Saudi Salary Guide 2020

2020
KSA SALARY GUIDE

Contents
CEO LETTER................................................................................................................................................................... 2
ACCOUNTING & FINANCE .............................................................................................................................................. 4
ADVISORY ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
BANKING........................................................................................................................................................................ 9
HUMAN RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................................... 13
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT....................................................................................................................................... 15
LEGAL .......................................................................................................................................................................... 17
MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN ........................................................................................................................... 19
PUBLIC SECTOR .......................................................................................................................................................... 22
SALES & MARKETING ................................................................................................................................................... 24
STRATEGY .................................................................................................................................................................... 27
TECHNOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................................. 29
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 32
Page 1 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
CEO LETTER
Welcome to the 2020 edition of the Cooper Fitch Salary Guide
for Saudi Arabia.
Foreign direct investment inﬂows increased by 24% 1 the kingdom and kickstart the nascent tourism
in Q1 2019. Major investor deals and giga-projects industry.
continue to move ahead. Investors all over the world
are bringing their businesses to the kingdom, with Technology is another emerging sector that is
significant new investors in the last quarter. receiving a boost from widespread reforms. Start-up
incubators and entrepreneurship hubs are popping
In H1 2019, new foreign investor licenses rose by up across the kingdom to tackle new solutions to old
85% 2 Saudi launched VENTURE, a new initiative problems.
aimed at attracting global venture capital (VC) ﬁrms.
The platform will provide streamlined licensing The country’s female workforce is expanding as
processes for VC portfolio companies. Saudi Arabia women become culturally empowered, and oil
has been ranked 26th 3 most competitive economy, prices stabilised at $68 per barrel, boosting public
rising 13 places in the global ranking from last year, sentiment.
the fastest-improving country among those
assessed The profound changes underway in the kingdom are
keeping salaries stable or rising across most
It has been a busy 12 months, and 2020 is set to be industries. While the competition for top-tier Saudi
no different. The Vision 2030 economic national talent is applying pressure on market-rate
diversification roadmap is now well underway, with salary ranges.
GDP growth for 2020 expected at a healthy rate of
2.2% 4 bringing benefits to the employment market As all industries are growing and expanding, we
as new jobs are created across multiple industries. predict a rise in market-rate salary ranges on
average of 3%. Of all the industries we analysed, we
State entities are being privatised, reforms are being predict the most significant market-range salary
implemented to make it easier to set up new increase for 2020 is within the strategy sector at 6%.
businesses and attract foreign capital, and a swathe Investment management and sales and marketing
of multibillion-dollar ‘giga-projects’ have kicked off are to follow with the expected rate of 5%, and
in the country to rejuvenate commerce and culture. accounting and finance with 4%. Advisory, banking
& financial services, legal and investment
The introduction of the Saudi tourist visa this year management and public sector roles are expected to
goes hand in hand with the development of increase market-rate salaries by 3%.
significant tourism developments such as the Red
Sea project, to tempt business and leisure visitors to
1
(Trading Economics, 2019)
3
(IMD World Competitiveness Centre, 2018)
2
(The embassy of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2019)
4
(Tading Economics, 2018)
Page 2 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The Cooper Fitch Salary Guide represents the change in market-rate salary ranges for new
recruits across the region.
Our data is based on several sources; successful assignments our firm have competed in
2019, undergoing appointments, daily interaction with hiring managers and mid to senior-
level executives across the region. Our unique position enables Cooper Fitch to track the
latest insights and trends in salary ranges.
Bonuses and other forms of remuneration, such as pension scheme and long-term
incentives, are not taken into account, which varies significantly.
ABOUT COOPER FITCH

Cooper Fitch provide professional services to organisations
across the GCC on all matters talent-related. Driving business
forward with top-tier talent, market & data insights & consulting
services to better their employee attraction & retention, shaping
the future of their tomorrow.
We provide comprehensive compensation and benefits analysis

designed to advance your competitive talent advantage, contact TREFOR MURPHY
me for any specific requests or questions on this report. FOUNDER & CEO
[email protected]
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KSA SALARY GUIDE 2020
ACCOUNTING & FINANCE
As a crucial corporate function, the outlook for FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) remain the top
hiring in the accounting and finance sector is strong spots for hiring activity.
in Saudi Arabia, particularly for senior-level staff.
Rising demand for talent as the government rolls out In 2020, there is expected to be an increase in
initiatives to expand the kingdom’s private sector, demand and hiring within the manufacturing and
such as the royal decree which incentivises private consumer goods industries, as well as more
sector employment Director-level accounting and movement between public and semi-government
finance roles are expected to see an average 4% entities and increased hiring of junior and mid-
salary hike in 2020, while salaries for recruits at CFO- manager level Saudi nationals.
level are forecast to rise 12% rise. Expats, on the
other hand, will see a minimal increase overall, our Overall, our experts forecast a significant level of
experts say. recruitment next year, on the back of diversification
of the economy away from oil dependence, private
More generally, the kingdom’s Saudisation policy, sector expansion, a heavy focus on new investments
which sets minimum thresholds for the proportion by sovereign wealth funds, and creation of new
of Saudi nationals to be hired within a company, has industries such as entertainment, tourism and
presented challenges in the market as there is a waste management in line with Vision 2030.
smaller pool of senior finance candidates and a lack
of domestic expertise in specific industries. There is Businesses seeking new talent must place a strong
also a reported shortage of Saudi nationals that hold focus on retention strategies, including upskilling
professional accounting certifications. and training for existing employees, performance-
related bonuses, and the creation of a positive
In response, organisations are seeking detailed culture and working environment.
technical and soft skill assessments of candidates
during the selection process. They are attaching a The tax system in the kingdom has been maturing,
higher value to relevant industry experience than and this is reflected by the increasing demand for
previous years and paying increased attention to international tax and transfer pricing professionals
professional qualifications. Mid-to-senior-level primarily in the advisory space. Big 4 firms, in
accounting and finance roles such as financial particular, have been focusing on building their
controller, finance director and CFO are especially in transfer pricing teams. On the other side of the tax
demand, as well as treasury, internal audit and risk, spectrum, there has been a steady demand for
and candidates with project finance, debt raising, corporate tax and VAT professionals but not as high
change management and IPO experience. compared to previous years. Corporates are more
often choosing to build internal tax departments,
The top geographical areas from which candidates hiring specialists to ensure greater efficiency in a
are being recruited are Saudi Arabia and the GCC, maturing function.
particularly those with prior experience of working
in KSA, and dual-language Arabic-English speakers.
Riyadh, as the capital city, the Eastern Province for
heavy industries and manufacturing, and Jeddah for
Page 4 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
ACCOUNTING & FINANCE
ROLES MIN MAX

