Backend Developer
$110,000
avg. annual salary
Backend Developer
pays more on average
Site Reliability Engineer
$108,431
avg. annual salary
When considering a career in technology, it's essential to understand the financial landscape of various roles. Two popular positions are the Backend Developer and the Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). While both roles involve technical expertise and play crucial parts in software development and operations, their focus areas differ significantly. Backend Developers primarily concentrate on building and maintaining server-side applications, whereas Site Reliability Engineers ensure the reliability and performance of services in production. This article explores the salary differences between these two roles, the benefits each position offers, and what career paths might look like. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of which role aligns better with your professional goals and financial aspirations.
Salary by Experience Level
starting salary
starting salary
avg. difference (1%)
Salary Overview for Backend Developers
As of 2025, the average salary for a Backend Developer is approximately $113,000 annually. Entry-level positions start around $80,000, while mid-level developers can earn between $100,000 and $130,000.
Senior developers often command salaries upwards of $150,000. Factors influencing these salaries include the developer's location, expertise in specific technologies, and experience level.
Tech hubs such as San Francisco and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and competitive job markets.
Salary Overview for Site Reliability Engineers
In 2025, Site Reliability Engineers earn an average salary of about $120,000 per year. Entry-level SREs usually start at around $90,000, with mid-level professionals earning between $110,000 and $140,000.
Senior SREs can exceed $160,000, depending on their experience and the complexities involved in their roles. Site Reliability Engineers often work in environments where uptime is critical, leading to a demand for their skill set and consequently higher salaries in key markets.
Benefits Comparison
Both Backend Developers and Site Reliability Engineers enjoy similar benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and flexible work arrangements. However, SREs may receive additional bonuses or stock options due to their crucial role in maintaining service reliability.
Furthermore, companies might offer professional development opportunities such as training and certifications, especially for SREs, reflecting the growing importance of their role in tech organizations.
Career Path Insights
The career paths for Backend Developers and Site Reliability Engineers can diverge significantly. Backend Developers may transition into roles like Full Stack Developer or Software Architect, focusing more on application architecture and design.
On the other hand, Site Reliability Engineers can move into higher-level positions such as DevOps Manager or IT Operations Director, emphasizing service reliability and team leadership. Each path presents unique opportunities for growth and specialization.
Conclusion
While both Backend Developers and Site Reliability Engineers are integral to tech organizations, their salary structures, benefits, and career trajectories can differ. It's crucial to consider your career goals, interests, and lifestyle preferences when choosing between these roles.
Understanding the nuances of each position will help you align your professional journey with your aspirations.
Detailed Comparison: Backend Developer vs Site Reliability Engineer (2025)
Overview
- •In 2025, typical U.S. base salary ranges: Backend Developer $95,000–$170,000; Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) $115,000–$200,000. On average, SREs earn about 10–30% more in base pay. Total compensation (base + bonus + equity) widens the gap: Backend $110k–$230k, SRE $140k–$300k.
Where the differences come from
- •Responsibilities: SREs take on production reliability, on-call rotations, and capacity planning. That operational risk often adds a 5–15% pay premium. Backend developers focused on API design, database tuning, or large-scale message processing can match SRE pay at senior levels.
- •Seniority and titles: Senior Backend Developer: $140k–$210k. Staff/Principal SRE: $190k–$320k.
- •Industry and location: Big Tech and finance typically pay 10–40% above national averages. San Francisco and New York add ~20–40%; Midwest and smaller markets can be 10–25% lower.
- •Skills that move the needle: distributed systems, observability (Prometheus, Grafana), chaos testing, and heavy SQL/Teradata tuning. Demonstrated incident management and postmortem ownership increase SRE value.
Actionable takeaways
- •If you prefer operational ownership and on-call work, expect +10–30% compensation.
- •If you want parity: specialize in distributed backend systems or database performance and target senior roles or high-paying industries.