Pay by Role
Saudi Arabia · Salary comparison

Database Administrator vs Software Engineer salary

In Saudi Arabia, a software engineer earns about 31% more than a database administrator $99,733 vs $76,000 per year.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is SAR). FX as of Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Technology
Database Administrator
$76,000/yr
Monthly
$6,347
Hourly
$37
Range
$51,387$106,107
10-yr outlook
+9%
Pays more
Technology
Software Engineer
$99,733/yr
Monthly
$8,320
Hourly
$48
Range
$63,840$143,627
10-yr outlook
+17%

Pay range, side by side

PercentileDatabase AdministratorSoftware Engineer
Entry (10th)$51,387$63,840
25th$63,680$81,787
Median$76,000$99,733
75th$91,040$121,680
Senior (90th)$106,107$143,627

National Saudi Arabia figures in SAR. Individual pay varies with experience, employer, and location.

More Technology comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Does a database administrator or software engineer earn more in Saudi Arabia?
A software engineer earns more, at about ‏374,000 ر.س.‏ per year vs ‏285,000 ر.س.‏ for a database administrator — roughly 31% (‏89,000 ر.س.‏) more.
What is the salary range for these roles in Saudi Arabia?
A database administrator typically earns ‏192,700 ر.س.‏–‏397,900 ر.س.‏, while a software engineer earns ‏239,400 ر.س.‏–‏538,600 ر.س.‏ per year.
How much do these jobs pay per month in Saudi Arabia?
On a monthly basis before tax, a database administrator averages about ‏23,800 ر.س.‏ and a software engineer about ‏31,200 ر.س.‏.
How do entry-level salaries compare?
At the 10th percentile in Saudi Arabia, a database administrator earns about ‏192,700 ر.س.‏ while a software engineer earns about ‏239,400 ر.س.‏ per year.
How do senior-level salaries compare?
At the 90th percentile in Saudi Arabia, a database administrator earns about ‏397,900 ر.س.‏ while a software engineer earns about ‏538,600 ر.س.‏ per year.
Are database administrator and software engineer similar careers?
Both roles sit in the Technology category on Pay by Role, which is why we compare them head-to-head. Day-to-day work still differs — review each job page for skills and outlook.