Group Chief Financial Officer Large Local groups / MNCs 100,000 150,000
Large Local groups / MNCs 80,000 100,000
Chief Financial Officer
Small to Medium Enterprises 60,000 75,000
Financial Director
Treasury Director
Financial Controller
Financial Planning Analysis Director
Financial Planning Analysis Manager
Treasury Manager
Finance Manager
Head of Internal Audit / Internal Audit Manager
Reporting Manager
Budgeting Manager
Chief Accountant
Finance / Business Analyst
Credit Manager
Internal Auditor
Financial Accountant
Management Accountant
AP / AR Accountant
The salary ranges provided are in SAR and represent monthly salary inclusive of basic salary and all fixed
Page 5 of 33
allowances. Monthly salary is exclusive of bonus, guaranteed or otherwise.
©Cooper Fitch 2019
TAX
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

BIG 4 Partner (2+ yrs) 75,000+
Partner (0-1 yr) 55,000 70,000
Director 45,000 55,000
Senior Manager 27,000 39,000
Manager 23,000 33,000
Assistant Manager 16,000 22,000
Senior Associate 14,000 18,000
INDUSTRY & Head of Tax 50,000+
PUBLIC SECTOR Senior Manager 35,000 45,000
Manager 24,000 37,000
Supervisor 20,000 28,000
Analyst / Senior Analyst 13,000 20,000
Page 6 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
ADVISORY
The kingdom’s advisory market is set to continue Geographically, Riyadh is still the largest market.
expanding in 2020, with fresh business activity However, Jeddah has continued to grow its advisory
across all service lines including audit, risk base with an increase in large family holding groups
consultancy, deal advisory and transaction services. undergoing structural transformations and is,
We anticipate a further increase in consulting work therefore, becoming a busier spot for consulting
in the year ahead, especially in disputes and services. Firms are mainly recruiting from within the
investigations, public sector, infrastructure and Saudi market, with the rest of the GCC, Lebanon and
finance advisory with a prediction that market-rate Jordan as the principal secondary markets. In some
salary ranges will increase by 3% in 2020. limited instances, firms are seeking unique
international talent from major global markets such
The biggest growth driver is the Vision 2030 as Europe, for advice on public-private partnership
roadmap, which has significantly impacted the (PPP) schemes. Last year there was a skills gap
Saudi employment market in 2019. An increase in relating to debt restructuring consultancy, but this
merger & acquisition (M&A) activities, the should close in 2020, our experts say.
development of super-scale, or ‘giga’, projects and
the privatisation of some government companies Advisory professionals in Saudi Arabia are
have increased demand for advisory professionals increasingly seeking career growth and exposure to
and is expected to continue doing so in 2020. broader and more exciting clients as the market
Although we do not expect any significant increase matures, and they crave higher levels of
in salary ranges for 2020. responsibility and engagement with clients. Firms
should think about offering a clear career path with
In recent months, there has been a marked push formal learning and development programmes to
among firms to build advisory teams in Saudi Arabia, retain new recruits and existing employees.
as opposed to flying specialists in and out on a
project-by-project basis, and this is likely to gather A flexible working environment, diverse client base
momentum in 2020. Organisations are increasingly and the opportunity to work with new technologies
investing in operations on the ground, with a are other important factors in securing and retaining
positive impact on recruitment and relocation talent in this sector.
activity. Meanwhile, the growth of non-oil industries
means higher demand for new skill sets and strong
consultancy support for emerging industries.
In terms of candidates, the most significant demand

in the coming months will be for Saudi national
talent due to the government’s Saudisation agenda,
especially those with specialist expertise, resulting
in fierce competition among firms and public sector
bodies. Such competition is keeping fixed salaries in
the advisory sector steady, although clients expect
an increase in the frequency of sign-on bonuses in
2020.
Page 7 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
ADVISORY
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

AUDIT Partner (5+ yrs) 85,000 120,000
Partner (1-4 yrs) 50,000 80,000
Director 40,000 47,000
Manager 22,000 30,000
Associate 8,000 12,000
RISK CONSULTING Partner (5+ yrs) 95,000 150,000
Partner (1-4 yrs) 65,000 90,000
Director 50,000 60,000
Manager 28,000 35,000
Associate 12,000 15,000
DEAL ADVISORY & Partner (5+ yrs) 100,000 165,000
TRANSACTION Partner (1-4 yrs) 70,000 95,000
SERVICES Director 52,000 65,000
Manager 29,000 36,000
Associate 12,500 16,000
Page 8 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
BANKING
Salaries in Saudi Arabia’s banking and financial to secure their services. Banks also face competition
services sector are predicted to rise by 3% on from public sector entities as they implement large-
average in 2020 compared to the previous year, scale infrastructure and other projects in line with
reflecting increased hiring activity in this sector. Vision 2030.
Broader industry conditions are stable, with Saudi
banks’ profit margins expected to remain stable at In response, recruitment strategies tend to reflect
2.2 per cent in the next 12-18 months. the needs of government projects, and this is
expected to continue. The most in-demand roles in
Against this backdrop, government spending in 2020 include relationship manager roles across
Saudi Arabia has risen in the last 12-24 months, private and institutional banking, credit risk and
within a positive knock-on impact on job creation in market analytics roles, and digital banking officers.
the sector. For the purpose of this report, banking
and financial services roles fall within offshore and In general, there remains a high demand for
onshore zones regulated by the two major qualified finance professionals in the kingdom, as
regulators in Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Monetary well as industry-specific marketing, PR and branding
Authority (SAMA) and the Capital Markets Authority experts. Further expertise is sought in global
(CMA). Roles spanning front office functions accounting standards, Basel III requirements, Anti-
including on and offshore private banking and Money Laundering and Know Your Customer rules,
wealth management, investment and asset as global regulatory requirements continue to
management, retail and corporate banking, and tighten.
back-office functions such as compliance, risk,
finance, HR, legal, administration, marketing and Recruitment activity in 2020 will centre around
communications. Riyadh and Jeddah, although there has been a
recent surge of activity in the Eastern Province,
Recruitment in 2019 centred around front-office where many banks in the consumer space have large
roles as banks work to expand their client bases and customer portfolios and greater need for banking
meet ambitious performance targets. However, products and services.
there is likely to be increased hiring for support roles
in 2020 due to stricter credit restrictions introduced Another feature of the Saudi banking industry is
by the SAMA regulator. Meanwhile, rapid growth in rapid staff turnover as employees chase competitive
digital banking is rising demand for technology- packages. The average tenure for banking staff is
related expertise. Banks are expected to accelerate just 2-3 years, our experts say. Banks must focus on
digitalisation agendas over the next 18-24 months. creating leadership programmes to attract and
This will mean a shift away from hiring for branch- retain employees over the long term.
focussed operations, towards creating in-house
technology roles.
However, organisations in Saudi have faced

challenges hiring for niche roles in digital banking
due to skills shortages. Saudisation is another
challenge. Under CMA regulations, specific vital
functions - such as Head of Compliance - have been
earmarked for Saudi nationals only, sparking a race
Page 9 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
RETAIL BANKING
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

