Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Sydney vs Melbourne

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

Sydney
$170,579
/ year
+1%
difference
Melbourne
$168,148
/ year
Bottom line: Melbourne offers better purchasing power despite Sydney paying more gross. How is this calculated? →
Metric
Sydney
Melbourne
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,579✓ higher
$168,148
Entry Level
0–2 years experience
$110,313✓ higher
$108,741
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$263,770✓ higher
$260,011
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$105,759✓ higher
$104,252
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$126,355
$134,518✓ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35×
1.25×✓ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$167,676✓ higher
$165,286
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$400,930✓ higher
$395,217

What if you move from Sydney to Melbourne?

Gross salary change
$2,431
1% decrease
Take-home change
$1,507
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$8,163
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

Sydney$170,579
P10: $167,676Median: $170,579P90: $400,930
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 Sydney or Melbourne?

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Sydney is A$259,280/yr compared to A$255,585/yr in Melbourne. Sydney pays 1% more in gross terms.

▶Is a Site Reliability Engineer salary worth more in Sydney or Melbourne 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 $134,518/yr for Melbourne. Melbourne offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

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