A person working in Engineering in Saudi Arabia typically earns around 14,100 SAR per month. Salaries range from 4,470 SAR (lowest average) to 29,800 SAR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Engineering careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Acoustics Engineer | 13,700 SAR |
Assembly Engineering Technician | 10,600 SAR |
Assistant Chief Engineer | 15,200 SAR |
Associate Engineer | 12,500 SAR |
Autocad Operator | 8,600 SAR |
Automation Engineer | 15,100 SAR |
Avionic System Support Engineer | 12,800 SAR |
Biochemical Engineer | 12,800 SAR |
BMS Engineer | 13,800 SAR |
Bridge and Lock Tender | 7,780 SAR |
Broadcast Engineer | 13,900 SAR |
CAD Design Engineer | 14,000 SAR |
CAD Designer | 8,400 SAR |
CAE Engineer | 14,100 SAR |
Ceramics Engineer | 12,300 SAR |
Civil Engineer | 15,200 SAR |
Commissioning Engineer | 13,900 SAR |
Communications Engineer | 15,200 SAR |
Condition Monitoring Engineer | 11,700 SAR |
Contract Associate Engineer | 13,000 SAR |
Control Systems Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Controls Engineer | 14,500 SAR |
Controls Software Engineer | 12,000 SAR |
Corrosion Engineer | 12,500 SAR |
Design Engineer | 15,000 SAR |
Drafter | 9,010 SAR |
Drafting Manager | 16,400 SAR |
Drilling Engineer | 14,100 SAR |
Electrical Draughtsman | 7,450 SAR |
Electrical Engineer | 15,800 SAR |
Electrical Engineering Manager | 20,500 SAR |
Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | 14,600 SAR |
Electromechanical Equipment Assembler | 7,040 SAR |
Energy Engineer | 14,300 SAR |
Engine Assembler | 6,540 SAR |
Engineer | 14,900 SAR |
Engineering Account Manager | 16,600 SAR |
Engineering Chief Designer | 15,600 SAR |
Engineering Consultant | 19,400 SAR |
Engineering Key Account Manager | 19,800 SAR |
Engineering Lab Technician | 13,800 SAR |
Engineering Planning Manager | 19,700 SAR |
Engineering Production Manager | 25,200 SAR |
Engineering Project Analyst | 16,600 SAR |
Engineering Project Coordinator | 15,800 SAR |
Engineering Project Director | 29,100 SAR |
Engineering Project Manager | 20,600 SAR |
Engineering Research and Development Manager | 23,500 SAR |
Engineering Safety Coordinator | 11,200 SAR |
Engineering Sales Manager | 18,900 SAR |
Engineering Technician | 11,400 SAR |
Engineering Technologist | 11,400 SAR |
Environmental Engineer | 13,700 SAR |
Equipment Engineer | 12,700 SAR |
Equipment Engineering Manager | 18,100 SAR |
Estimator | 12,100 SAR |
Fabrication Specialist | 10,200 SAR |
Fabricator | 6,500 SAR |
Facade Engineer | 14,300 SAR |
Fiber Analyst | 8,190 SAR |
Field Engineer | 14,200 SAR |
Field Engineering Manager | 22,800 SAR |
Fire Engineer | 13,700 SAR |
Fitter and Turner | 4,340 SAR |
Forestry Strategic Planner | 16,400 SAR |
Generation Engineer | 14,100 SAR |
Genetic Engineer | 14,800 SAR |
Geological Engineer | 14,200 SAR |
Geotechnical Engineer | 15,700 SAR |
Heavy Equipment Mechanic | 7,360 SAR |
Highway Engineer | 14,600 SAR |
HSE Professional | 13,300 SAR |
HVAC Engineer | 15,500 SAR |
HVAC Supervisor | 13,200 SAR |
Industrial Engineer | 13,900 SAR |
Industrial Engineering Technologist | 14,100 SAR |
Instrument Engineer | 14,000 SAR |
Instrumentation and Control Engineer | 14,300 SAR |
Instrumentation Engineer | 14,500 SAR |
Instrumentation Manager | 14,100 SAR |
Irrigation Engineer | 13,900 SAR |
Licensed Aircraft Engineer | 14,400 SAR |
Locomotive Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Maintenance Engineer | 13,300 SAR |
Maintenance Fitter | 4,960 SAR |
Maintenance Manager | 14,500 SAR |
Manufacturing Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Marine Engineer | 14,000 SAR |
Materials Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Materials Researcher | 13,700 SAR |
Materials Technician | 9,910 SAR |
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer | 15,600 SAR |
Mechanical Design Engineer | 15,600 SAR |
Mechanical Designer | 12,500 SAR |
Mechanical Engineer | 14,500 SAR |
Mechanical Engineering Manager | 19,000 SAR |
Mechanical Inspector | 14,100 SAR |
Mechatronics Engineer | 15,400 SAR |
Mining Engineer | 14,400 SAR |
Oil and Petrochemical Engineer | 16,000 SAR |
Optical Engineer | 14,200 SAR |
Optical Instrument Assembler | 7,370 SAR |
PCB Assembler | 5,160 SAR |
Photonics Engineer | 15,000 SAR |
Photonics Technician | 12,100 SAR |
Pipeline Engineer | 12,400 SAR |
Piping Designer | 7,270 SAR |
Piping Engineer | 13,400 SAR |
Planning Engineer | 14,400 SAR |
Pressure Vessel Inspector | 6,840 SAR |
Principal Cost Engineer | 15,000 SAR |
Principal Engineer | 14,300 SAR |
Principal Support Engineer | 14,200 SAR |
Process Engineer | 14,400 SAR |
Process Operator | 8,520 SAR |
Product Development Engineer | 15,000 SAR |
Product Development Technician | 10,700 SAR |
Product Engineer | 14,900 SAR |
Product Safety Engineer | 12,700 SAR |
Production Engineer | 14,200 SAR |
Project Engineer | 15,000 SAR |
