Best way to earn more as a Site Reliability Engineer
As a Site Reliability Engineer, your time is valuable. Here's how the three main income paths compare — so you can pick the one with the best return on your hours.
Upskill
Security auditing, compliance, threat modelling. One of the fastest-growing premium skill areas. The highest-ROI skill for Site Reliability Engineers is typically Cybersecurity, adding €5,500–€12,100/year (10–22%) after 4–10 months.
Side hustle
Architecture reviews, code audits, tech due diligence for startups and VCs. Premium rates for senior experience. Technical Consulting pays €60–€150/hour. At 10h/week that's €2,400–€6,000/month of immediate income.
Switch jobs
A strategic job move could mean a 15–40% salary increase — often the single biggest income jump a Site Reliability Engineer can make.
The verdict
For most Site Reliability Engineers, the best long-term path is skill investment. But if you need income now, side hustles deliver immediately. Use the tool to see which wins for your specific salary and situation.