Pay by Role
Germany · Salary comparison

Site Reliability Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In Germany, a site reliability engineer earns about 80% more than a software engineer — $238,370 vs $132,301 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is EUR). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Pays more
Technology
Site Reliability Engineer
$238,370/yr
Monthly
$19,845
Hourly
$114
Range
$148,268–$348,544
10-yr outlook
+22%
Technology
Software Engineer
$132,301/yr
Monthly
$11,063
Hourly
$64
Range
$84,627–$190,468
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileSite Reliability EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$148,268$84,627
25th$193,319$108,464
Median$238,370$132,301
75th$293,457$161,384
Senior (90th)$348,544$190,468

National Germany figures in EUR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a site reliability engineer or software engineer earn more in Germany?
A site reliability engineer earns more, at about 209.000 € per year vs 116.000 € for a software engineer — roughly 80% (93.000 €) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Germany?
A site reliability engineer typically earns 130.000 €–305.600 €, while a software engineer earns 74.200 €–167.000 € per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Germany?
On a monthly basis before tax, a site reliability engineer averages about 17.400 € and a software engineer about 9.700 €.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Germany, a site reliability engineer earns about 130.000 € while a software engineer earns about 74.200 € per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Germany, a site reliability engineer earns about 305.600 € while a software engineer earns about 167.000 € per year.
Are site reliability engineer and software engineer similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Technology category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.