Pay by Role
South Africa · Salary comparison

Backend Developer vs Site Reliability Engineer salary

In South Africa, a site reliability engineer earns about 7% more than a backend developer — $62,375 vs $58,094 per year.

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

Technology
Backend Developer
$58,094/yr
Monthly
$4,843
Hourly
$28
Range
$37,180–$83,656
10-yr outlook
+16%
Pays more
Technology
Site Reliability Engineer
$62,375/yr
Monthly
$5,198
Hourly
$30
Range
$38,795–$91,190
10-yr outlook
+22%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileBackend DeveloperSite Reliability Engineer
Entry (10th)$37,180$38,795
25th$47,637$50,585
Median$58,094$62,375
75th$70,875$76,782
Senior (90th)$83,656$91,190

National South Africa figures in ZAR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

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Frequently asked questions

Does a backend developer or site reliability engineer earn more in South Africa?
A site reliability engineer earns more, at about R 1 020 000 per year vs R 950 000 for a backend developer — roughly 7% (R 70 000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Africa?
A backend developer typically earns R 608 000–R 1 368 000, while a site reliability engineer earns R 634 400–R 1 491 200 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Africa?
On a monthly basis before tax, a backend developer averages about R 79 200 and a site reliability engineer about R 85 000.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a backend developer earns about R 608 000 while a site reliability engineer earns about R 634 400 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Africa, a backend developer earns about R 1 368 000 while a site reliability engineer earns about R 1 491 200 per year.
Are backend developer and site reliability 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.