khushboo 
Step into Riyadh at 7 a.m. and watch the rush. Cars jam intersections, the desert sun already burns hot, and towers glow with office lights. Inside those glass walls, decisions are made that carry heavy paychecks. The highest paying jobs in Saudi Arabia 2025 are shaping lives, drawing talent, and raising expectations.
Two realities run side by side. One is built on fortune and comfort, the other on long hours and little reward. Compare 10 billionaire jobs you can do to become rich in no time with top 10 worst jobs in the world and the gap is clear. Some careers buy freedom. Others test patience.
Salary Overview in Saudi Arabia 2025
| Profession | Estimated Monthly Salary (USD) | Industry Focus |
| Surgeon / Specialist Doctor | $30,000 – $70,000 | Healthcare |
| CEO / Executive Leadership | $25,000 – $60,000 | Corporate / Mixed |
| Petroleum Engineer | $20,000 – $50,000 | Oil & Gas |
| Orthodontist / Dental Specialist | $20,000 – $45,000 | Healthcare |
| IT Director / CTO | $12,000 – $20,000 | Technology |
| Data Scientist / AI Expert | $9,000 – $14,000 | Technology |
| Project Manager (Mega Projects) | $10,000 – $18,000 | Construction / Infrastructure |
| Corporate Lawyer | $15,000 – $25,000 | Legal / Finance |
| Investment Banker | $20,000 – $40,000 | Banking & Finance |
| Airline Pilot | $15,000 – $25,000 | Aviation |
Highest paying jobs in Saudi Arabia 2025 – top careers to pursue
These careers dominate pay charts in the kingdom. Each job carries its own pressures—sleepless nights, constant calls, or risks that cannot be brushed aside.
1. Surgeon / Specialist Doctor
Operating rooms are loud with monitors and sterile with the smell of antiseptic. Surgeons push through long cases, sometimes stretching past midnight. Their training is endless, their responsibility heavy, but their pay remains the highest in the country.
2. CEO / Executive Leadership
Inside corner offices, CEOs juggle shareholders, expansion plans, and markets that shift without warning. Their packages are layered with salary and bonuses. Stress runs high, but boards pay well to keep the ship steady.
3. Petroleum Engineer
Desert rigs hum with machinery. Petroleum engineers endure heat, dust, and weeks away from home. They design extraction systems that keep oil flowing. The work is unforgiving, but the money keeps them among the top earners.
4. Orthodontist / Dental Specialist
Walk into a clinic in Jeddah and you’ll see packed waiting rooms. Cosmetic dentistry is no longer a luxury—it’s routine. Orthodontists adjust braces, perfect smiles, and walk out with salaries that rival top executives.
5. IT Director / Chief Technology Officer
Every major project depends on systems that can’t afford to fail. IT directors sit behind screens but carry the weight of entire operations. A network crash can halt a billion-dollar build. Their pay reflects that constant tension.
6. Data Scientist / AI Expert
Numbers fill the screens of data teams. They model traffic, predict energy use, and support smart city projects. It’s technical, detailed, and sometimes mind-numbing, but the pay is strong enough to keep experts locked in.
7. Project Manager – Infrastructure & Construction
Project managers spend mornings in suits and afternoons in helmets. Meetings, site inspections, late emails—it never ends. But delays cost millions, so their salaries remain high. They are the bridge between architects and ground crews.
8. Corporate Lawyer
Contracts pile high on desks in Riyadh’s financial district. Corporate lawyers comb through every clause, hunting for risks. Their work is tedious, sometimes thankless, but when billions are at stake, their expertise is rewarded well.
9. Investment Banker
Wealth never sleeps. Investment bankers push through late nights in glass towers, moving money and closing deals. They take on pressure that burns people out quickly, but for those who last, the pay is among the strongest.
10. Airline Pilot
Pilots sit in cockpits with dry air hissing through vents and instruments glowing in the dark. They guide hundreds of lives across continents. The responsibility is crushing, but airlines pay heavily for steady hands and calm judgement.
Changing salary trends in 2025
The way companies pay has changed. Expatriates once collected housing, cars, and school fees on top of their income. Now, firms prefer to offer bigger single salaries. Some miss the perks, but many prefer the simplicity.
Performance bonuses have become sharper too. Miss a target and income drops. Hit every mark and the paycheck grows fat. Workers complain about pressure, but companies see it as discipline. Average salaries in the country hover near $3,000 a month. Yet surgeons, bankers, and CEOs often pull in $40,000 or more, showing just how wide the gap has grown.
Future outlook for professionals in Saudi Arabia
The country is shifting. Oil still pays the bills, but the government is pumping money into renewables, tourism, and entertainment. Those projects will create the next wave of high-earning jobs.
Local graduates are entering in greater numbers, but the demand for skill remains high enough that expatriates continue to find strong offers. By 2026, expect green energy engineers, cultural project leaders, and AI technicians to join the list of top earners.
FAQs
What is the average salary in Saudi Arabia 2025?
The national average is about $3,000 per month, but the highest paying jobs in Saudi Arabia 2025 easily cross $40,000.
Which career earns the most?
Surgeons remain the highest paid, with monthly earnings between $30,000 and $70,000 depending on specialization.
Do CEOs earn more than doctors?
CEOs in major corporations earn between $25,000 and $60,000 monthly, putting them close to top doctors.
Are technology roles part of the high-paying list?
Yes. IT directors, CTOs, and data scientists are well paid, driven by mega projects and smart city development.
Which new sectors will create high salaries soon?
Renewable energy, tourism, and entertainment industries are expected to bring new six-figure jobs to Saudi Arabia.
