How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer
Ensure the reliability, availability, and performance of large-scale production systems through software engineering and infrastructure automation. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $116,580 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$116,580/yr
Typical range
$55,940 to $188,470
Job growth
7%
Openings / yr
31,300
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Linux Systems
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Automation
- Monitoring and Observability
- Incident Management
Helpful certifications
- AWS Solutions Architect
- Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer
- CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
90/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
55/100
Satisfaction
77/100
Related careers
- Product Manager$166,790 median
- DevOps Engineer$135,980 median
- Software Developer$135,980 median
- Cybersecurity Analyst$129,180 median
- Data Scientist$120,230 median
- IT Project Manager$116,580 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make?
The median pay for a Site Reliability Engineer is $116,580 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The typical range runs from $55,940 to $188,470, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What degree do you need to become a Site Reliability Engineer?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, and Computer Engineering.
Is Site Reliability Engineer a growing field?
The BLS projects much faster than average demand for this role, about 7% over the decade, with roughly 31,300 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Site Reliability Engineer use most?
Common skills for this role are Linux Systems, Cloud Infrastructure, Automation, Monitoring and Observability, and Incident Management.
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Take the major quizSalary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034). National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.