Browse salary scales by cadre
Saudi Salary Scales 2026 (1447H): A Complete Guide to Public-Sector Pay
Ratiby's Saudi salary scales tool lets you browse the official basic-salary tables for more than 60 government cadres in the Kingdom: the General Civil Service Scale, Officers and Enlisted Military, the Health Cadre, the Engineering Cadre, the Teachers Scale, plus dedicated scales for judges, prosecutors, diplomats, university faculty, the Health Holding Company, Medical Cities, and the Armed Forces Hospitals. Pick a scale, rank, and grade to see the approved basic salary, transport allowance, and annual increment.
Top Saudi Government Salary Scales at a Glance
The table below summarizes the basic-salary range, from Grade 1 to the top grade, across the most popular government scales:
| Scale | Entry (SAR) | Top (SAR) | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Civil Service | 3,000 | 28,640 | 15 ranks × 15 grades |
| Engineering Cadre | 3,000 | 28,640 | 15 engineering ranks |
| Officers | 7,590 | 28,690 | Lieutenant → Major General |
| Enlisted Military | 3,220 | 12,255 | Private → Sergeant Major |
| Health Cadre | 5,000 | 17,020 | 63 medical & health roles |
| Teachers | 5,200 | 23,170 | Assistant / Practitioner / Advanced / Expert |
Values represent basic salary before allowances. The General and Engineering scales add a SAR 500 transport allowance.
General Civil Service Scale
The General Civil Service Scale is the foundation pay structure for ministry employees in Saudi Arabia. It contains 15 numbered ranks, each with 15 grades. Employees move across grades through the annual increment and across ranks through promotion.
- Rank 1: SAR 3,000-4,890 basic, with a SAR 135 annual increment.
- Rank 7 (mid-career): roughly SAR 6,000-9,000.
- Rank 15 (senior): SAR 20,855-28,640.
- Transport allowance: a fixed SAR 500/month on top of basic salary.
Saudi Military Salary Scale
Officers Scale
- Lieutenant: basic salary from SAR 7,590.
- 1st Lieutenant → Captain → Major → Lieutenant Colonel: graduated steps with a SAR 380 annual increment.
- Colonel → Brigadier → Major General: command ranks reaching up to SAR 28,690.
Enlisted (Afrad) Scale
- Private (Jundi): basic salary from SAR 3,220.
- Corporal → Sergeants: graduated steps with a SAR 130 annual increment.
- Sergeant Major: top enlisted rank, up to SAR 12,255.
Additional scales available in the calculator: Defense Ministry (Operations & Maintenance), Defense Ministry (Technical Support), Khawiya & Mujahideen, and Armed Forces Hospitals (Northern & Southern).
Doctors & Ministry of Health Salary Scale
Saudi public-sector medical staff are paid under the Health Cadre Scale, which spans 63 ranks from Health Assistant up to Consultant Physician, covering residents, specialists, pharmacists, lab technicians, and nurses.
- Consultant Physician (Level 1): SAR 14,950-17,020, with a SAR 690 increment.
- Resident / Senior Resident: graduated levels by specialty.
- Pharmacists, Lab Technicians, Nurses: separate sub-ranks within the Health Cadre.
Independent scales are also available for:
- Health Holding Company: the new entity managing public hospitals.
- Medical Cities & Specialty Hospitals: legal, finance, admin, and patient-affairs cadres.
- Security Forces Hospital and Armed Forces Hospitals.
- Prince Sultan Cardiac Center and Prince Sultan Military Medical City.
- Saudi Red Crescent: paramedics and health technicians.
Engineering Salary Scale in Saudi Arabia
The Engineering Cadre Scale is a dedicated pay scale for engineers in Saudi government and semi-government roles. It contains 15 ranks mirroring the General Civil Service structure, with basic salary starting at SAR 3,000 in Rank 1 and reaching SAR 28,640 in Rank 15. Annual increments start at SAR 135 and grow with rank.