PRIVATE Head of Private Banking (16+ yrs) 160,000 170,000
Market Head / Managing Director (15 yrs) 135,000 140,000
Executive Director / Unit Head (10-12 yrs) 90,000 100,000
Associate Director (5-8 yrs) 70,000 80,000
Relationship Manager - Key Clients (5-7 yrs) 45,000 55,000
Assistant Relationship Manager - Support (5-7 yrs) 30,000 40,000
WEALTH Head of Wealth Management 85,000 95,000
MANGEMENT Head of International Wealth 75,000 85,000
Unit / Department Head 65,000 70,000
Team Leader - Various Domiciles 60,000 65,000
Senior Wealth Management Specialist 50,000 55,000
Associate - New Clients 35,000 40,000
WHOLESALE BANKING
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX
CORPORATE Head of Corporate Banking 100,000 110,000
Team Leader - Corporate Banking 80,000 90,000
Senior Director - Corporate Clients 65,000 75,000
Associate Director - Relationship Manager - Industry Specific 55,000 65,000
Director - Relationship Manager - Local Corporates / MNCs 50,000 60,000
Relationship Manager (Credit Analysis) 40,000 45,000
INSTITUTIONAL Head of Financial Institutions 120,000 135,000
Head of Non FI Clients 100,000 110,000
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) 85,000 110,000
Director / Vice President 85,000 95,000
Senior Relationship Manager / Assistant Vice President 75,000 80,000
Relationship Manager 50,000 60,000
Page 10 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
BANKING
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

COMPLIANCE & Head of Compliance 68,000 77,000
REGULATION Compliance Licenced MLRO (APs) 44,000 58,000
Head of Fraud 44,000 52,000
Assistant Relationship Manager 40,000 50,000
Inspection, Authorization Officers 35,000 45,000
Fraud Manager 34,000 39,000
Sanctions and AML Managers 32,000 35,000
Compliance Manager- Generalists- Wholesale, Retail, Corporate 27,000 35,000
Compliance Officer-Private Banking, Wealth, Invest. products 17,000 23,000
Compliance Officer (KYC, On boarding, CDD) 14,000 17,000
Compliance Analysts (Graduate) 11,000 15,000
RISK Chief Risk Officer 70,000 91,000
Head of Credit Risk 51,000 69,000
Credit Risk Policies Head 48,000 57,000
Operational Risk Head 48,000 57,000
Head of Collections and Recovery 49,000 55,000
Market Risk Head 47,000 54,000
Head of Risk Analytics 45,000 52,000
Credit Risk Policies VP 45,000 49,000
Operational Risk Manager 33,000 42,000
Credit Risk Manager 29,000 39,000
Risk Analytics Manager 28,000 38,000
Market Risk Manager 32,000 37,000
Enterprise Risk Manager 25,000 31,000
Market Risk Analyst 18,000 23,000
Risk Analytics Officer 15,000 22,000
Credit Risk Portfolio Analyst 16,000 19,000
Operational Risk Analyst 17,000 19,000
Credit Risk Analyst 14,000 18,000
Page 11 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
BANKING
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX
FINANCE & Chief Operating Officer (COO) 88,000 105,000
OPERATIONS Chief Finance Officer (CFO) 81,000 103,000
Finance Director 61,000 73,000
Head of Internal Audit 49,000 59,000
Head of Fund Admin / Head of Accounting 49,000 57,000
Head of MIS (Management Information Systems) & Reporting 43,000 52,000
Head of Custody 41,000 49,000
Financial Controller 33,000 44,000
Internal Audit Manager 35,000 42,000
Financial Reporting and Regulation 31,000 39,000
Finance Manager 31,000 39,000
Treasury Manager 33,000 38,000
Operation Manager 27,000 33,000
Fund Accountant Qualified 25,000 32,000
Financial Accountant 21,000 26,000
Page 12 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
HUMAN RESOURCES
The human resources (HR) industry in Saudi Arabia Across the GCC, there is a shortage of candidates
is maturing as organisations review their priorities with recognised HR industry qualifications such as
and grow their horizons in line with the Vision 2030 CIPD, PHR and SHRM. However, this is likely to
agenda. State-led initiatives to develop the private improve in future as more HR professionals seek to
sector are bearing fruit, with substantial growth in enhance their knowledge through postgraduate
business creation over the past year and a positive courses or training programs.
impact on recruitment activity.
Some challenges that impacted the Saudi HR
The majority of HR salaries remained stable in 2019 industry in 2019 will continue this year, including the
and are expected to continue so in 2020. However drive for Saudisation of the workforce, with
we do not expect a change in the market salary government-set targets leading to skills shortages
range. The roles that have seen the most significant for specialist roles. Attracting expatriate talent to
declines are within organisations tightening their Saudi Arabia is another challenge, as some
budgets, while specialist roles such as learning and professionals prefer the more international
development (L&D) and compensation and benefits environment of the UAE or other geographical
(C&B) enjoyed the most significant increases. locations in the GCC or Asia when considering
relocation.
In general, there will be significant demand for HR
professionals across the kingdom, particularly in Internally, firms are seeking to increase
Riyadh, Jeddah, Yanbu, Dammam and Khobar due opportunities for Saudi nationals and invest in their
to their high levels of foreign and local investment. development as future leaders across different
On the flipside, flatter economic growth in the GCC functions in line with Vision 2030 objectives. Saudi
has prompted some firms to restructure and retract national talent is in particularly high demand, and
from the region. Some multinationals have retaining skilled national employees has proven
centralised their Middle East HR operations outside challenging unless businesses are in a position to
the kingdom, resulting in fewer roles available in offer long-term incentive and growth programmes.
some sectors. However, start-ups and homegrown Firms would do well to ensure they have a clear
companies are attaching increased importance to career progression plan in place for new recruits.
HR as they search for staff to help them grow.
The most in-demand roles will be generalists

