Pay by Role
South Africa · Salary comparison

Site Reliability Engineer vs Systems Administrator salary

In South Africa, a site reliability engineer earns about 89% more than a systems administrator $62,375 vs $33,083 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

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Technology
Site Reliability Engineer
$62,375/yr
Monthly
$5,198
Hourly
$30
Range
$38,795$91,190
10-yr outlook
+22%
Technology
Systems Administrator
$33,083/yr
Monthly
$2,758
Hourly
$16
Range
$22,963$45,454
10-yr outlook
+4%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileSite Reliability EngineerSystems Administrator
Entry (10th)$38,795$22,963
25th$50,585$28,020
Median$62,375$33,083
75th$76,782$39,272
Senior (90th)$91,190$45,454

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

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a site reliability engineer or systems administrator earn more in South Africa?
A site reliability engineer earns more, at about R 1 020 000 per year vs R 541 000 for a systems administrator — roughly 89% (R 479 000) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in South Africa?
A site reliability engineer typically earns R 634 400–R 1 491 200, while a systems administrator earns R 375 500–R 743 300 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in South Africa?
On a monthly basis before tax, a site reliability engineer averages about R 85 000 and a systems administrator about R 45 100.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in South Africa, a site reliability engineer earns about R 634 400 while a systems administrator earns about R 375 500 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in South Africa, a site reliability engineer earns about R 1 491 200 while a systems administrator earns about R 743 300 per year.
Are site reliability engineer and systems administrator 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.