Technology Brookings, SD Pop. 24,194

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Brookings, South Dakota

The median site reliability engineer salary in Brookings, SD is $117,450 per year, which is 19% below the national median and 2.4% below the South Dakota state average.

City Median
$117,450
vs State Avg
$-2,900
vs National
$-27,550
Cost of Living
86%

Site Reliability Engineer Pay in Brookings: What to Expect (2026)

Brookings offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $117,450, which is $2,900 below the South Dakota state average of $120,350. Compared to the national median of $145,000, Brookings pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Brookings's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 86% of the national average. This means the $117,450 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $136,570 in an average-cost city. This makes Brookings an attractive option for site reliability engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for site reliability engineers in Brookings spans from $71,280 at the 10th percentile to $178,200 at the 90th percentile — a $106,920 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $74,520, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $170,100. Brookings is a smaller market (pop. 24,194), which may mean fewer openings but also less competition for available positions.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Brookings by Experience

In Brookings, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $74,520, while experienced professionals earn up to $170,100 per year. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$74,520
$-17,480 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$119,880
$-28,120 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$170,100
$-39,900 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Brookings, SD

Percentile Brookings
10th Percentile $71,280
25th Percentile $93,150
Median (50th) $117,450
75th Percentile $149,850
90th Percentile $178,200

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Other South Dakota Cities

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Brookings

Education

Most site reliability engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Brookings and the surrounding South Dakota 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 Brookings may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Site Reliability Engineer Jobs in Brookings

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Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Brookings

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Brookings, SD? ▼
The median site reliability engineer salary in Brookings, South Dakota is $117,450 per year, which is 19% below the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $71,280 (10th percentile) to $178,200 (90th percentile).
How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Brookings? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $117,450, a site reliability engineer in Brookings earns approximately $56 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Brookings compare to the South Dakota state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼
Brookings's median site reliability engineer salary of $117,450 is 2.4% below the South Dakota state average of $120,350. The local cost of living index is 86% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Brookings, SD? ▼
Brookings has a cost of living index of 86% compared to the national average. This means a site reliability engineer salary of $117,450 in Brookings 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 Brookings? ▼
Most site reliability engineer positions in Brookings 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.