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Sydney is A$259,280/yr compared to $183,415/yr in Austin, TX. Austin pays 7% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Site Reliability Engineer salary worth more in Sydney or Austin after cost of living?

After adjusting for local cost of living, your Sydney salary has the purchasing power of $126,355/yr in a median-cost city, vs $163,763/yr for Austin. Austin offers stronger real purchasing power.

โ–ถWhat is the take-home pay for a Site Reliability Engineer in Sydney vs Austin?

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Sydney takes home approximately $105,759/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.