(depending on the size of the HR function, as this
attribute is particularly useful for smaller firms); C&B
professionals with local experience to ensure
policies are in line with labour laws; L&D
professionals to retain staff and help them perform
better, and organisational development, especially
for start-ups. Businesses consider situational and
adaptive leadership styles necessary when
appointing senior positions.
Page 13 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
HUMAN RESOURCES
ROLES MIN MAX

CHRO 100,000 155,000
HR VP 80,000 125,000
HR Director (Group) 50,000 80,000
HR Manager 30,000 40,000
Human Resources Business Partner 30,000 45,000
Learning & Development Manager 24,000 33,000
Compensation & Benefits Manager 22,000 28,000
HR Operations Manager 22,000 30,000
Talent & Acquisition Manager 22,000 27,000
Employee Relations Manager 19,000 24,000
Recruitment Manager 18,000 25,000
Training Manager 18,000 27,000
Learning & Development Specialist 15,000 18,000
HR Generalist 15,000 25,000
Recruitment Specialist 14,000 16,000
Talent & Acquisition Specialist 14,000 20,000
Recruiter 12,000 16,000
Page 14 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Like many sectors in Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 has talent, recruitment strategies need to be aligned
dramatically impacted investment management with the company’s growth objectives to ensure
(IM), as public and private sector firms and sovereign strong commitment and employee retention.
wealth funds review their operations in line with the Companies should openly communicate their
national growth agenda and invest accordingly. vision, mission and goals to external stakeholders to
generate a positive image of the company as this is
IM roles in the kingdom have seen an increase in becoming increasingly important.
market-rate salary ranges by average salary
increases of 5% over the past year, and 2020 is The recruitment industry notes a shortage of Saudi
expected to bring a continued high level of nationals in the market with the preferred IM
recruitment activity, assuming 5% rise in market- industry-accredited qualification from the CFA
rate salary ranges, given that a considerable number Institute. This, together with a rise in investment
of the main government projects are still in the activity across Saudi Arabia, has increased the need
initial stages. While state investment vehicles are to recruit candidates from overseas, especially from
accounting for a large proportion of IM recruits at financial capitals such as New York or London.
present, private sector hiring should gather Companies must ensure their salary packages are
momentum as projects require new funding at competitive globally while taking into account the
different stages of their life cycle. requirement to meet Saudisation standards.
Certain challenges firms faced in 2019 are likely to Given all the transformation, the Vision 2030 has
continue in the next year, including an outflow of brought, investment banking in Saudi Arabia has
talent to the public sector, which typically offers been relatively active in 2019. The country is the
enticing remuneration packages and exposure to leader among the GCC countries in equity capital
large-scale projects. Certain asset classes, such as markets with the real estate being one of the main
real estate and infrastructure, are experiencing sectors. This is not counting the Saudi Aramco IPO at
particularly intense competition for local talent, and the time of writing. Saudi Arabia has also been in a
it is becoming increasingly challenging to retain strong position when it comes to M&A and debt
Saudi national and expatriate talent, especially in capital markets with potentially more activity
the private sector, because of the attractive public happening next year. These factors actively
sector packages on offer. contribute to higher demands when it comes to
recruitment in the investment banking space in KSA
There is demand at present for IM professionals across all the major service lines.
working in private equity, M&A, real estate
development and investment, as well as board The most active locations for IM recruitment vary
members and staff in finance and investment according to industry, our experts say. Riyadh is the
operations. Demand will continue as investments hub when it comes to primary investment vehicles
grow, as there is significant demand for best and financial services, while the Eastern Province is
practices in board rooms, and Saudi-based more active in the industrial sectors. The Western
companies are increasingly looking outside the regions including Jeddah, have increased activity in
kingdom to bring international perspectives to the real estate, hospitality and tourism investment.
table. Real estate, meanwhile, is an extremely active
asset class in the kingdom and likely to remain
stable in the coming years. To attract and retain
Page 15 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

PRIVATE Chief Investment Officer 80,000 150,000+
SECTOR Head of Investments / Investment Director 75,000 110,000+
Investment Principal 60,000 77,000
VP / Asset Class Specialist 43,000 57,000
Investment Senior Associate 38,000 50,000
Investment Associate 25,000 35,000
Investment Analyst 10,000 22,000
PUBLIC Chief Investment Officer 125,000 200,000+
SECTOR Head of Investments / Investment Director 80,000 140,000+
Investment Principal 75,000 110,000
VP / Asset Class Specialist 65,000 87,000
Investment Senior Associate 50,000 68,000
ASSET Head of Asset Management 75,000 110,000
MANAGEMENT Head of Private Equity 75,000 110,000
Head of Business Development 70,000 95,000
Head of Real Estate 60,000 90,000
Business Development Senior Manager 45,000 65,000
Fund/Portfolio Manager 32,000 50,000
Business Development Manager 33,000 47,000
INVESTMENT Managing Director 90,000 140,000+
BANKING Head 70,000 110,000+
Director 55,000 80,000
Vice President 40,000 60,000
Associate 20,000 32,000
Analyst 13,000 22,000
Page 16 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
LEGAL
Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy and However, the UAE and other GCC markets are
grow the private sector under the Vision 2030 increasingly becoming target markets for
roadmap are bearing fruit, with a positive impact on recruitment, while public-private-partnership (PPP)
hiring trends in the legal industry. legal entities often seek lawyers from the UK, Europe
and Australia.
Private law firms on average are expecting a 3%
increase on market-rate salary ranges in 2020, and a The pace of regulatory change, through a swathe of
higher 8-10% rise for Saudi nationals, both in public government decrees and general transformation of
sector and large local and international private all industries in the kingdom at present, are constant
sector organisations for 2020. challenges for recruiters, but they are expected to
bring new opportunities in 2020. In the legal sector,
Sign-on (‘golden handshake’) bonuses are in-house teams are expected to expand further
becoming increasingly common as firms jostle for following a raft of C-suite-level appointments in
talent in a competitive market, organisations report. 2019, with an additional increase in junior-to-mid-
The most in-demand roles are senior in-house Saudi level hires.
national lawyers with a mix of private and public
sector experience. For private firms, Saudi national Drivers for candidates seeking to change jobs
associate-level lawyers with experience in banking include the need for continual learning and
or commercial law are most in-demand. development with a fresh and diversified client pool,
higher salaries and, for mid-senior lawyers, in
Vision 2030 has impacted the employment market particular, the quest for longer-term opportunities
across all sectors, creating new jobs through the in well-known organisations. Many other candidates
privatisation of government companies from across have reported exposure to challenge clients as a
10 sectors ranging from health, housing, education, reason for changing jobs.
labour, social affairs and energy, most notably the
initial public offering of state oil giant Saudi Aramco Expected skills shortages in 2020 include Saudi
and widespread legislative reforms to make it easier national lawyers with specific experience in M&A
to set up businesses and attract foreign capital to and investments, as well as bilingual corporate and
the kingdom. transaction lawyers with 4-6 years PQE (post-
qualification experience) in private practice.
As a result, Saudi Arabia has seen an increase in
merger and acquisition (M&A) and investment To retain talent, firms should offer career
activity, the commencement of super-size, or ‘giga’, progression, mentorship, and – given the
projects and a rise in large local family and holding increasingly young workforce in the kingdom,
companies overhauling their corporate governance constant feedback in the form of one-on-one
policies to comply with international standards. personal interaction and engagement.
The bulk of legal hiring activity continues to take

