Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem, NC: $130,500 (2026)

Site Reliability Engineer Pay in Winston-Salem: What to Expect (2026)

Winston-Salem offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $130,500, which is $8,700 below the North Carolina state average of $139,200. Compared to the national median of $145,000, Winston-Salem pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Winston-Salem's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $130,500 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $151,744 in an average-cost city. This makes Winston-Salem an attractive option for site reliability engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for site reliability engineers in Winston-Salem spans from $79,200 at the 10th percentile to $198,000 at the 90th percentile — a $118,800 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $82,800, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $189,000. With a population of 249,545, Winston-Salem is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem by Experience

In Winston-Salem, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $82,800, while experienced professionals earn up to $189,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)

$82,800

$-9,200 vs national

Mid Level (3-7 yrs)

$133,200

$-14,800 vs national

Senior Level (8+ yrs)

$189,000

$-21,000 vs national

Percentile	Winston-Salem	NC State	National
10th Percentile	$79,200	$84,480	$88,000
25th Percentile	$103,500	$110,400	$115,000
Median (50th)	$130,500	$139,200	$145,000
75th Percentile	$166,500	$177,600	$185,000
90th Percentile	$198,000	$211,200	$220,000

Percentile

Winston-Salem

10th Percentile

$79,200

25th Percentile

$103,500

Median (50th)

$130,500

75th Percentile

$166,500

90th Percentile

$198,000

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Winston-Salem

Education

Most site reliability engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Winston-Salem and the surrounding North Carolina area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

LinuxKubernetesTerraformPythonMonitoring ToolsIncident Response

Job Outlook

Nationally, site reliability engineer employment is projected to grow 22% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Winston-Salem may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Winston-Salem, NC? ▼

The median site reliability engineer salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is $130,500 per year, which is 10% below the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $79,200 (10th percentile) to $198,000 (90th percentile).

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Winston-Salem? ▼

Based on the median annual salary of $130,500, a site reliability engineer in Winston-Salem earns approximately $63 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.

How does Winston-Salem compare to the North Carolina state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼

Winston-Salem's median site reliability engineer salary of $130,500 is 6.3% below the North Carolina state average of $139,200. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

What is the cost of living in Winston-Salem, NC? ▼

Winston-Salem has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a site reliability engineer salary of $130,500 in Winston-Salem has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.

What qualifications do I need to become a site reliability engineer in Winston-Salem? ▼

Most site reliability engineer positions in Winston-Salem require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Linux, Kubernetes, Terraform, Python. The job market is projected to grow 22% nationally over the next decade.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina