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2026 Salary Data — Memphis, TN
Updated April 28, 2026

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Memphis: $136K Median

Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis, TN earn between $89K and $225K per year.

That's -12% below the US national median of $155,000 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis, TN is $136,400 per year — -12% below the US national median of $155,000. Salaries range from $88,660 (entry, 25th percentile) to $225,060 (90th percentile). Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis earned approximately $22,000 in 2025, representing 520.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$136,400
+520.0% YoY · $11,367/mo
Entry
$106,392
0–2 years
Experienced
$180,048
5+ years
Top 10%
$225,060
Senior/lead
Site Reliability Engineer Salary — Memphis vs Nearby
Memphis
$136K
Nashville
$155K
-12% vs Memphis
El Paso
$132K
+4% vs Memphis
Tulsa
$136K
+0% vs Memphis

Free ATS scan · Memphis employers · Results in 60 seconds

About Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis

Site reliability engineers (SREs) apply software engineering principles to operations problems. They build resilient infrastructure, manage SLOs, and automate toil to keep production systems reliable at scale.

Core Responsibilities

  • Define and track SLOs/SLIs/error budgets
  • Build observability and alerting systems
  • Lead incident response and postmortems
  • Automate infrastructure with Terraform
  • Manage Kubernetes and cloud platforms

Education & Certifications

Typical path: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience in systems engineering)

In-demand certifications

Google SRE CertificationAWS DevOps ProfessionalKubernetes (CKA/CKS)Terraform Associate

Memphis Job Market

Logistics capital home to FedEx headquarters with major healthcare presence.

Population
633K
Cost of Living
85
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$175K

Top Industries in Memphis

Logistics (FedEx)HealthcareManufacturingMusic/Tourism

Top Employers Hiring Site Reliability Engineers

Major employers active in Memphis or hiring remotely from this metro.

Google
Netflix
Stripe
Datadog
Uber
Airbnb
Cloudflare
LinkedIn

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Site Reliability Engineer listings.

KubernetesTerraformobservability (Datadog, Honeycomb)eBPFchaos engineeringGoGitOps

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

KubernetesTerraformobservabilityPrometheusGrafanaSLO/SLIincident responseAWSGoLinux
Career Outlook
+22% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

SRE demand projected to grow 22% through 2034. Critical role at any company running production systems at scale.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary Breakdown — Memphis

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$88,660$136,400$225,060
Monthly$7,388$11,367$18,755
Weekly$1,705$2,623$4,328
Hourly$43$66$108

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($155,000) adjusted for Memphis's cost-of-living multiplier (0.88×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Site Reliability Engineer Take-Home Pay in Memphis

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$103,886.4
Per month$8,657
Biweekly paycheck$3,996
Effective tax rate23.8%

Tax Breakdown on $136,400

Gross salary$136,400
Federal income tax−$22,079
Tennessee state tax−$0
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$10,434.6
Take-home (net)$103,886.4

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary by Experience — Memphis

Career-stage progression for Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$97,881
2–3 yr$106,392
4–6 yr$143,220
7–10 yr$180,048
11–15 yr$212,457
15+ yr$202,554

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Memphis's 0.88× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+520.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$22,000
2026 median:$136,400
Change:+$114,400

Technology sector growth driven by demand for Kubernetes and Terraform.

Is This A Good Salary?

Excellent

Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$160,471
Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.

How to Negotiate Your Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Memphis

Walk-away anchor: $118,609 (offers below this are below market for Memphis).

Leverage Points

  • Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
  • Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
  • Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
  • Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years

What To Say

"Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant?"

