Salary for Senior-level / Expert Site Reliability Engineer in United States during 2024

💰 The median Salary for Senior-level / Expert Site Reliability Engineer in United States during 2024 is USD 184,650

✏️ This salary info is based on 140 individual salaries reported during 2024

Submit your salary Download the data

Salary details

The average senior-level / expert Site Reliability Engineer salary lies between USD 147,500 and USD 227,500 in the United States. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Job title
Site Reliability Engineer
Experience
Senior-level / Expert
Region
United States
Salary year
2024
Sample size
140
Top 10%
$ 310,000
Top 25%
$ 227,500
Median
$ 184,650
Bottom 25%
$ 147,500
Bottom 10%
$ 120,000

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated:

Top 20 Job Tags for Senior-level / Expert Site Reliability Engineer roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with senior-level / expert Site Reliability Engineer job listings are Python, Engineering and Kubernetes. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Python | 222 jobs Engineering | 211 jobs Kubernetes | 175 jobs Terraform | 143 jobs AWS | 139 jobs Security | 135 jobs Architecture | 116 jobs Linux | 114 jobs DevOps | 114 jobs Machine Learning | 109 jobs CI/CD | 108 jobs Azure | 107 jobs Docker | 107 jobs Computer Science | 100 jobs GCP | 96 jobs Ansible | 96 jobs Java | 87 jobs Pipelines | 73 jobs Agile | 71 jobs Testing | 68 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Senior-level / Expert Site Reliability Engineer roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with senior-level / expert Site Reliability Engineer job listings are Career development, Health care and Equity / stock options. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 174 jobs Health care | 112 jobs Equity / stock options | 110 jobs Salary bonus | 72 jobs Medical leave | 71 jobs Flex vacation | 55 jobs Insurance | 55 jobs Competitive pay | 54 jobs Startup environment | 48 jobs Parental leave | 46 jobs Flex hours | 40 jobs Team events | 37 jobs Wellness | 23 jobs 401(k) matching | 22 jobs Fitness / gym | 18 jobs Transparency | 17 jobs Flexible spending account | 15 jobs Unlimited paid time off | 13 jobs Gear | 9 jobs Home office stipend | 9 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for a Senior-level or Expert Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a combination of base salary, bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity. The base salary is often the largest component, accounting for approximately 70-80% of the total compensation package. Bonuses, which can be performance-based or company-wide, usually make up about 10-20%. Additional remuneration, such as stock options or equity, can vary significantly depending on the company size and industry. For instance, tech giants and startups in Silicon Valley might offer substantial equity packages, whereas companies in other regions or industries might provide smaller equity components or other benefits like profit-sharing.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary further from this position, consider the following strategies:

  • Specialization: Develop expertise in niche areas within AI/ML or SRE, such as machine learning infrastructure, cloud-native technologies, or AI ethics, which are in high demand.
  • Leadership Roles: Transition into leadership or managerial roles, such as an SRE Manager or Director of Site Reliability, which typically offer higher compensation.
  • Continuous Learning: Stay updated with the latest technologies and methodologies in AI/ML and SRE. Pursuing advanced certifications or a master's degree in a related field can also enhance your qualifications.
  • Networking: Engage with professional networks and communities to learn about high-paying opportunities and trends in the industry.
  • Negotiation: Improve your negotiation skills to better advocate for higher compensation during job offers or performance reviews.

Educational Requirements

Most Senior-level SRE positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field. However, a master's degree or even a Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially in roles that require deep technical expertise or research capabilities. Advanced degrees can also provide a competitive edge in the job market and may lead to higher salary offers.

Helpful Certifications

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credentials and demonstrate your expertise. Some valuable certifications include:

  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA): Demonstrates proficiency in managing Kubernetes clusters, a critical skill for SREs.
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect: Validates your ability to design and deploy scalable systems on AWS, a common platform in AI/ML.
  • Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer: Focuses on cloud-based DevOps practices, which are integral to SRE roles.
  • Certified Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) by the DevOps Institute: Specifically tailored for SREs, covering essential practices and principles.

Required Experience

Typically, a Senior-level SRE in AI/ML/Data Science is expected to have 5-10 years of experience in related fields. This experience should include a strong background in software engineering, systems administration, and cloud infrastructure. Experience with AI/ML systems, data pipelines, and large-scale distributed systems is highly desirable. Additionally, familiarity with DevOps practices and tools is often required.

Related salaries

Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 173,300 (global) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 181,709 (global) - Senior-level / Expert Details
Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 143,325 (global) - Entry-level / Junior Details
Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 177,688 (global) Details
Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 180,000 (United States) Details
Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 143,325 (United States) - Entry-level / Junior Details
Site Reliability Engineer @ $ 177,244 (United States) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details

Want to contribute?

📝 Submit your salary info

Enter your own salary data for the current or past work year. It's quite simple and doesn't take more than a minute to fill out.

Go to salary survey

📢 Share our salary survey

Share our "in-less-than-a-minute survey" with others working in the field of AI, ML, Data Science. The more data we have the better for everyone.

💾 Download the data

All collected information will be updated into a public dataset regularly and provided as a download free for anyone to use.

Go to download page

🚀 Search for jobs & talent

If you're thinking about a career change or want to hire fresh talent quickly check out the jobs page.

Go to frontpage

About this project

We collect salary information anonymously from professionals and employers all over the world and make it publicly available for anyone to use, share and play around with.

Our goal is to have open salary data for everyone. So newbies, experienced pros, hiring managers, recruiters and also startup founders or people wanting to switch careers can make better decisions.