Allowances vary by appointing entity (Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Transport, REDF, NWC, SEC, etc.). Each of these government-affiliated organizations has its own scale available in the calculator.
New Teachers Salary Scale
The New Teachers Scale uses a professional-ladder structure under the Teaching Jobs Regulation, distinct from the General Scale:
- Assistant Teacher (6 levels): from SAR 5,200.
- Practitioner Teacher (5 levels): mid-career range.
- Advanced Teacher (4 levels): post-promotion stage.
- Expert Teacher (3 levels): top tier reaching SAR 23,170.
Annual increments start at SAR 300 in Assistant levels and rise with seniority.
How Promotions, Increments & Pension Work
Annual Increment
An eligible employee automatically advances one grade within the same rank every year of completed service. Each rank carries a fixed increment value, and the higher the rank the larger the annual jump.
Promotion to a Higher Rank
Moving up a rank requires a vacancy, the minimum experience years, and the appropriate qualification. On promotion, the employee is placed on the first grade in the new rank that delivers a real increase.
Pension Deduction
A 9% pension contribution is deducted from the basic salary and paid to the Public Pension Agency. To explore the end-of-service gratuity for government employees, see our dedicated page.
Compute Your Take-Home Pay
Once you know your basic salary from the scale, use the Saudi Salary Calculator to work out your net pay after the 9.75% GOSI deduction (Saudi nationals) or the 9% pension deduction (government), with housing and transport allowances included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Saudi salary scale?
The Saudi salary scale is the official structure that sets basic-pay levels for government employees. The most widely used is the General Civil Service Scale with 15 ranks × 15 grades, where Rank 1 starts at SAR 3,000 and Rank 15 tops out at SAR 28,640. Beyond that, 60+ specialized scales cover military, healthcare, education, engineering, and judicial cadres.
How much does a Saudi government employee earn at Rank 1?
A Rank 1 / Grade 1 government employee on the General Civil Service Scale earns a basic salary of SAR 3,000 per month, rising by an annual increment of SAR 135 to SAR 4,890 at Grade 15. A fixed transport allowance of SAR 500 is added on top.
What is the Saudi military salary scale?
There are two principal military scales: the Officers Scale, from Lieutenant (SAR 7,590) up to Major General (SAR 28,690), and the Enlisted Scale, from Private (SAR 3,220) to Sergeant Major (SAR 12,255). Defense Ministry technical and operations roles have separate scales.
How much does a Ministry of Health doctor earn in Saudi Arabia?
Health-sector employees follow the Health Cadre Scale with 63 ranks. A Consultant Physician (Level 1) earns SAR 14,950-17,020 with a SAR 690 annual increment. Specialized scales also exist for the Health Holding Company, Medical Cities, Security Forces Hospital, and Armed Forces Hospitals.
What is the Saudi engineering salary scale?
The Engineering Cadre Scale is a dedicated scale for engineers in Saudi government roles. It mirrors the structure of the General Civil Service Scale (15 ranks), starting at SAR 3,000 in Rank 1 and reaching SAR 28,640 at Rank 15.
What is the difference between the General Civil Service Scale and the Teachers Scale?
The General Civil Service Scale uses 15 numbered ranks for ministry employees. The New Teachers Scale uses a professional-ladder structure (Assistant Teacher, Practitioner, Advanced, and Expert) with multiple levels per rung. Teachers start at SAR 5,200 and reach SAR 23,170 at the Expert tier.
Is pension deducted from Saudi government employee salaries?
Yes. Saudi nationals working in the government sector contribute 9% of their basic salary to the Public Pension Agency (PPA). Pension eligibility kicks in after 25 years of service; otherwise an end-of-service gratuity applies: see the end-of-service page.
How do I find my rank and grade as a new public-sector employee?
Your rank and grade are specified in your appointment decision (Qarar Al-Taayeen) and are also visible on the Masar career platform or the Civil Service portal. Once you know them, select the matching values in the scales calculator above to view the approved basic salary.
Official sources
The figures and rules on this page are based on the following official references:
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