A complete, sourced guide to salaries, cost of living, and working life in Saudi Arabia — built for job seekers, professionals, students, expats, employers, and researchers comparing pay across 500+ professions and 15 industries.
Figures above are illustrative national averages — see Methodology for how they're calculated.
Saudi Arabia's economy is anchored by oil and gas but is diversifying rapidly under the Vision 2030 plan, with growing investment in technology, tourism, entertainment, and construction. Salaries are generally structured as an all-in package (base salary plus housing and transport allowances), and — distinctively — personal income is not subject to income tax.
A large share of the private-sector workforce is made up of expatriates, often on fixed-term contracts with employer-sponsored housing or a housing allowance built into the offer.
All figures on this page are shown in USD for cross-country comparison and represent national average estimates. Actual pay depends heavily on nationality, industry, and whether the role includes allowances.
| Profession | Industry | Avg. Monthly | Avg. Annual | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Technology | $6,050 | $72,600 | $52,300 – $112,500 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $6,300 | $75,600 | $54,400 – $117,200 |
| Product Manager | Technology | $6,800 | $81,600 | $58,800 – $126,500 |
| Web Developer | Technology | $4,600 | $55,200 | $39,700 – $85,600 |
| IT Support Specialist | Technology | $3,000 | $36,000 | $25,900 – $55,800 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $4,250 | $51,000 | $36,700 – $79,000 |
| Physician (General) | Healthcare | $12,000 | $144,000 | $103,700 – $223,200 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $9,550 | $114,600 | $82,500 – $177,600 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $7,100 | $85,200 | $61,300 – $132,100 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $5,200 | $62,400 | $44,900 – $96,700 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $4,900 | $58,800 | $42,300 – $91,100 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $5,050 | $60,600 | $43,600 – $93,900 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $5,450 | $65,400 | $47,100 – $101,400 |
| Electrician | Construction | $3,550 | $42,600 | $30,700 – $66,000 |
| Plumber | Construction | $3,400 | $40,800 | $29,400 – $63,200 |
| Construction Worker | Construction | $2,500 | $30,000 | $21,600 – $46,500 |
| Architect | Construction | $4,700 | $56,400 | $40,600 – $87,400 |
| Teacher (K-12) | Education | $3,150 | $37,800 | $27,200 – $58,600 |
| University Professor | Education | $4,900 | $58,800 | $42,300 – $91,100 |
| School Administrator | Education | $4,450 | $53,400 | $38,400 – $82,800 |
| Retail Sales Associate | Retail | $1,850 | $22,200 | $16,000 – $34,400 |
| Retail Store Manager | Retail | $3,000 | $36,000 | $25,900 – $55,800 |
| Chef | Hospitality | $2,900 | $34,800 | $25,100 – $53,900 |
| Waiter / Waitress | Hospitality | $1,700 | $20,400 | $14,700 – $31,600 |
| Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $3,550 | $42,600 | $30,700 – $66,000 |
| Factory Worker | Manufacturing | $2,250 | $27,000 | $19,400 – $41,800 |
| Production Manager | Manufacturing | $4,650 | $55,800 | $40,200 – $86,500 |
| Government Administrator | Government | $3,600 | $43,200 | $31,100 – $67,000 |
| Police Officer | Government | $3,450 | $41,400 | $29,800 – $64,200 |
| Truck Driver | Transportation | $2,800 | $33,600 | $24,200 – $52,100 |
| Logistics Manager | Transportation | $4,500 | $54,000 | $38,900 – $83,700 |
| Marketing Manager | Marketing | $5,450 | $65,400 | $47,100 – $101,400 |
| Digital Marketing Specialist | Marketing | $3,550 | $42,600 | $30,700 – $66,000 |
| Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $8,450 | $101,400 | $73,000 – $157,200 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $3,150 | $37,800 | $27,200 – $58,600 |
| Sales Representative | Sales | $3,300 | $39,600 | $28,500 – $61,400 |
| Account Executive | Sales | $4,500 | $54,000 | $38,900 – $83,700 |
| Customer Service Representative | Customer Service | $2,150 | $25,800 | $18,600 – $40,000 |
| Call Center Manager | Customer Service | $3,750 | $45,000 | $32,400 – $69,800 |
| Accountant | Finance | $4,050 | $48,600 | $35,000 – $75,300 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $4,800 | $57,600 | $41,500 – $89,300 |
| Investment Banker | Finance | $9,300 | $111,600 | $80,400 – $173,000 |
| HR Manager | Various | $5,300 | $63,600 | $45,800 – $98,600 |
| Graphic Designer | Various | $3,100 | $37,200 | $26,800 – $57,700 |
Figures are illustrative national average estimates rounded for readability, not exact statistical values. See Methodology for how these are calculated.
With no personal income tax and, for many expatriates, an employer-provided housing allowance, Saudi Arabia offers strong savings potential relative to gross salary compared to countries with both income tax and high living costs — a major driver of its appeal for internationally mobile professionals.
National average asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment is roughly $500–$750/month, with Riyadh and Jeddah's premium compounds and central districts running higher. Many expatriate employment packages include a dedicated housing allowance on top of base salary.
