Pay by Role
New Zealand · Salary comparison

Site Reliability Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In New Zealand, a site reliability engineer earns about 37% more than a software engineer — $160,637 vs $117,455 per year.

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

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Technology
Site Reliability Engineer
$160,637/yr
Monthly
$13,415
Hourly
$77
Range
$99,895–$234,853
10-yr outlook
+22%
Technology
Software Engineer
$117,455/yr
Monthly
$9,788
Hourly
$56
Range
$75,194–$169,159
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileSite Reliability EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$99,895$75,194
25th$130,295$96,325
Median$160,637$117,455
75th$197,717$143,307
Senior (90th)$234,853$169,159

National New Zealand figures in NZD. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

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Frequently asked questions

Does a site reliability engineer or software engineer earn more in New Zealand?
A site reliability engineer earns more, at about $279,000 per year vs $204,000 for a software engineer — roughly 37% ($75,000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in New Zealand?
A site reliability engineer typically earns $173,500–$407,900, while a software engineer earns $130,600–$293,800 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in New Zealand?
On a monthly basis before tax, a site reliability engineer averages about $23,300 and a software engineer about $17,000.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in New Zealand, a site reliability engineer earns about $173,500 while a software engineer earns about $130,600 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in New Zealand, a site reliability engineer earns about $407,900 while a software engineer earns about $293,800 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.