Cost to Hire Indian Workers in Saudi Arabia: 2026 Benchmarks and Checklist
MEA licence B-3252/DEL/PER/1000+/5/11251/202515+ years in Gulf recruitmentLast reviewed Prepared by Taj HR Services employer desk
Short answer
The largest cost in hiring Indian workers for Saudi Arabia is monthly salary. Overseas-recruitment offers in our 2026 dataset show median basic pay of SAR 2,200 for electricians, SAR 2,400 for welders, SAR 2,000 for plumbers, with accommodation, transport, food, permit fees, ticket and the recruitment service fee on top. Government fees change, so request a written rate card.
Saudi Arabia salary benchmarks for Indian workers (overseas recruitment offers)
Basic monthly salary offered in overseas recruitment orders for Saudi Arabia, in SAR. Data period: October 2025 – September 2026. Accommodation, transport and food columns show the share of job orders that include each benefit.
| Trade | P25 | Median | P75 | Housing | Transport | Food | Overtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | SAR 1,800 | SAR 2,200 | SAR 2,800 | 92% | 94% | 78% | 81% |
| Welder | SAR 1,800 | SAR 2,400 | SAR 3,000 | 94% | 95% | 82% | 88% |
| Plumber | SAR 1,600 | SAR 2,000 | SAR 2,400 | 93% | 95% | 75% | 77% |
| HVAC Technician | SAR 1,900 | SAR 2,300 | SAR 2,800 | 92% | 94% | 76% | 80% |
| Cleaner | SAR 1,000 | SAR 1,150 | SAR 1,350 | 98% | 99% | 85% | 72% |
| Heavy Driver | SAR 2,200 | SAR 2,600 | SAR 3,100 | 88% | 90% | 70% | 86% |
| Carpenter | SAR 1,600 | SAR 1,950 | SAR 2,400 | 94% | 96% | 76% | 82% |
| Barista | SAR 1,850 | SAR 2,200 | SAR 2,550 | 90% | 92% | 80% | 62% |
| Pipe Fitter | SAR 1,800 | SAR 2,250 | SAR 2,800 | 94% | 95% | 78% | 84% |
| Scaffolder | SAR 1,500 | SAR 1,850 | SAR 2,300 | 96% | 96% | 78% | 85% |
Illustrative payroll for a 20-worker crew
Median basic salary multiplied by 20 workers. This is basic salary only and excludes the other cost lines below, so treat it as the floor of your budget rather than the total.
| Trade | Median basic / month | 20 workers / month | 20 workers / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | SAR 2,200 | SAR 44,000 | SAR 528,000 |
| Welder | SAR 2,400 | SAR 48,000 | SAR 576,000 |
| Plumber | SAR 2,000 | SAR 40,000 | SAR 480,000 |
Full employer cost checklist for hiring Indian workers in Saudi Arabia
| Cost line | Notes for a Saudi Arabia employer |
|---|---|
| Basic salary and fixed allowances | Set by your offer; benchmark above. Keep guaranteed pay separate from overtime. |
| Accommodation, allowances and payroll rules | Article 61 obligates employers to provide suitable accommodation and work transportation, or appropriate cash allowances in lieu thereof as stipulated in the authenticated contract. |
| Overtime | Hourly wage plus 50% of the basic wage (Article 107, Saudi Labour Law). |
| Work permit, visa and establishment fees | Government fees are set by Ministry of Human Resources (MHRSD) and change over time; confirm current amounts on the official portal. |
| Medical and insurance | Pre-departure or post-arrival medicals and mandatory health insurance per your emirate or region. |
| Air ticket | Joining ticket and annual-leave return ticket as per contract. |
| End-of-service benefit | Calculated under Saudi Labour Law. |
| Recruitment service fee | Quoted per trade and volume in a written rate card, with the scope of work and replacement terms stated. |
How employers reduce cost without lowering quality
- Raise one consolidated requisition for the whole season instead of repeated small orders.
- Offer in-kind housing and transport where permitted, and state them in the demand letter so candidates self-select.
- Use trade tests before visa spend, so you do not pay permit fees for workers who fail on site.
- Plan visas around known shutdown or project dates to avoid urgent-premium mobilisation.
- Ask for replacement terms in writing so early attrition does not restart the whole cost.
Get a written rate card
Taj HR Services issues a written rate card for Saudi Arabia by trade and headcount, covering recruitment service fee, mobilisation items and replacement terms.
Frequently asked questions: Saudi Arabia
How much does it cost to hire an Indian worker in Saudi Arabia?
Monthly basic salary benchmarks start from SAR 1,800 for electricians at P25. Total cost also includes housing, transport, food, permit and visa fees, tickets, medicals, end-of-service benefit and the recruitment service fee.
Who pays the recruitment fee, the employer or the worker?
Taj HR Services' policy is that workers pay no agency service fee, and the employer pays the agreed recruitment service fee. Confirm this in writing with any agency you use.
Are accommodation and transport included in Saudi Arabia offers?
They are included in many overseas-recruitment offers. The share of job orders offering each benefit is shown in the benchmark table above for each trade.
Do government visa and permit fees change?
Yes. Ministry of Human Resources (MHRSD) sets and updates fees, so confirm current amounts on the official portal before budgeting.
Can I get a quote before I commit?
Yes. Send the trade, headcount and start date and Taj HR will issue a written rate card.
Related for Saudi Arabia employers
Manpower supply for Saudi ArabiaCountry hiring page with trades, process and a manpower proposal request.Saudi Arabia salary guide 2026Local market and overseas-recruitment salary benchmarks by trade.How to hire Indian workers: Saudi ArabiaStep-by-step employer process, timeline and prerequisites.Manpower supply company guide: Saudi ArabiaDirect recruitment vs local labour supply, and how to vet an Indian agency.Demand letter and documents: Saudi ArabiaDocuments, attestation and approvals needed before mobilisation.Labour law and compliance: Saudi ArabiaHours, overtime, wage protection and nationalisation rules for employers.