Skilled Trades · Saudi Arabia

Chef Salary in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabia median is $48,000 per year, with observed city pay up to Riyadh at $33,600.

Showing amounts in USD (USD default; source data is SAR). FX as of Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:02:31 +0000. Convert currencies

Chef pay in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh leads, Riyadh trails

The Saudi Arabia national median for a chef is ‏180,000 ر.س.‏ a year. Among 1 metros with observed data, pay runs from about ‏126,000 ر.س.‏ in Riyadh to ‏126,000 ر.س.‏ in Riyadh (1×).

Chefs plan menus, prepare food, and lead kitchen teams. Common screening skills include Cooking, Menu design, Leadership, and Food safety.

A modeled national band runs about ‏115,200 ر.س.‏–‏259,200 ر.س.‏ around that midpoint. Licensing and immigration rules are independent of this cash sort. Employment outlook for the occupation is sketched at +5% over a decade — a national demand guess, not a hiring guarantee in every Saudi city.

When metro percentiles appear, prefer those over this national midpoint for a named city. Until then, treat ‏180,000 ر.س.‏ as a country-level sketch and pressure-test any offer with tax and cost-of-living tools.

Saudi Arabia shows about 2.1% CPI in 2025. A chef raise that trails inflation is a real-pay cut even if it still beats last year’s peers. This occupation is also covered in 39 other countries — useful for remote or relocation shortlists, after FX and local tax. Nearby skilled trades titles on this site include Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, and Welder.

How to use Chef pay data in Saudi Arabia

Start with the national median (‏180,000 ر.س.‏), then pick the metro where you would actually work. Observed city rows below are stronger than a pay-index guess. If your city is missing, stay on this page for the country figure and check the Saudi Arabia hub for other careers.

Convert gross through the salary calculator before comparing two cities — tax and rent often reorder a cash ranking. Figures are estimates for research, not employer bands.

National band vs top metro

National sketch: ‏115,200 ر.س.‏ (10th) → ‏180,000 ر.س.‏ (median) → ‏259,200 ر.س.‏ (90th). Riyadh’s observed median is ‏126,000 ر.س.‏, with a local band about ‏87,800 ر.س.‏–‏180,000 ر.س.‏. If an offer is “at the Saudi Arabia median” but the job is in Riyadh, you may still be under local market.

National median
$48,000
per year
Monthly (national)
$4,000
per month, before tax
Highest-paying city
$33,600
Riyadh, SA
Hourly (national)
$23.08
varies by city

Chef salary by city in Saudi Arabia

Cities below have observed metro percentiles for this role. Prefer these over national-only estimates when you are relocating to a specific market.

CityPer year
Riyadh, SA$33,600

Chef salary in other countries

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Related Skilled Trades salaries in Saudi Arabia

ElectricianPlumberCarpenterWelderHVAC Technician

Frequently asked questions

How much does a chef make in Saudi Arabia?
The national median is about ‏180,000 ر.س.‏ per year. Across 1 observed cities, pay ranges from about ‏126,000 ر.س.‏ to ‏126,000 ر.س.‏.
Which Saudi Arabia city pays chefs the most?
Riyadh, SA leads observed metros at about ‏126,000 ر.س.‏ per year (-30% vs national).
How many Saudi Arabia cities have chef salary data?
1 metros list observed chef percentiles in SAR on this site.
Is chef in demand in Saudi Arabia?
Occupation-level employment is projected at about +5% over ten years. Local hiring still follows Saudi industry mix.