place in the capital Riyadh, due to it being the hub of
public sector employment with government
departments and other agencies based there and
the focal point of Vision 2030 initiatives.
Page 17 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
LEGAL
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

PRIVATE Partner (5+ yrs) 100,000 150,000
PRACTICE Partner (1-4 yrs) 65,000 100,000
REGIONAL FIRMS Counsel 50,000 85,000
Associate 25,000 40,000
Newly Qualified 20,000 35,000
Paralegal 14,000 25,000
Legal Secretary 12,500 20,000
PRIVATE Partner (5+ yrs) 100,000 180,000
PRACTICE Partner (1-4 yrs) 75,000 100,000
US & UK FIRMS Counsel 60,000 90,000
Associate 35,000 55,000
Newly Qualified 25,000 35,000
Paralegal 16,000 28,000
DEAL ADVISORY & Chief General Counsel 90,000 120,000
TRANSACTION Director / Head 60,000 90,000
SERVICES General Counsel 50,000 65,000
Senior Legal Counsel 40,000 50,000
Legal Counsel 35,000 45,000
Junior Legal Counsel / Advisor 25,000 40,000
Paralegal 14,000 24,000
Page 18 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
MANUFACTURING & SUPPLY CHAIN
2020 is set to be a busy year for manufacturing in impacting the business, to increase motivation and
Saudi Arabia. In line with Vision 2030, there are commitment.
numerous large-scale developments commencing
in the kingdom and quality recruitment activity in Overall, there are some major growth drivers for the
the early stages of these projects will be critical to Saudi manufacturing and supply chain, not least a
their future success. Companies and the Saudi forecast $70 billion of investment into
government are looking to build robust and reliable manufacturing in the kingdom that is expected to
supply chains and seek fresh talent to ensure contribute to estimated 7.5% annual growth in the
deadlines are met. industry.
Salaries for manufacturing jobs rose in 2019 as The Saudi government is building new R&D facilities
market activity grew, and the expectation is the as one of the lynchpins of future economic growth.
growth in market salary ranges will continue into Significant funding, for example in the form of loans
2020 by 2%. The most in-demand roles are research from the government’s Saudi Industrial
and development (R&D) and procurement, while Development Fund (SIDF), will help to boost the
technical advisors are needed across all industries industrial and manufacturing sector in 2020 and
to deliver specialist projects. contribute to a positive outlook overall.
However, despite high levels of activity, businesses Recruitment activity is expected to centre around
firms could face recruitment challenges in 2020. In Dammam and Khobar in the east, as well as state-
2019, many organisations clients struggled to backed mega-projects in the West, and the capital
attract talent, often due to fierce competition city of Riyadh.
between the public and private sectors firms for
quality candidates. What is more, with a large
workload of project activity already underway,
companies firms are busier than usual and have less
time to devise considered hiring strategies.
Nationalisation of the workforce is another

challenge, as high demand for Saudi national talent
to meet the requirements of Saudisation is creating
fierce competition for talent.
To secure and retain the best talent, businesses

should employ professionals that are the right
cultural fit for their organisation. They should also
invest in employees’ career growth and future job
satisfaction. Learning and development
programmes are key here, as are clear guidelines to
individual staff as to how they are progressing on the
career ladder and positive feedback on how they are
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©Cooper Fitch 2019
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

MANUFACTURING Managing Director 95,000 130,000
Operations Director 78,000 112,000
Chief Production Officer 66,000 82,000
General Manager 55,000 80,000
Head of R&D 35,000 47,000
Operations Manager 27,000 41,500
Plant / Factory Manager 27,000 39,000
Process Development Manager 24,000 35,000
Production Manager 26,000 33,000
Master Black Belt 17,500 30,000
HSE Manager 19,000 29,000
Quality Manager Assurance and Control 23,000 28,000
Maintenance Manager 20,000 28,000
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt 16,000 23,000
Process Innovation Manager 18,000 23,000
Continuous Improvement Manager 16,000 21,000
HSE Engineer 13,000 17,000
Production Supervisor 10,000 16,000
Quality Engineer Assurance and Control 13,000 16,000
Civil Engineer 9,000 16,000
Design Engineer 9,000 16,000
Process Engineer 12,000 15,000
Manufacturing Engineer 12,000 15,000
Maintenance Engineer 10,000 14,000
Electrical Engineer 10,000 14,000
Mechanical Engineer 10,000 13,000
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©Cooper Fitch 2019
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

