Salary Comparison

Site Reliability Engineer Salary:
Sydney vs Perth

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

Sydney
$170,579
/ year
+12%
difference
Perth
$152,810
/ year
Bottom line: Perth offers better purchasing power despite Sydney paying more gross. How is this calculated? โ†’
Metric
Sydney
Perth
Median Gross Salary
Annual, before tax
$170,579โœ“ higher
$152,810
Entry Level
0โ€“2 years experience
$110,313โœ“ higher
$98,822
Senior Level
8+ years experience
$263,770โœ“ higher
$236,294
Est. Take-Home Pay
After income tax + FICA
$105,759โœ“ higher
$94,742
Purchasing Power
Equivalent in median-CoL city
$126,355
$138,918โœ“ higher
Cost of Living Index
Relative to US median (1.00)
1.35ร—
1.10ร—โœ“ lower
Percentile 10 (Low)
Bottom 10% of earners
$167,676โœ“ higher
$150,209
Percentile 90 (High)
Top 10% of earners
$400,930โœ“ higher
$359,167

What if you move from Sydney to Perth?

Gross salary change
$17,769
12% decrease
Take-home change
$11,017
per year after tax
Purchasing power change
+$12,563
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
Perth$152,810
P10: $150,209Median: $152,810P90: $359,167

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Sydney is A$259,280/yr compared to A$232,271/yr in Perth. Sydney pays 12% more in gross terms.

โ–ถIs a Site Reliability Engineer salary worth more in Sydney or Perth 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 $138,918/yr for Perth. Perth offers stronger real purchasing power.

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

After estimated taxes, a Site Reliability Engineer in Sydney takes home approximately $105,759/yr, vs $94,742/yr in Perth. These are estimates based on standard federal tax rates and do not account for state/local taxes or deductions.