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Average Salary in Riyadh 2024

How much money does a person working in Riyadh make?


Average Monthly Salary
17,700 SAR
( 213,000 SAR yearly)

LOW
4,470
SAR
AVERAGE
17,700
SAR
HIGH
78,800
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 Riyadh typically earns around 17,700 SAR. Salaries range from 4,470 SAR (lowest average) to 78,800 SAR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).


Salary Variance

This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Riyadh vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.



Pay Scale and Salaries in Riyadh

Median and salary distribution Riyadh monthly
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Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison

5% of people earn
35,200 SAR or more
10% of people earn
27,600 to 35,200 SAR
20% of people earn
10,700 SAR or less
65% of people earn
10,700 to 27,600 SAR
Minimum Salary
4,470 SAR
Median
16,200 SAR
Maximum
78,800 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 Riyadh range from 4,470 SAR (starting salary) to 78,800 SAR (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.

  • Median Salary

    The median salary is 16,200 SAR, which means that 50% of the population in Riyadh earns less than that while the other half earns more. 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.

  • Percentiles and Salary Scale

    Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population in Riyadh earn less than 11,700 SAR while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 24,500 SAR while 25% earn more than that.

  • Pay Scale Structure

    We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights into how salaries are actually distributed in Riyadh. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 10,700 SAR to 27,600 SAR. Approximately 20% fall under the 10,700 SAR cap. Ten percent of wages are from 27,600 SAR to 35,200 SAR. Only 5% of people grossed 35,200 SAR or more.

Salary Comparison by Years of Experience

How does a person's salary progress over time?

Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.

In Riyadh, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.

Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.

After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.

These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.


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.

The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?

We conducted a study in Riyadh comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.

Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.

Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.

Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.


Is investing in a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Is pursuing higher education worth the investment?

Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in Saudi Arabia is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 83,800 SAR to 251,000 SAR and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.

Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.

Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.



Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Riyadh

Salary comparison by gender Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 14% across all career fields.

Male
17,600 SAR
Female-12%
15,500 SAR
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value


Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage in Riyadh

How much are annual salary increments in Riyadh? How often do employees get salary raises?

Saudi Arabia

Employees in Saudi Arabia are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 17 months.

Annual Salary Increment Rate Saudi Arabia
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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.

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 in Saudi Arabia

How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?Annual Salary Bonus Rate Saudi Arabia
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100% of surveyed staff in Saudi Arabia reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.

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

Received Bonus
%
No Bonus
100%

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.


Bonus Rates Comparison by Career Field

Finance
High
Architecture
High
Sales
High
Business Development
High
Marketing / Advertising
High
Information Technology
Moderate
Healthcare
Moderate
Insurance
Moderate
Customer Service
Moderate
Human Resources
Moderate
Construction
Low
Transport
Low
Hospitality
Low

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.

Salaries for popular jobs. Salaries by occupations.

Job TitleAverage Salary
Accounting and Finance
Accountant11,500 SAR
Accounting Assistant9,460 SAR
Accounting Manager26,300 SAR
Bookkeeper7,730 SAR
Chartered Accountant15,000 SAR
Corporate Treasurer23,600 SAR
Financial Analyst22,300 SAR
Financial Manager34,700 SAR
Internal Auditor15,700 SAR

Administration / Reception / Secretarial
Administrative Assistant9,190 SAR
Office Manager14,500 SAR
Receptionist8,400 SAR
Secretary7,490 SAR

Advertising / Graphic Design / Events
Art Director16,500 SAR
Creative Director17,300 SAR
Graphic Designer10,500 SAR
Photographer9,230 SAR

Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense
Aerospace Engineer21,200 SAR
Air Traffic Controller19,200 SAR
Flight Attendant12,100 SAR
Pilot28,700 SAR

Architecture
Architect20,000 SAR
CAD Drafter8,480 SAR

Automotive
Mechanic6,570 SAR
Service Advisor12,100 SAR

Banking
Bank Branch Manager31,500 SAR
Teller6,240 SAR

Bilingual
Teacher13,300 SAR
Translator15,000 SAR

Business Planning
Business Analyst21,800 SAR
Business Development Manager27,600 SAR
Project Manager21,200 SAR

Care Giving and Child Care
Nanny6,990 SAR
Nursery Teacher6,240 SAR

Construction / Building / Installation
Civil Engineer16,300 SAR
Construction Project Manager28,900 SAR
Health and Safety Officer7,490 SAR

Customer Service and Call Center
Call Center Representative6,240 SAR
Customer Service Manager23,600 SAR
Customer Service Representative6,240 SAR

Engineering
Civil Engineer15,200 SAR
Electrical Engineer17,100 SAR
Engineer16,400 SAR
Mechanical Engineer15,700 SAR

Executive and Management
Chief Executive Officer39,400 SAR
Chief Financial Officer34,400 SAR
General Manager30,600 SAR
Project Manager18,700 SAR

Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering
Chef10,400 SAR
Executive Chef12,000 SAR
Hotel Manager31,500 SAR
Receptionist6,570 SAR
Travel Agent10,500 SAR
Waiter / Waitress5,520 SAR

Health and Medical
Dentist39,500 SAR
Dietitian32,400 SAR
Laboratory Technician12,500 SAR
Nurse13,700 SAR

Human Resources
Human Resources Manager26,300 SAR
Human Resources Officer10,500 SAR

Information Technology
Computer Technician13,300 SAR
Database Administrator17,300 SAR
Developer / Programmer17,100 SAR
Information Technology Manager27,400 SAR
Network Engineer15,100 SAR

Law Enforcement / Security / Fire
Police Officer9,980 SAR

Legal
Attorney34,100 SAR
Legal Assistant8,730 SAR

Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment
Journalist19,700 SAR

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology
Biomedical Engineer14,100 SAR
Pharmacist22,300 SAR

Sales Retail and Wholesale
Cashier6,570 SAR
Sales Manager28,700 SAR
Sales Representative11,400 SAR

Teaching / Education
Elementary School Teacher11,400 SAR
Secondary School Teacher14,200 SAR

Average Hourly Wage in Riyadh


100 SAR per hour

The average hourly wage (pay per hour) for all employees in Riyadh is 100 SAR.This is the rate that the average individual gets 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 a person in Riyadh is 26 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
Abha15,900 SAR
Dammam16,500 SAR
Jeddah17,400 SAR
Khubar16,300 SAR
Mecca17,100 SAR
Medina16,800 SAR
Riyadh17,700 SAR
Tabuk15,200 SAR
Taif15,500 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 Riyadh?

It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Riyadh would range anywhere between 16,200 SAR and 24,500 SAR.

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 in Riyadh ranges from 4,470 SAR to 11,700 SAR. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, 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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