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Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Average Salaries in Saudi Arabia 2024

How much money does a person working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology make in Saudi Arabia?


Average Monthly Salary
22,400 SAR
( 268,000 SAR yearly)

LOW
11,200
SAR
AVERAGE
22,400
SAR
HIGH
39,800
SAR
All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

A person working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia typically earns around 22,400 SAR. Salaries range from 11,200 SAR (lowest average) to 39,800 SAR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

The provided figure represents the median compensation that encompasses housing, transportation, and other perks. The salaries within the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology domain in Saudi Arabia exhibit significant discrepancies across various professions. In case you seek information about the remuneration of a specific position, please refer to the salaries listed below for respective job titles.

Salaries for specific jobs

Job TitleAverage Salary
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Assistant Pharmacist13,900 SAR
Assistant Pharmacy Director25,600 SAR
Associate Medical Affairs Director36,200 SAR
Bioethics Specialist18,200 SAR
Biofabrication Specialist20,400 SAR
Bioinformatics Scientist32,400 SAR
Bioinformatics Technician14,800 SAR
Biological Scientist34,300 SAR
Biological Technician14,600 SAR
Biomanufacturing Technician17,100 SAR
Biomarker Scientist23,000 SAR
Biomedical Electronics Technician13,200 SAR
Biomedical Engineer13,700 SAR
Biomedical Engineering Director26,300 SAR
Bioprocess Engineer15,500 SAR
Biostatistician21,100 SAR
Biotechnologist 21,000 SAR
Biotechnology Lead Data Manager15,800 SAR
Cell Therapy Scientist27,900 SAR
Chemical Process Technician15,100 SAR
Clinical Consultant19,900 SAR
Clinical Data Manager20,300 SAR
Clinical Data Specialist18,500 SAR
Clinical Informatics Specialist15,700 SAR
Clinical Operations Manager29,900 SAR
Clinical Pharmacist19,600 SAR
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist25,600 SAR
Clinical Programmer10,600 SAR
Clinical Project Manager18,500 SAR
Clinical Research Associate17,300 SAR
Clinical Research Manager30,500 SAR
Clinical Study Manager24,700 SAR
Clinical Trials Compliance Officer34,200 SAR
Compliance Specialist22,000 SAR
Computational Chemist26,700 SAR
Cytology Laboratory Technologist16,900 SAR
Cytotechnologist16,700 SAR
Digital Biomarker Developer21,500 SAR
Digital Health Specialist18,900 SAR
Drug Safety Specialist22,700 SAR
GCP Auditor17,300 SAR
Gene Editing Compliance Officer26,400 SAR
Gene Editing Specialist21,000 SAR
Gene Therapy Researcher22,100 SAR
Hospital Pharmacy Technician15,300 SAR
Manufacturing Engineer17,800 SAR
Medical 3D Printing Specialist16,300 SAR
Medical Affairs Director32,400 SAR
Medical Device Compliance Specialist19,300 SAR
Medical Device Data Analyst18,200 SAR
Medical Device Designer19,500 SAR
Medical Representative 13,700 SAR
Medical Science Liaison22,900 SAR
Medical Technology Writer15,300 SAR
Molecular and Cellular Biologist34,400 SAR
Nuclear Pharmacist21,700 SAR
Pharmaceutical Compliance Auditor30,700 SAR
Pharmaceutical Manager34,500 SAR
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Lead38,100 SAR
Pharmaceutical Operations Excellence Manager32,000 SAR
Pharmaceutical Process Engineer18,500 SAR
Pharmaceutical Production Assistant Manager24,000 SAR
Pharmaceutical Project Manager21,300 SAR
Pharmaceutical Quality Auditor23,800 SAR
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Assistant17,400 SAR
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Manager23,500 SAR
Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs Specialist18,400 SAR
Pharmaceutical Representative14,400 SAR
Pharmaceutical Research Associate21,000 SAR
Pharmaceutical Research Scientist29,500 SAR
Pharmaceutical Researcher29,600 SAR
Pharmaceutical Sales and Marketing Manager23,900 SAR
Pharmaceutical Sales Manager29,500 SAR
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative13,600 SAR
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Manager31,600 SAR
Pharmaceutical Team Leader23,500 SAR
Pharmaceutical Technologist16,200 SAR
Pharmacist20,600 SAR
Pharmacogenomics Expert24,800 SAR
Pharmacovigilance Analyst24,100 SAR
Pharmacy Aide13,300 SAR
Pharmacy Manager28,800 SAR
Pharmacy Stock Controller12,300 SAR
Pharmacy Technician12,000 SAR
Precision Medicine Compliance Analyst22,400 SAR
Precision Medicine Specialist20,800 SAR
Records Management Coordinator11,700 SAR
Shift Encapsulator12,900 SAR
Staff Pharmacist19,700 SAR
Synthetic Biologist25,200 SAR
Telepharmacy Technician12,300 SAR


Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Jobs Pay Scale and Salaries in Saudi Arabia

Median and salary distribution Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
21,700 SAR or more
10% of people earn
19,000 to 21,700 SAR
20% of people earn
12,900 SAR or less
65% of people earn
12,900 to 19,000 SAR
Minimum Salary
11,200 SAR
Median
19,900 SAR
Maximum
39,800 SAR




Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range

All salary figures displayed here are per month except when noted otherwise.
  • Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary

    Salaries in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia range from 11,200 SAR (starting average salary) to 39,800 SAR (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). To clarify, the number presented is not the legally mandated minimum wage. Rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that involved thousands of participants and professionals from across the entire country.

