Saudi Government Salary Scale 2026

The Saudi government salary scale is the system that determines every Saudi government employee's pay and has seen multiple reforms since its late-1970s creation. This guide covers the scale structure as applied in 2026, and how actual pay is computed (base + allowances).

Scale Structure

The scale consists of 15 grades ordered by job level. Each grade has 15 steps, and the step advances via the annual increment without needing additional approval.

Example Grades

| Grade | Sample Job | |---|---| | 1 | Junior admin assistant, clerk | | 3 | Technician, specialist assistant | | 5 | Junior specialist (post-bachelor's) | | 7 | Mid-specialist, section head | | 10 | Department manager | | 13 | Assistant deputy | | 14 | Deputy Minister | | 15 | Minister and equivalent |

Examples are indicative — each government entity maps its jobs to grades per its Civil Service-approved classification.

Actual Salary Components

Actual salary = base salary + allowances + increments, minus insurance and retirement contributions.

1. Base Salary

Set by the grade/step intersection. Grade 1 step 1 starts around 4,500 SAR, rising gradually. Grade 15 (minister) reaches about 25,000 SAR base.

Increment rule: each year the employee gets an additional step within their grade until reaching step 15. Increment value: 150–350 SAR by grade.

2. Transport Allowance

Paid to employees using their personal vehicle for work. Value: 500–1,500 SAR by job nature. Some entities pay it to all; some to leadership only.

3. Housing Allowance

Paid annually as a lump sum equal to 3 monthly base salaries, to those not in government housing. Usually transferred in Muharram or January.

4. Work-Nature Allowance

Paid for specific occupations as compensation for special conditions:

| Sector | Type | Approximate value | |---|---|---| | Health | Infection / risk | 15–50% of base | | Education | Teaching | 10–30% of base | | Public Security | Field risk | 20–40% of base | | Customs | Scarcity | 20–30% | | Judiciary | Judicial (raised by M/16) | Substantial |

5. Representation Allowance

For senior leadership (deputy, director general). Value varies by position.

6. Special Allowances

• Travel allowance during missions
• Training allowance when the employee is dispatched
• Promotion allowance (for some jobs on promotion)
• Furniture-moving allowance on inter-region transfer

Sample Actual-Salary Calculation

Example: an employee at grade 7 step 6, specialist role at a health ministry.

| Item | Value (approximate) | |---|---| | Base salary | 9,500 SAR | | Housing allowance (monthly) | 2,375 SAR (= 9,500 × 3 ÷ 12) | | Transport allowance | 500 SAR | | Infection/work-nature allowance | 2,000 SAR | | Monthly gross | 14,375 SAR | | — Insurance contribution | 9% of base = 855 SAR | | Approximate net | ~13,520 SAR |

The figure is indicative; each entity has its specific allowance structure.

Civil vs Military Scales

| Criterion | Civil Scale | Military Scale | |---|---|---| | Overseeing body | Civil Service | Ministry of Defense / Guard / Interior | | Unit | Grades/steps | Military ranks (private, corporal, sergeant…) | | Promotion | Internal via increment + external via vacancy | By seniority + course success | | Allowances | Multiple by job | Military work-nature + risk + field | | Retirement | 65 (per 2024 system) | 60 usually + eligible for early retirement |

Promotion — How It Happens

Promotion to a higher grade requires:

1. Reaching a threshold in the current grade (usually step 10 or higher)
2. A vacancy in the higher grade at the entity
3. Meeting promotion conditions: years of experience, academic degree, performance rating (Excellent or Very Good)
4. Passing the entity's process: may include an interview, test, internal review
5. Issuance of the promotion decision and Civil Service ratification

Promotion timing: usually 3–7 years per grade depending on vacancies and performance.

Cost-of-Living Increments and Raises

Since the scale's inception, there have been special adjustments (King Abdulaziz allowance, King Abdullah base-raise, 1439 AH adjustment), and values are raised periodically. Not annual, but by special royal orders.

Additional Questions

Can an employee view their salary in detail? Yes, via the "Mudad" government payroll system, or the monthly salary slip. Every line is shown separately.

Is there an absolute government salary cap? No published official cap, but the highest grade (15) reaches 25,000 base + substantial allowances. Strategic senior positions are outside the scale and set by special royal orders.

How is end-of-service gratuity computed for government employees? Government employees fall under the civil retirement system (not the Labor Law) and receive a retirement pension, not a private-sector-style gratuity. See our GOSI pension guide.

Do government employees earn overtime pay? Generally no — government jobs follow the defined work week. Some entities pay an "extra hours" allowance with ministerial or authority approval.

Official Sources

• Civil Service Bureau, mcs.gov.sa
• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, hrsd.gov.sa
• Ministry of Finance, mof.gov.sa
• Civil Service Regulation, Laws Portal

Read also: Saudi Salary Dates 2026 · GOSI Pension Guide · Employee Rights Under Saudi Labor Law