Proposal Manager | 18,600 SAR |
Purchasing Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Quality Assurance Engineer | 13,900 SAR |
Rail Engineer | 14,000 SAR |
Robotics Engineer | 16,600 SAR |
Robotics Technician | 11,900 SAR |
Safety Engineer | 13,700 SAR |
Safety Inspector | 11,100 SAR |
Safety Manager | 17,400 SAR |
Safety Officer | 7,400 SAR |
Sales Engineer | 15,700 SAR |
Scheduling Engineer | 12,700 SAR |
Service Engineer | 14,800 SAR |
Solar Engineer | 15,300 SAR |
Staff Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Static Equipment Engineer | 14,100 SAR |
Stationary Engineer | 12,800 SAR |
Stress Engineer | 13,600 SAR |
Structural Analysis Engineer | 14,300 SAR |
Structural Designer | 12,600 SAR |
Structural Engineer | 14,100 SAR |
Structural Technician | 9,180 SAR |
Supply Chain Specialist | 13,300 SAR |
Surveyor | 10,700 SAR |
Technical Affairs Officer | 7,030 SAR |
Technical Assistant | 6,830 SAR |
Technical Engineer | 12,600 SAR |
Technical Support Engineer | 11,700 SAR |
Tender Engineer | 13,100 SAR |
Test Development Engineer | 14,500 SAR |
Transportation Engineer | 12,900 SAR |
Validation Engineer | 13,000 SAR |
Verification Engineer | 13,500 SAR |
Wastewater Engineer | 14,400 SAR |
Wind Energy Engineer | 14,000 SAR |
Wind Energy Operations Manager | 18,200 SAR |
Work Planner | 10,300 SAR |
Engineering salaries in Saudi Arabia range from 4,470 SAR per month (minimum average salary) to 29,800 SAR per month (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
The median salary is 14,900 SAR per month, which means that half (50%) of people working in Engineering are earning less than 14,900 SAR while the other half are earning more than 14,900 SAR. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 8,740 SAR while 75% of them are earning more than 8,740 SAR. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Engineering are earning less than 23,700 SAR while 25% are earning more than 23,700 SAR.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
It is well known that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We compared the salaries of professionals at the same level but with different college degrees levels across many jobs, below are our findings.
Workers with a certificate or diploma earn on average 17% more than their peers who only reached the high school level.
Employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more than those who only managed to attain a cerificate or diploma.
Professionals who attained a Master's Degree are awarded salaries that are 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, PhD holders earn 23% more than Master's Degree holders on average while doing the same job.
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Saudi Arabia costs anywhere from 83,500 Saudi Riyal(s) to 251,000 Saudi Riyal(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support this tactic. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
The decision really depends on your situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if you can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? Male employees in Saudi Arabia who work in Engineering earn 13% more than their female counterparts on average.
Male | 15,100 SAR | |
Female | -12% | 13,300 SAR |
Engineering professionals in Saudi Arabia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 9% every 16 months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 17 months.
The term 'Annual Salary Increase' usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rarely that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 ÷ Increase Frequency
Banking | 2% | |
Energy | 4% | |
Information Technology | 6% | |
Healthcare | 8% | |
Travel | 1% | |
Construction | 3% | |
Education | 5% |
Listed above are the average annual increase rates for each industry in Saudi Arabia for the year 2021. Companies within thriving industries tend to provide higher and more frequent raises. Exceptions do exist, but generally speaking, the situation of any company is closely related to the economic situation in the country or region. These figures tend to change frequently.
Engineering is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.
45% of surveyed staff in Engineering reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 55% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 2% to 7% of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | 55% | |
No Bonus | 45% |
The most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fix amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The average salary for Engineering is 16% less than that of All Jobs.
City | Average Salary |
Where can you get paid more, working for a private company or for the government? Public sector employees in Saudi Arabia earn 7% more than their private sector counterparts on average across all sectors.
Private Sector | 16,000 SAR | |
Public Sector | +7% | 17,200 SAR |