Pay by Role
United Kingdom · Salary comparison

Site Reliability Engineer vs Software Engineer salary

In United Kingdom, a site reliability engineer earns about 74% more than a software engineer — $219,548 vs $126,374 per year.

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

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Technology
Site Reliability Engineer
$219,548/yr
Monthly
$18,340
Hourly
$106
Range
$136,548–$321,022
10-yr outlook
+22%
Technology
Software Engineer
$126,374/yr
Monthly
$10,576
Hourly
$60
Range
$80,858–$181,930
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileSite Reliability EngineerSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$136,548$80,858
25th$178,048$103,616
Median$219,548$126,374
75th$270,285$154,219
Senior (90th)$321,022$181,930

National United Kingdom figures in GBP. 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 United Kingdom?
A site reliability engineer earns more, at about £164,000 per year vs £94,400 for a software engineer — roughly 74% (£69,600) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in United Kingdom?
A site reliability engineer typically earns £102,000–£239,800, while a software engineer earns £60,400–£135,900 per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in United Kingdom?
On a monthly basis before tax, a site reliability engineer averages about £13,700 and a software engineer about £7,900.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in United Kingdom, a site reliability engineer earns about £102,000 while a software engineer earns about £60,400 per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in United Kingdom, a site reliability engineer earns about £239,800 while a software engineer earns about £135,900 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.