Saudi Private Sector Salaries: Expats Average About SAR 2,700 a Month in Q2 2026
National Labor Observatory data for Q2 2026 shows 13.6 million private sector workers in Saudi Arabia. Non-Saudis earn about SAR 2,700 a month on average, against about SAR 9,500 for Saudis.
Saudi ArabiaIn brief
- Saudi Arabia's private sector had 13.6 million workers at the end of Q2 2026, up 7% on a year earlier.
- About 10.9 million private sector workers (80.2%) are non-Saudis.
- Non-Saudis earn about SAR 2,700 a month on average, while Saudis average about SAR 9,500.
- 87.7% of non-Saudi private sector workers earn under SAR 4,000 a month.
- Real estate and ICT were the fastest-growing sectors, each up more than 28% year on year.
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Organization | National Labor Observatory (Saudi Arabia) |
| Official source | EnterpriseAM – reporting the National Labor Observatory Q2 2026 report ✓ enterpriseam.com |
Saudi Arabia's private sector kept growing in the year to June 2026, but the pay gap between Saudi and foreign workers remains very wide. The National Labor Observatory's report for the second quarter of 2026, reported by EnterpriseAM on 14 October 2026, shows non-Saudis earn about SAR 2,700 a month on average, against about SAR 9,500 for Saudis.
Saudi private sector at a glance (end of Q2 2026)
| Measure | Figure | Change on a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Total private sector workers | 13.6 million | +7% |
| Non-Saudi workers | 10.9 million (80.2%) | +6.8% |
| Saudi workers | 2.689 million (19.8%) | +8.2% |
| Non-Saudi women | 523,000 | +16.7% |
| Average monthly pay, non-Saudis | about SAR 2,700 | not stated |
| Average monthly pay, Saudis | about SAR 9,500 | +5.4% |
87.7% of non-Saudi workers earn under SAR 4,000 a month. Average pay is higher at bigger companies, from about SAR 5,400 at micro firms to about SAR 12,100 at large firms (all workers).
Where the jobs are growing
| Sector | Growth in workers, year on year |
|---|---|
| Real estate | +29.3% |
| ICT | +28.4% |
| Health and social work | +0.3% |
Micro-businesses added the most jobs, up 14.1% to almost 4.8 million workers. Large firms grew only 2.9%. Riyadh has 6.2 million private sector workers, the most of any region.
Where Saudization is strongest
Saudis now fill 51% of high-skill jobs, up from 47% in Q2 2023, but only 23% of mid-skill jobs. They hold 92% of clerical and 64% of managerial posts. By sector, Saudization is highest in finance and insurance (84%), mining and quarrying (70%) and ICT (59%).
What it means for job seekers
- The market is still growing for expats. The number of non-Saudi workers rose by 6.8% in a year, even though a separate official count showed a small drop between March and June. We covered that in our report on the Saudi expat workforce in Q2 2026.
- Check pay against the averages. Most expats are in manual and elementary jobs, which pull the average down. Skilled roles pay well above SAR 2,700, so negotiate based on your profession, not the national average.
- Office and finance jobs are mostly for Saudis. Clerical, finance and many admin roles are heavily Saudized. Read which 69 admin jobs are now reserved for Saudis.
- Look at growth sectors. Real estate and ICT added workers fastest.
Saudization keeps widening: read our Saudization 2026 update on marketing, sales and the new Nitaqat phase.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the average expat salary in Saudi Arabia?
According to National Labor Observatory data for Q2 2026, non-Saudis in the private sector earn about SAR 2,700 a month on average, and 87.7% earn under SAR 4,000.
How many expats work in the Saudi private sector?
About 10.9 million non-Saudis at the end of Q2 2026, which is 80.2% of the 13.6 million private sector workforce.
Which Saudi sectors are growing fastest?
Real estate grew 29.3% and ICT 28.4% year on year in Q2 2026, while health and social work grew only 0.3%.
Why do Saudis earn more than expats on average?
Most expats work in lower-paid manual and elementary jobs, while Saudization is strongest in high-skill, clerical and managerial roles. Saudis hold 92% of clerical jobs and 64% of managerial jobs.
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