Nurse Salary in Saudi Arabia by Specialty
Average Nurse Salary in Saudi Arabia (2025)
Across all specialties, registered nurses in Saudi Arabia earn an average monthly salary between SAR 12,500 and SAR 15,300, including base pay and common allowances such as housing and transport. Salaries in major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam trend toward the upper range due to higher living costs and increased private healthcare investment.
Government hospitals typically follow fixed pay scales with steady benefits, while private tertiary and international hospitals offer higher base salaries, flexible packages, and opportunities for faster career advancement.
Salary by Specialty
1. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Critical Care (CCU) Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 12,000 – 18,000
- High Range: Up to SAR 22,000 for senior or charge nurses
- Notes: ICU nurses are among the highest-paid due to the complexity of care, need for certifications such as ACLS or CCRN, and round-the-clock availability. Demand remains strong across both public and private hospitals.
2. Operating Room (OR) / Perioperative Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 8,000 – 18,000
- Notes: OR nurses with advanced perioperative training and first-assistant experience often earn higher rates. Private surgical centers and specialized hospitals offer additional incentives for on-call or overtime duties.
3. Emergency Room (ER) Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 8,500 – 18,000
- Notes: ER nurses handle acute trauma and emergency cases, often receiving additional pay for night and weekend shifts. Major trauma hospitals pay at the upper end of this range.
4. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 9,000 – 20,000
- Notes: Highly specialized field; Level III NICU nurses are particularly valued. These roles are concentrated in tertiary centers and maternity hospitals.
5. Dialysis / Hemodialysis Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 10,000 – 14,400
- Notes: Consistently high demand driven by chronic kidney disease prevalence. Dialysis nurses in large medical complexes earn toward the upper range, while smaller centers offer modest pay.
6. Oncology Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 9,000 – 20,000
- Notes: Oncology nursing is a growing specialty as cancer treatment units expand nationwide. Nurses with chemotherapy certification or infusion expertise are compensated above the median.
7. Pediatric Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 7,000 – 15,000
- Notes: Salaries depend on hospital type and pediatric specialization. Roles in intensive pediatric settings or tertiary children’s hospitals command higher compensation.
8. Staff Nurses (General Ward)
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 3,800 – 13,000
- Notes: Broad range reflecting entry-level to experienced roles. Most general ward staff nurses earn between SAR 6,000 and SAR 8,000 monthly, with additional housing and transport allowances.
9. Dental Nurses
- Average Monthly Salary: SAR 3,800 – 4,700
- Notes: Typically employed in private dental clinics and medical centers. Compensation is lower than hospital-based nursing roles but often includes steady schedules and shorter shifts.
10. Cardiac (CCU) Nurse
- Average Monthly Salary (2025): 9,000 – 13,500 SAR
- Notes: Cardiac care nurses manage post-operative and chronic heart patients. The need for CCU nurses is growing with the national increase in cardiovascular cases. Those with ACLS/BLS certification and catheterization lab experience earn the highest salaries.
11. Infection Control Nurse
- Average Monthly Salary (2025): 9,000 – 12,500 SAR
- Notes: Since COVID-19, infection control nurses have become integral to all healthcare facilities. They are responsible for implementing prevention protocols, auditing compliance, and training clinical staff. Those with CIC certification or public health backgrounds command higher pay.
12. Nurse Educator / Clinical Instructor
- Average Monthly Salary (2025): 10,000 – 15,000 SAR
- Notes: Nurse educators and clinical instructors are essential for developing the next generation of Saudi nurses. Salaries are higher in teaching hospitals and universities, often with housing and transportation allowances. Advanced degrees (Master’s or PhD in Nursing) are required for top-tier positions.
13. BSc Nurse
- Average Monthly Salary (2025): 6,500 – 10,500 SAR
- Notes: BSc nurses form the backbone of clinical staffing in both public and private hospitals. Entry-level nurses with less than two years of experience usually earn around 6,500–7,500 SAR, while those with five or more years can reach 10,000 SAR or higher. Salaries are higher in tertiary care and specialized hospitals, and those holding Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) classification receive better offers.