SUPPLY CHAIN General Manager 60,000 90,000
Procurement Director 48,000 69,000
Supply Chain Director 46,000 67,000
Supply Chain Manager 24,000 38,000
Trade Compliance Manager 19,000 37,000
Procurement Manager 23,000 36,000
Operations Manager 20,000 36,000
Contracts Manager 25,000 30,000
Demand / Supply Planning Manager 21,000 26,000
Logistics Manager 16,000 26,000
Bid Manager 18,000 26,000
Materials Manager 16,000 25,000
Category Manager 20,000 25,000
Senior Contracts Engineer 15,000 23,000
Warehouse Manager 15,000 20,000
Demand / Supply Planner 11,000 16,000
Buyer 12,000 15,000
Materials Engineer 10,000 14,000
Warehouse Supervisor 9,000 13,000
Page 21 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
PUBLIC SECTOR
Hiring in Saudi Arabia’s public sector has reached a
critical juncture as governments seek to quell rapid HIstorically inflated salaries is a significant
inflation of public sector salaries over the past three challenge, as it gives jobseekers unrealistic
years. Yet, at the same time, they are trying to hire expectations. Other challenges include the speed of
experienced and talented private sector employees change in the economy, which puts pressure on
to lead high-octane government projects under organisations to quickly adapt, as well as a general
Vision 2030, which continues to drive up their costs. cultural shift within government entities as they
seek a more commercial private sector way of
Public sector salaries in the kingdom are expected to operating. This is altering workforce requirements
rise by 3% in 2020 across the full spectrum of state and changing job descriptions.
departments and semi government-owned
organisations. The Vision 2030 economic Technological advances are also altering
development roadmap has positively impacted the government operations, as CIOs (chief information
employment market across all sectors, with an officers) have bigger budgets and the strategies to
increase in merger and acquisition (M&A) and ensure pioneering technologies, such as e-
investment activities, development of ‘giga- Government systems, are being utilised.
projects’, privatisation of government companies,
implementation of new business legislation and a Meanwhile, high demand for Saudi national talent is
significant drive to boost the tourism and cultural raising competition between state entities.
sector. Organisations would do well to carefully consider
the cultural and personality fit of candidates to
Recruitment activity in the year ahead is set to ensure they can fulfil the job description, our experts
continue the momentum it built up in 2019, with an say. When recruiting expatriate staff, care must be
expected increase in hires of top Saudi and taken to ensure transparency and consistency in
international talent. The privatisation agenda is terms of the requirements of the role, and, once in
prompting new demand for PPP (public-private the position, organisations should provide career
partnership), transaction and economic progression, mentorship and training to retain
development advisors from global markets, with a talent.
focus on decentralising activities out of Riyadh and
Jeddah. However, Riyadh will remain the hub of The top driver for candidates seeking a new role is
public sector recruitment in Saudi Arabia, our the desire to be part of the social, economic and
experts predict. cultural reforms taking place as part of Vision 2030.
For candidates coming from the private sector, it is
Other in-demand roles in 2020 include public policy their interest in leveraging private sector experience
experts, economic researchers, international and international education within fast-evolving
destination management experts as Saudi seeks to government entities.
boost its tourism industry, advisors across all
disciplines, and transformation experts. There is a Riyadh remains the prime location for Saudi talent,
notable shortage of economic development and while the US, UK, South Africa, Ireland and Asia-
PPP advisors in the kingdom at present, and Pacific are the top international source markets for
organisations will continue looking to international advisors, subject matter experts and board advisory
markets to fill these roles. positions.
Page 22 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
PUBLIC SECTOR
ROLES MIN MAX

Secretariat General 200,000+
Governor 150,000 225,000
Deputy Minister 125,000 200,000
Director General 120,000 180,000
Vice Governor 100,000 150,000
Chief Economist 90,000 150,000
Chief of Staff and Human Capital 80,000 110,000
Chief of Administration & Shared Services 80,000 110,000
International Subject Matter Expert / Advisor 70,000 110,000
Assistant Deputy Minister 80,000 100,000
Deputy Director General 80,000 100,000
Public Policy Director 70,000 100,000
Chief of Communications 70,000 90,000
Director of Human Resources 60,000 80,000
Senior Economist 50,000 70,000
Policy Specialist 40,000 55,000
Economist 22,000 35,000
Policy Analyst 18,000 28,000
Page 23 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
SALES & MARKETING
Saudi Arabia’s diversifying economy is helping to training employees and devising other schemes to
buoy the sales and marketing sector, with a robust cement their commitment to the role.
5% increase in average salaries in 2019, and the
expectation of a further 5% increase in market salary Most job seekers in this field are looking for career
ranges in 2020. progression and salary growth. The most in-demand
roles include those in media, advertising and
Development of the private sector through Vision communications. In Saudi Arabia, as with most
2030 initiatives including construction, commerce global markets, technology is disrupting traditional
and tourism schemes underway in the kingdom, employment trends due to the rate of production
such as Neom, the Riyadh Metro and the G20 global and speed at which business occurs. Knowledge and
summit in November have created plenty of expertise working with emerging technologies or
employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and using cutting-edge sales and marketing systems is
expats. As a result, the overall number of hires is therefore highly desirable to businesses.
expected to rise by 8-10% in 2020, our experts say.
Overall in 2020, Riyadh will continue to be the
The sales and marketing roles analysed for his busiest part of the kingdom for sales and marketing
report span multiple industries including technical, recruitment activity as it is the epicentre of most
manufacturing, building materials, oil and gas, state-backed projects, followed by Jeddah for
marketing and communication, FMCG (mainly food marketing and communication roles. Meanwhile,
and beverage), retail (consumer goods) and the industrial region of Al Jubail, where most of the
healthcare, including medical devices and oil and gas and manufactuing firms are based, is a
pharmaceutical. hotspot for technical sales roles. The GCC is
expected to be the top source market for sales
Organisations report that it is much easier to attract candidates in 2020, followed by Asia and Europe, our
expats to work in Saudi Arabia now compared to in experts say.
previous years, as the economy is buoyant and
adjustments are being made to modernise Saudi
society.
The biggest challenge confronting firms is sourcing

quality candidates with realistic salary expectations.
Businesses are increasingly merging several jobs
into one, while there is high demand for Saudi
national talent to meet the requirements of
Saudisation is creating fierce competition for talent.
Saudi nationals often opt for public sector roles that
offer more money, particularly state-led ‘giga-
projects’ such as Neom, forcing the private sector to
work harder to retain talented employees.
Employee retention is, therefore, a critical issue in

this sector and will continue to be so in 2020. Firms
are aware of the high cost of rapid employee
turnover and need to invest in supporting and
Page 24 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
SALES & MARKETING
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

