Pay by Role
United Kingdom · Salary comparison

Site Reliability Engineer vs Systems Administrator salary

In United Kingdom, a site reliability engineer earns about 85% more than a systems administrator $219,548 vs $118,877 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
Systems Administrator
$118,877/yr
Monthly
$9,906
Hourly
$58
Range
$82,464$163,322
10-yr outlook
+4%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileSite Reliability EngineerSystems Administrator
Entry (10th)$136,548$82,464
25th$178,048$100,671
Median$219,548$118,877
75th$270,285$141,100
Senior (90th)$321,022$163,322

National United Kingdom figures in GBP. 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 United Kingdom?
A site reliability engineer earns more, at about £164,000 per year vs £88,800 for a systems administrator — roughly 85% (£75,200) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in United Kingdom?
A site reliability engineer typically earns £102,000–£239,800, while a systems administrator earns £61,600–£122,000 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 systems administrator about £7,400.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in United Kingdom, a site reliability engineer earns about £102,000 while a systems administrator earns about £61,600 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 systems administrator earns about £122,000 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.