Anchor on $180K–$225K for experienced roles, citing Memphis market data and your specific Kubernetes/Terraform expertise.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary FAQ — Memphis

What is the average Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis, TN?
The average Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis is $136,400 per year as of April 2026 — $11,367/month, $2,623/week, or about $66/hour. Salaries range from $88,660 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $225,060 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Memphis's cost-of-living multiplier (0.88×).
Is $136,400 a good Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis?
Excellent. Adjusted for local cost of living, this salary delivers top-tier real purchasing power - well above what the same nominal pay would buy in most US metros. Strong savings, home-buying, and discretionary spending are all realistic. Memphis's cost-of-living index is 85 (vs 100 nationally), giving $136,400 a real purchasing power of approximately $160,471 in national terms. Comfortable lifestyle with strong savings potential - the median paycheck stretches well above the national average here.
Can you live on $136,400 in Memphis?
Median local pay typically supports a single-earner family of four with a starter home, modest college savings, and standard healthcare costs covered. Stay under 25% of pre-tax income on rent. In this market, that is realistic on most professional salaries and leaves room for retirement contributions. For Memphis specifically (median home price $175,000), a $136,400 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $136,400 enough for a single person in Memphis?
A single adult in Memphis typically needs ~$38,250 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $136,400 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $136,400 enough for a couple in Memphis?
A couple (one earner) in Memphis typically needs ~$61,200 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $136,400 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — enabling moderate housing, savings, and discretionary spending. Two earners at $136,400 each ($272,800 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $136,400 enough for a family of 4 in Memphis?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Memphis typically needs ~$93,500 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $136,400 salary as the sole household income is sufficient — a family of 4 can afford this metro on a single Site Reliability Engineer income with prudent budgeting. Childcare costs in Memphis typically run $13K-$24K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Site Reliability Engineer in Memphis?
On a $136,400 Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis, TN, you take home approximately $103,886.4 per year ($8,657/month, $3,996 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $22,079, state $0, FICA $10,434.6. Effective tax rate: 23.8%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis earn compared to the US average?
Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis earn approximately 12% less than the US national median for this role ($155,000 nationally vs $136,400 in Memphis). However, Memphis's cost-of-living index of 85 means real purchasing power is approximately $160,471 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Site Reliability Engineer earn in Memphis?
Entry-level Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis typically start at around $106,392 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Site Reliability Engineers earn $180,048 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $225,060+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Site Reliability Engineer salaries in Memphis increase in 2026?
Yes — Site Reliability Engineer salaries in Memphis grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $22,000 in 2025 to $136,400 in 2026 (+$114,400). This reflects the broader Technology sector's compensation trend, driven by Kubernetes and Terraform demand.
What's the job outlook for Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis?
SRE demand projected to grow 22% through 2034. Critical role at any company running production systems at scale. Memphis's top industries include Logistics (FedEx), Healthcare, Manufacturing, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Site Reliability Engineers in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Site Reliability Engineers are: Kubernetes, Terraform, observability (Datadog, Honeycomb), eBPF, chaos engineering, Go, GitOps. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Memphis.
Who are the top employers hiring Site Reliability Engineers in Memphis?
Top employers hiring Site Reliability Engineers in or near Memphis include: Google, Netflix, Stripe, Datadog, Uber, Airbnb. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Key leverage points for Technology negotiations: Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies; Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved; Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance.
How can I increase my Site Reliability Engineer salary in Memphis?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Kubernetes, Terraform, observability (Datadog, Honeycomb)) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., Google SRE Certification or AWS DevOps Professional). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Site Reliability Engineer in Memphis?
Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience in systems engineering) is the typical path. However, Memphis's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Technology roles.

Methodology & Sources

Site Reliability Engineer salary figures for Memphis are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($155,000) by Memphis's cost-of-living multiplier of 0.88× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (520.0%) reflects the Technology sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Memphis

DevOps Engineer →Cloud Engineer →Software Engineer →Data Scientist →Product Manager →Web Developer →

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Other Cities

Jacksonville, FL$143KEl Paso, TX$132KNashville, TN$155KOklahoma City, OK$136KLouisville, KY$141KAlbuquerque, NM$140KTucson, AZ$140KTulsa, OK$136K

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