  • Median Salary

    The median income in the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology is 19,900 SAR, implying that half of the workforce in Saudi Arabia earns less than this figure, and the other half earns more. It represents the central value of salaries. As a rule of thumb, you would prefer to be part of the group earning above the median wage, situated on the right-hand side of the salary distribution chart.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Two values that are highly correlated with the median are the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution diagram, it is possible to determine that 25% of individuals employed in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia earn less than 16,300 SAR, while 75% of them earn more. Additionally, the diagram reveals that 75% of individuals earn less than 23,100 SAR, while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    Data was regrouped into brackets to provide a better understanding of what salaries can be expected. This approach was deemed more accurate than relying solely on the average salary, as it offers greater insights into the distribution of salaries in the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia. The analysis revealed that roughly 65% of all reported salaries fell within the range of 12,900 SAR to 19,000 SAR. Approximately 20% of salaries were below the 12,900 SAR mark, while 10% ranged from 19,000 SAR to 21,700 SAR. Only 5% of individuals earned a gross salary of 21,700 SAR or higher.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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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 in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia 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.


Change in salary based on experience varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of many different jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.
On average, a person's salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark.
* Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.


Salary Comparison By Education

How does the education level affect your salary?

Salary Comparison By Education
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Change in salary based on education varies drastically from one location to another and depends hugely on the career field as well. The data displayed here is the combined average of multiple jobs. To view accurate figures, choose a specific job title.

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 degree levels across many jobs in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia, 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 certificate 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.


Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?

A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in Saudi Arabia costs anywhere from 83,800 SAR to 251,000 SAR and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.

Employees can't expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming they 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 to 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 the situation and experience among many other factors. Putting all variables aside, if a person can afford the costs of higher education then the return on investment is definitely worth it. Degree costs can be recovered roughly in a year or so.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Saudi Arabia

Salary comparison by gender Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology monthly
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Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In the field of Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 9%.

Male
23,100 SAR
Female-8%
21,300 SAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Comparison By Gender in Saudi Arabia for all Careers

Salary comparison by gender monthly Saudi Arabia
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Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Saudi Arabia

How much are annual salary increments in Saudi Arabia for individuals working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology? How often do employees get salary raises?

Professionals working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology 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.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
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The figures provided here are averages of numbers. Those figures should be taken as general guidelines. Salary increments will vary from person to person and depend on many factors, but your performance and contribution to the success of the organization remain the most important factors in determining how much and how often you will be granted a raise.

Saudi Arabia / All Professions

Annual Salary Increment Rate Saudi Arabia
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The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare 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.

How to calculate the salary increment percentage?

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

The average salary increase in one year (12 months) in Saudi Arabia is 6%.

Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs

World Average Annual Salary Increment
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Salary Packages and Schemes

Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.

Bonus and Incentive Rates / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Saudi Arabia

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
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52% of surveyed staff in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 48% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 4% to 5% of their annual salary.

Received Bonus
48%
No Bonus
52%

Types of Bonuses Considered

Individual Performance-Based Bonuses

The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.

Company Performance Bonuses

Occasionally, 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 Bonuses

Granted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.

Holiday / End of Year Bonuses

These types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.

Bonuses Are Not Commissions!

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.


What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?

The main two types of jobs

Revenue GeneratorsSupporting 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:
A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company.

Example:
A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital.


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.

Try to work for companies where your skills can generate revenue. We can't all generate revenue and that's perfectly fine.

Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level

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.

Hourly Average Wage / Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology / Saudi Arabia


130 SAR per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia is 130 SAR.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.


Hourly Wage = Annual Salary / ( 52 x 5 x 8 )

About The Hourly Pay Rate

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 fixed 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.

What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?

The minimum pay rate per hour for people working in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia is 65 SAR. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.

Salary Comparison By City

CityAverage Salary
Abha21,200 SAR
Dammam22,000 SAR
Jeddah23,200 SAR
Khubar21,700 SAR
Mecca22,800 SAR
Medina22,400 SAR
Riyadh23,600 SAR
Tabuk20,300 SAR
Taif20,700 SAR

Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison

Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in Saudi Arabia is 7% on average across all career fields.

Private Sector
16,100 SAR
Public Sector+7%
17,300 SAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value

Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide

What is considered to be a good and competitive salary in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia?

A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 19,900 SAR and 23,100 SAR. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.

Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)

All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.

Base / Basic Salary

The base salary for jobs in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology in Saudi Arabia ranges from 11,200 SAR to 16,300 SAR. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.


What is the difference between the median and the average salary?

Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn 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


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