FMCG General Manager 57,000 65,000
Sales Director 45,000 57,000
Country Manager 45,000 55,000
Regional Sales Manager 36,000 41,000
Area Sales Manager 27,000 35,000
Sales Manager 27,000 35,000
Brand Manager 22,000 32,000
Key Account Manager 19,000 22,000
Trade Marketing Manager 18,000 21,000
Sales Executive 14,000 17,000
HEALTHCARE Regional Commercial Director 61,000 70,000
Regional Sales Director 45,000 52,000
Regional Commercial Manager 46,000 52,000
Snr. Business Development Manager 34,000 41,000
Market Access Manager 35,000 41,000
Business Development Manager 28,000 34,000
Product Specialist 22,000 31,000
Sales Representative 19,000 28,000
RETAIL Sales Director 45,000 70,000
General Manager 50,000 63,000
Regional Brand Manager 36,000 42,000
Sales Executive 15,000 19,000
Store Manager 15,000 18,000
Sales Assistant 11,000 15,000
Page 25 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
SALES & MARKETING
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

MARKETING & Regional Commercial Director 58,000 68,000
COMMUNICATIONS Head of Corporate Communications 49,000 63,000
Marketing Director 47,000 60,000
Digital Account Director 32,000 41,000
PR Account Director 31,000 37,000
Corporate Communications Manager 29,000 37,000
Marketing Manager 23,000 31,000
Digital Account Manager 23,000 28,000
PR Account Manager 21,000 27,000
Marketing Executive 10,000 15,000
PR Account Executive 11,000 14,000
TECHNICAL SALES Sales Director 57,000 63,000
District Manager 37,000 45,000
Technical Sales Manager 29,000 35,000
Technical Account Manager 17,000 23,000
Inside Sales Engineer 11,000 18,000
Sales Engineer 14,000 17,000
Application Sales Engineer 11,000 17,000
Page 26 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
STRATEGY
Strategy and consulting roles in Saudi Arabia Challenges facing firms in the strategy sector
recorded significant salary increases in 2019, driven include competition for Saudi national talent,
by growth in markets such as defence, especially in the public sector with its high
telecommunications, healthcare, telecoms and remuneration packages, while private sector firms
tourism and culture. Implementation of the
kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic roadmap is report high salary demands from candidates.
prompting fresh demand for strategy professionals Candidates wanting to move within the private
both in industry and consulting and this is set to sector purely for salary increases may find
continue in 2020. themselves disappointed by the end of the process
as firms cannot always significantly increase
For industry consultants, we expect the market-rate remuneration unless compensating for increased
salary ranges to increase by 7% and consulting, 5%. responsibility, given that salary brackets from firm
Although the increase in new recruit salaries were to firm within the private sector tend to be fairly
reported much higher for Saudi national employees, similar.
reaching 35-40% if they moved from the private
sector to the public sector, our experts report. A Organisations in this sector are also facing
royal decree implemented in 2019 seeks to challenges keeping candidates engaged through
incentivise employment within the private sector by lengthy hiring processes, especially for public sector
curbing public sector pay rises is expected to help roles. On average, recruitment for strategy roles in
stabilise public sector salaries. So far, though, it has Saudi Arabia takes between 4-6 months, our experts
led to an increase in bonuses and other say. Sometimes visa delays can hold up recruitment
discretionary benefits. of non-Saudi nationals, although the introduction of
the new tourist visa will help to facilitate face-to-
There is likely to be a continued steady flow of new face interviews for overseas candidates.
strategy recruits to the public sector, particularly in Organisations must ensure they design streamlined
the fields of tourism, entertainment, heritage and recruitment processes that prioritise enhancing the
culture, where the government is making sizeable candidate’s experience.
investments to boost the national economy.
The most in-demand roles for 2020 include strategy
Experts predict a continued uptick in recruitment & planning, corporate performance, initiative
within the strategy and consulting sector in the year management and advisor positions. The high
ahead. In general, there is much rotation within the demand for Saudi national talent is creating fierce
industry, and firms are investing in growing their competition for talent. High Demand for strategy
Saudi offices in response to pressure from local knowledge and experience working on short-term
clients to have a physical presence in the kingdom. projects, such as growth or market entry strategies,
Previously, they may have served the Saudi market and this is expected to continue in 2020.
from regional headquarters in the UAE or elsewhere.
Page 27 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
STRATEGY
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

PRIVATE SECTOR Chief Strategy Officer 100,000+
Director 65,000 72,000
Manager 45,000 55,000
Analyst 18,000 25,000
TIER 1 & 2 Partner 125,000+
FIRMS Principal 81,000 92,000
Engagement Manager 54,000 63,000
Associate 37,000 49,000
Business Analyst 19,000 33,000
MANAGEMENT Partner (5+ yrs) 150,000+
CONSULTING Partner (1-4 yrs) 90,000 110,000
Director 55,000 70,000
Manager 32,000 37,000
Senior Consultant 21,000 24,500
Consultant 14,000 18,000
PUBLIC SECTOR Head of SMO 85,000 130,000
Head of PMO 75,000+
Strategy Director 62,000 79,000
Portfolio Manager 55,000 67,000
Program Manager 45,000 52,000
Strategy Manager 32,000 45,000
Project Manager 28,000 39,000
Strategy Analyst 18,000 25,000
Project Coordinator 18,000 22,000
Page 28 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
TECHNOLOGY
Advances in technology are disrupting the applications will be in high demand in 2020, our
employment world globally and regionally, and, in experts add. Meanwhile, CIOs (chief information
Saudi Arabia, governments and businesses are busy officers) at large businesses are under pressure to
recruiting technology professionals to help them grow profit by making better use of cloud
navigate the changes. At the same time, many global technologies, which is fuelling demand for senior
technology giants are spotting lucrative professionals with experience in leading and
opportunities in the Gulf’s biggest market and transforming businesses through cloud computing.
expanding their operations there, with positive
implications for hiring in this sector. Technology is displacing some jobs altogether.
Roles most susceptible to automation are physical
For this report, technology jobs include roles within ones in-process and routine-driven environments
technology companies, vendors, consultancy firms, such as factories. Automation could have a positive
digital and end-user, which covers all industries. impact, though, as it will require specialist staff to
develop the technologies needed to facilitate
Technology market-rate salary ranges in the change, our experts note.
kingdom saw a small increase of around 1-2% on
average in 2019 driven by increased competition as Businesses are increasingly looking to capitalise on
professionals jostled to work for the organisations the Internet of Things (IoT), the concept of everyday
adopting the most cutting-edge technology devices wired up to the internet to smooth everyday
strategies. We are expecting a 2% increase in salary living. Businesses are also looking to adopt
ranges in 2020. platforms to enable the Internet of Things (IoT), the
concept of everyday devices wired up to the internet
The kingdom’s two largest cities, Riyadh and to smooth everyday living, which is prompting
Jeddah, currently account for the largest amount of demand for network engineers across UAE firms.
technology recruitment activity and this is expected
to continue. In addition, other GCC countries have To attract the best candidates, businesses should
redirected technology resources to Saudi Arabia in seek exciting ways of using technology to support
response to Vision 2030 economic diversification business growth, as jobseekers in this sector are
initiatives, in turn encouraging technology SMEs and competing for experience in implementing the latest
start-ups to launch in the kingdom. advances in order to develop their careers.
The most in-demand technology roles in 2020 will be

