Technology Arlington, VA Pop. 238,643

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Arlington, Virginia

The median site reliability engineer salary in Arlington, VA is $203,000 per year, which is 40.0% above the national median and 25.0% above the Virginia state average.

City Median
$203,000
vs State Avg
+$40,600
vs National
+$58,000
Cost of Living
132%

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

Arlington offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $203,000, which is $40,600 above the Virginia state average of $162,400. Compared to the national median of $145,000, Arlington pays above average for this role.

However, Arlington's cost of living index is 132%, significantly above the national average. After adjusting for local costs, the $203,000 salary has an effective purchasing power of approximately $153,788. Housing, transportation, and food costs in Arlington should be factored into any relocation or job-change decision.

The salary range for site reliability engineers in Arlington spans from $123,200 at the 10th percentile to $308,000 at the 90th percentile — a $184,800 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $128,800, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $294,000. With a population of 238,643, Arlington is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Arlington by Experience

In Arlington, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $128,800, while experienced professionals earn up to $294,000 per year. The local cost of living index is 132% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$128,800
+$36,800 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$207,200
+$59,200 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$294,000
+$84,000 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Arlington, VA

Percentile Arlington
10th Percentile $123,200
25th Percentile $161,000
Median (50th) $203,000
75th Percentile $259,000
90th Percentile $308,000

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Other Virginia Cities

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Arlington

Education

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

Find Site Reliability Engineer Jobs in Arlington

Browse open site reliability engineer positions in Arlington, VA:

Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Arlington

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Arlington, VA? ▼
The median site reliability engineer salary in Arlington, Virginia is $203,000 per year, which is 40.0% above the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $123,200 (10th percentile) to $308,000 (90th percentile).
How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Arlington? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $203,000, a site reliability engineer in Arlington earns approximately $98 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Arlington compare to the Virginia state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼
Arlington's median site reliability engineer salary of $203,000 is 25.0% above the Virginia state average of $162,400. The local cost of living index is 132% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Arlington, VA? ▼
Arlington has a cost of living index of 132% compared to the national average. This means a site reliability engineer salary of $203,000 in Arlington has less purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a site reliability engineer in Arlington? ▼
Most site reliability engineer positions in Arlington 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.