14. Senior Nurse
- Average Monthly Salary (2025): 11,000 – 17,000 SAR
- Notes: Senior nurses, often in charge or supervisory positions, are compensated for both clinical expertise and leadership duties. Salaries vary by facility type—government and teaching hospitals generally offer higher pay and benefits. Senior nurses with postgraduate degrees, specialty certifications (ICU, OR, NICU), or administrative responsibilities can earn toward the upper range or above.
Read next: Process for Nurses to Start Work in Saudi Arabia
Factors Influencing Nurse Salaries
1. Employer Type
- Government hospitals (Ministry of Health): Fixed salary scales, structured benefits, long-term stability.
- Private tertiary hospitals: Higher pay potential, flexible contract terms, stronger incentives.
- Clinics and small centers: Lower base salaries, fewer allowances, but simpler workloads.
2. Location
- Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam: Higher pay to offset urban living costs.
- Smaller cities: Lower pay, but often include accommodation and lower expenses.
3. Certifications and Licensing
- SCFHS (Saudi Commission for Health Specialties) licensing is mandatory for all practicing nurses.
- International certifications such as BLS, ACLS, PALS, CCRN, CNOR, and chemotherapy certifications raise salary prospects and hiring priority.
4. Experience
- Entry-level nurses (0–2 years) start near the lower bound.
- Mid-career (5–10 years) move to the median.
- Senior and charge nurses exceed the upper bounds, especially in specialty units.
Common Allowances and Benefits
- Housing allowance or free accommodation
- Transport allowance or shuttle service
- Annual return airfare
- Medical insurance (employee + dependents in some contracts)
- End-of-service benefits (gratuity)
- Overtime and night-shift differentials
- Annual paid leave (typically 30 days)
These allowances can increase the effective monthly income by 20–40% depending on the employer and city.
Most In-Demand Nursing Specialties in Saudi Arabia (2025)
- Dialysis / Nephrology Nursing — Rapid expansion of dialysis centers.
- ICU / Critical Care Nursing — Ongoing need for advanced-level nurses.
- Emergency / Trauma Nursing — Growth in emergency and trauma units.
- Perioperative / OR Nursing — Increased elective surgery volumes.
- Oncology Nursing — Expanding cancer treatment facilities.
- NICU Nursing — Growth in specialized neonatal services.
Further Reading: Top 10 High-Demand Nursing Specialties in Saudi Arabia for 2025
Summary
Nurse salaries in Saudi Arabia remain competitive in 2025, especially for specialized roles in critical care, dialysis, and surgical settings. The strongest salary drivers are specialty certification, years of experience, and type of employer. For expatriate nurses, total compensation packages—including housing, flight, and insurance—often make Saudi Arabia one of the most financially attractive destinations in the GCC for nursing professionals.
FAQs About Nurses' Salaries in Saudi Arabia
Q: What is the salary of MOH (Ministry of Health) nurse in Saudi Arabia?
A: Nurses working under the Ministry of Health (MOH) generally earn between 7,500 and 12,000 SAR per month in 2025, depending on rank, years of service, and their qualifications. Government positions typically include housing, transportation, and annual leave benefits, which raise the overall compensation package.
Q: How much do Saudi Aramco nurses make?
A: Saudi Aramco offers some of the highest nursing salaries in the Kingdom, typically ranging from 14,000 to 22,000 SAR per month. Aramco nurses receive extensive benefits such as family housing, education allowances, and comprehensive healthcare coverage, reflecting the company’s premium employment standards.
Q: What is the salary of a nurse in King Faisal Specialist Hospital Riyadh?
A: At King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, nurses earn between 12,000 and 18,000 SAR per month on average. Compensation is tied to experience, specialty, and education level, with advanced practice and critical-care nurses positioned at the higher end of this range.
Q: Which hospital pays the highest salary for nurses in Saudi Arabia?
A: The highest-paying hospitals for nurses in Saudi Arabia are typically Saudi Aramco Medical Services, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, and King Abdullah Medical City. These institutions offer competitive base salaries, international-grade facilities, and comprehensive benefits packages.
Q: What is the maximum salary for a nurse in Saudi Arabia?
A: In 2025, the maximum salary for nurses in Saudi Arabia can exceed 22,000 SAR per month, mainly for senior-level, specialist, or nurse educator positions in top-tier government or corporate hospitals such as Aramco or King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
.webp)