in digital, such as online portals and apps, as more
companies seek to offer their customers a seamless,
digitalised experience. Data scientists, data
architects and software developers will also be
highly sought after as businesses seek to capture
and deploy data-driven insights.
Cybersecurity roles will be another critical function,

and professionals with API (application programme
interface) skills needed for building open source
Page 29 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
TECHNOLOGY
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

CLIENT Chief Digital Officer 90,000 135,000
Digital Marketing Director 43,000 67,000
Head of Digital 51,000 66,000
Senior Digital Marketing Manager 33,000 43,000
Digital Marketing Manager 23,000 33,000
Senior Digital Marketing Executive 18,000 23,000
CREATIVE CX (UX, XD, SX) Managing Consultant 37,000 43,000
AGENCY CX (UX, XD, SX) Consultant 22,000 32,000
UX/UI Designer 20,000 31,000
CONSULTANCY Partner (5+ yrs) 110,000 162,000
Partner (1-4 yrs) 81,000 107,000
Director 45,500 66,000
Snr Manager 30,500 36,000
Manager 21,000 31,000
Snr Consultant 17,000 21,500
Consultant 14,000 18,500
Page 30 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
TECHNOLOGY
ROLES TITLE MIN MAX

INFORMATION Chief Information Officer (CIO) 85,500 113,000
TECHNOLOGY Head of I.T 43,500 68,000
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) 69,000 87,000
Lead Architect 47,000 62,000
I.T Manager 33,500 42,000
Service Delivery Manager 27,500 30,500
Service Desk Team Leader 18,000 23,500
Network Engineer 14,000 17,500
VENDOR VP of Sales 75,000 98,000
Sales Director 43,500 53,500
Pre-Sales Director 43,500 50,000
Professional Services Director 41,500 48,000
Pre-Sales Manager 30,500 34,000
Professional Services Manager 26,500 33,000
Pre-Sales Engineer 21,000 27,000
Inside Sales Manager 19,000 25,500
Inside Sales 12,000 14,500
Page 31 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The rise of next-generation technologies such as 5G, There are also skills shortages in the emerging
Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI), TowerCo space (which involves maximising revenue
as well as changes in the way consumers and from existing telecoms infrastructure), where it is
businesses use traditional data and voice services, common to see expats with technical and product
have altered the telecommunications industry in development expertise being relocated from mature
Saudi Arabia, with implications for hiring in this markets to fill the gap. It is a particularly new field in
sector. Saudi Arabia and many telecom tower vendors have
yet to tap into the market, although this is expected
Our experts predict the creation of many new to change in 2020.
telecoms roles in 2020 and beyond, particularly in
5G development and AI, which could help automate A further hiring-related challenge is a rise in carrier
back-office telecoms operations and customer and vendor firms launching operations in the
service interactions. Sales and pre-sales specialists kingdom without having a physical office, which
will also be in high demand, especially Saudi makes it hard to recruit staff who prefer the social
national talent in line with the kingdom’s aspect of working alongside others. However, there
Saudisation agenda. is a rise in talent relocation to Saudi Arabia from
other GCC countries, as job opportunities swell on
In 2019, salaries rose by 2% across all aspects of the the back of the government’s Vision 2030 economic
telecoms industry, including vendor, carrier and agenda. This is boosting the talent pool for telecoms
internet service provider (ISP) verticals. The steady and other industries and keeping recruitment
upward trend is expected to continue in 2020 with activity in Riyadh and Jeddah very busy.
an expected 2% rise in market salary range despite
persistent challenges, our experts say. Last year, job To align operations more closely with Vision 2030
vacancies in the telecoms industry were open for objectives, state-owned telco Saudi Telecoms
significantly longer than in previous years due to Company (STC) has created new ventures, such as
difficulties in finding the right candidate based on TAWAL and DARE, to diversify the group’s offering.
expertise and culture, compounded by the state TAWAL is responsible for leading STC’s activities in
requirement of hiring Saudi nationals for crucial the emerging fields of 5G and IoT within the telecom
strategic positions. tower space, and is likely to stimulate telecoms-
related hiring in the years ahead.
A high demand for Saudi national talent with
techno-commercial skills, creating fierce
competition for talent. candidates with techno-
commercial skills, who can steer firms through
periods of industry-wide upheaval. Higher salaries in
the public sector, as well as the perceived prestige of
working within a government or semi-government
telecoms company, increases already fierce
competition in the industry. Many telecoms firms
are focussing on ‘campus recruitment’, hiring Saudi
national graduates and providing training to nurture
them in their careers.
Page 32 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
ROLES MIN MAX

Chief Commercial Officer / VP of Sales 97,000 124,500
Country Head / General Manager / Sales Director 72,000 90,500
Pre-Sales Director 56,000 66,500
Solutions Architect 42,000 62,000
Regional Sales Manager / Account Director 48,000 60,500
Enterprise Sales / Territory Sales Manager / Account Manager 38,000 47,500
Pre-Sales Manager 36,000 44,500
Customer Project Manager 32,000 43,500
Account Executive 27,000 37,500
Pre-Sales Engineer 26,000 32,500
Network Specialist 19,500 27,000
Inside Sales Manager 20,500 25,500
Page 33 of 33
©Cooper Fitch 2019

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KSA SALARY GUIDE

ABOUT COOPER FITCH

We provide comprehensive compensation and benefits analysis

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In terms of candidates, the most significant demand

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However, organisations in Saudi have faced

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The most in-demand roles will be generalists

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The bulk of legal hiring activity continues to take

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Nationalisation of the workforce is another

To secure and retain the best talent, businesses

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The biggest challenge confronting firms is sourcing

Employee retention is, therefore, a critical issue in

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The most in-demand technology roles in 2020 will be

Cybersecurity roles will be another critical function,

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