Property purchase by foreign nationals is more restricted than renting and less common among the expatriate workforce, who more typically rent for the duration of a fixed-term contract. Saudi nationals have access to government-backed home financing programs.
Riyadh and Jeddah offer the widest range of housing options; smaller cities and the Eastern Province (e.g. Dammam, Khobar) tend to offer lower housing costs relative to Riyadh's premium districts.
Saudi nationals are covered under the public healthcare system. Private-sector employers are legally required to provide private health insurance for expatriate employees (and often their dependents) as part of the employment package.
Public healthcare serves citizens through government facilities; the large expatriate workforce relies primarily on employer-provided private health insurance, with coverage levels varying by employer and role seniority.
For expatriates, healthcare costs are typically largely covered by employer-provided insurance, meaning direct out-of-pocket costs are often limited to co-payments or services outside the policy's coverage.
Public education is free for Saudi nationals. Expatriate families typically enrol children in private international schools, which follow a range of curricula (British, American, IB) at a meaningful annual cost, often partially or fully covered by employer education allowances for senior roles.
Public university tuition is free for Saudi nationals, alongside a range of government scholarship programs for study abroad. International student options within Saudi Arabia exist but are less common than in some other regional education hubs.
Riyadh has been rapidly expanding its metro and public bus network in recent years; Jeddah and other cities remain more car-dependent. Ride-hailing apps are widely used across major cities.
Fuel is inexpensive by global standards, and private car ownership is the norm for most residents, including the majority of the expatriate workforce, given historically limited public transit outside Riyadh.
The statutory maximum private-sector working week is 48 hours (with a shorter maximum during Ramadan for Muslim employees). Saudi labour law guarantees a statutory minimum of 21 days of paid annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years of service with the same employer.
Remote work is less standard than in some Western markets but has grown in technology and professional services roles. Typical expatriate packages include housing allowance, annual flight allowance to the home country, and employer-paid health insurance.
Foreign nationals generally require an employer-sponsored work visa (linked to the kafala-derived sponsorship system, which has been significantly reformed in recent years) to work in Saudi Arabia, along with a residence permit (Iqama) issued after arrival.
This is general information, not legal advice. For current, authoritative requirements, consult the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal or the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, or a licensed relocation/immigration adviser.
Based on the figures shown on this page, the average salary in Saudi Arabia is approximately $3,800 per month, or around $45,600 per year, though this varies significantly by nationality, industry, and whether allowances are included.
Yes. Saudi Arabia does not levy personal income tax on salaries for citizens or expatriate employees, which is one of the most significant differences from most other countries on this site.
This depends heavily on whether housing and other allowances are included in the package. A base salary that looks modest can represent a strong overall package once a housing allowance and other benefits are factored in.
There is no general statutory minimum wage for private-sector expatriate workers. A minimum wage of around SR 4,000/month applies specifically to Saudi nationals in the private sector under the Saudization (Nitaqat) program.
Riyadh generally offers the widest range of high-paying roles, particularly in government, finance, and major national development projects, though Jeddah and the Eastern Province also offer strong opportunities in commerce and energy respectively.
Public healthcare is free for Saudi nationals. Private-sector employers are legally required to provide private health insurance for their expatriate employees as part of the employment package.
Saudi labour law guarantees a statutory minimum of 21 days of paid annual leave, rising to 30 days after five years of continuous service with the same employer.
Technology roles on this page range from around $36,000/year for entry-level IT support roles to over $82,000/year for experienced product managers, with strong demand as the country's tech sector expands.
Yes — foreign nationals generally require an employer-sponsored work visa and a residence permit (Iqama). See our Visa & Employment section for where to find official guidance.
Many do, either as employer-provided accommodation or a housing allowance added to base salary — this is one of the most important factors to clarify when evaluating a job offer in Saudi Arabia.
For most expatriates, gross and take-home pay are very close, since there's no personal income tax — the main deduction is a small GOSI contribution, primarily for occupational hazard coverage.
No — the figures on this page represent base salary estimates only. Many roles, especially for expatriates, include additional allowances (housing, transport, flights) that meaningfully increase total compensation.
Data on this page is reviewed and updated manually on a regular cycle rather than pulled from a live feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page.
Figures are informed by categories of public sources such as government labour statistics, public statistical agencies, and independent compensation surveys. See our Data Sources section below.
Yes — use the Compare tool on the Global Salary Atlas homepage to compare salary and cost of living between Saudi Arabia and any other country in our database.
Figures on this page are informed by categories of public sources, including government labour statistics, national tax authority publications, public statistical agencies, and — where relevant for broader economic context — international organizations. These are named here as examples of the type of source we draw on, not as a claim of live or automated data access.
This page is manually reviewed and updated rather than fed by a real-time data feed. See the "Last Updated" note near the top of this page, and our full Data Sources and Methodology pages for more detail on how figures across Global Salary Atlas are sourced and verified.
Spotted a figure that looks outdated? Let us know — corrections are reviewed and applied on our regular update cycle.