Average Culinary Associate Salary in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 2024

In this article, we will look at the average Culinary Associate salary for 2024 in Riyadh and how that compares to other countries and professions. We'll also look at interesting salary data points like median salary, 25th and 75th percentile salaries, salary amounts based on experience, bonus ranges and more!

The data in this article has been compiled using official government salary data, salary surveys, and other sources such as job postings which contain salary information.

All salary information is in the local currency, which is the Saudi riyal. To keep things simple, we are using the SAR currency code instead of the currency symbol ر.س.

How Much Does a Culinary Associate Make in Riyadh?

A Culinary Associate working in Riyadh will typically earn around 61,180 SAR per year, and this can range from the lowest average salary of about 26,400 SAR to the highest average salary of 95,860 SAR.

Average Annual Salary
61,180 SAR
Average Monthly Salary
5,098 SAR

Lowest Annual Salary
26,400 SAR
Lowest Monthly Salary
2,200 SAR

Highest Annual Salary
95,860 SAR
Highest Monthly Salary
7,988 SAR

These are average salaries for a Culinary Associate in Riyadh and include benefits such as housing and transport. It's also possible for a Culinary Associate to earn more or less than the average salaries shown above.

Culinary Associate salaries will vary a lot based on your experience, location, skills, and gender. Keep reading below to research more data on each of these areas.

Distribution of Culinary Associate Salaries in Riyadh

So we've looked at the average salaries a Culinary Associate will earn in Riyadh. The next interesting data point is the distribution of salaries.

Salary ranges

We already know that a Culinary Associate can earn between 26,400 SAR and 95,860 SAR on average in Riyadh. This is known as the range in statistics.

The difference between the maximum and minimum values is a good indicator of variability in salaries, and can be used by employers to figure out how much they can expect to pay, and for employees to know how much they can earn.

Median salary

The median salary for a Culinary Associate in Riyadh is 61,680 SAR. This is the middle value in the distribution of salaries.

What this means is that approximately 50% of the population earn less than 61,680 SAR, and 50% of the population earn more than 61,680 SAR.

If you are earning more than the median salary, that's a good indicator that you are being paid well.

If you're not earning more than the median salary, your objective should be to increase your earnings to be at least as high as the median salary (which you can do by asking for a pay rise, looking for a better paying job, etc).

Percentiles

Percentiles are similar to the median salary, but instead of looking at the middle value, they look at the values in the top and bottom half of the distribution.

For the average Culinary Associate salary in Riyadh, 25% of the population are earning less than 41,180 SAR while 75% of the population earn more than 41,180 SAR.

75% of the population earn less than 85,460 SAR, and 25% of the population earn more than 85,460 SAR.

Like the median salary, the 25th and 75th percentile salaries can be used to determine which quartile you fall into so that you know whether you are being paid well enough compared to others in your profession and location.

The difference between a median and an average salary

The median and average salary are both indicators you can use to see if you are being paid fairly based on the overall population.

  • If your salary is higher than the average and the median salary, you are earning well compared to others.
  • If your salary is lower than the average and the median salary, it could indicate you are not being paid well enough.
  • If you are somewhere in between then it's tricky to determine if you are being paid well enough and you might need to research more closely.

Culinary Associate Salary by Experience Level in Riyadh

The most important factor in determining your salary after the specific profession is the number of years experience you have. It stands to reason that more years of experience will result in a higher wage.

We have researched the average culinary associate salary based on years of experience to give you an idea of how the average changes once you've worked for a certain amount of time.

  • 0 - 2 Years Experience. A Culinary Associate in Riyadh that has less than two years of experience can expect to earn somewhere in the region of 31,520 SAR.
  • 2 - 5 Years Experience. With two to five years of experience the average Culinary Associate salary would increase to 42,960 SAR.
  • 5 - 10 Years Experience. From five to ten years of experience as a Culinary Associate, the average salary would be 64,720 SAR.
  • 10 - 15 Years Experience. Once you have more than ten years of experience the average salary reaches around 76,440 SAR.
  • 15 - 20 Years Experience. A Culinary Associate with 15 to 20 years of experience can earn an average of 82,160 SAR.
  • 20+ Years Experience. For a Culinary Associate with more than 20 years, the expected average salary increases to 88,480 SAR.

Average Salary by Experience Chart

0-2 Years
31,520 SAR
2-5 Years +38%
42,960 SAR
5-10 Years +42%
64,720 SAR
10-15 Years +22%
76,440 SAR
15-20 Years +6%
82,160 SAR
20+ Years +9%
88,480 SAR

Culinary Associate Salary by Education Level in Riyadh

As well as experience in a job, your education plays a big role in how much you can earn. A lot of higher paying positions require a high level of education, but how much can a degree increase your salary?

In our research we have compared the salaries of employees in the same job and career level with different levels of education to see how much more you can earn at each education level.

The salary you can earn based on your education is very specific to both your location and the career path you choose.

In our research, we looked at the average salary for a Culinary Associate in Riyadh based on the education level of the employees in order to find out whether a better education level would increase your salary.

  • High School. A Culinary Associate in Riyadh with a high school education can earn an average salary of 41,900 SAR.

  • Certificate or Diploma. A Culinary Associate in Riyadh with a certificate or diploma education can earn an average salary of 72,540 SAR.

Average Salary by Education Chart

High School
41,900 SAR
Certificate or Diploma +82%
72,540 SAR

How Much is a Master's Degree or MBA Program?

The approximate cost of a master's degree or post-graduate program like an MBA in Saudi Arabia is around 83,500 to 251,000 SAR and takes two years to complete.

As you can see above, there are financial benefits from reaching master's degree level, but don't expect to see much of a salary increase until you have completed the degree.

It's common for people to pursue an MBA or other post-graduate program in order to switch to a a job that pays more. On average, you can expect to earn around 10% more when switching to a new company.

Whether you decide to pursue a master's degree depends on many factors. If you are able to afford it, the numbers suggest that the return on investment is worth it and you could recover the costs in a few years from the salary increase you would receive.

Culinary Associate Salary Compared by Gender

In the modern age, we know that there should never be a pay gap between men and women. Unfortunately, in many professions, there is still a significant difference between the salaries earned by men when compared to the salary of women in the same job.

In Riyadh, a male culinary associate will earn an average of 59,000 SAR, while a female culinary associate will earn around 50,520 SAR.

This means that a male culinary associate earns approximately 17% more than a female culinary associate for performing the same job.

Average Salary by Gender Chart in Riyadh

Male
59,000 SAR
Female -17%
50,520 SAR

Culinary Associate Average Pay Raise in Riyadh

In many countries, an annual pay raise is often given to employees to reward their service with a salary increase.

From our research, we can see that the average pay raise for a Culinary Associate in Riyadh is around 9% every 17 months.

The national average pay raise across all professions and industries in Saudi Arabia is around 8% every 17 months.

In this case, we can see that the number of months between the average pay raise is higher than the typical 12 months.

To make the data more meaningful, we can calculate what the approximate annual pay raise would be using a simple formula:

Annual Increase = ( Increase Rate ÷ Months ) × 12

So for this example, it would be:

Annual Increase = ( 9 ÷ 17 ) × 12  = 6%

What this means is that a Culinary Associate in Riyadh can expect to receive an average pay raise of around 6% every 12 months.

Annual Pay Raise by Industry in Riyadh for 2024

In the chart below, you can see the average annual pay raise percentages for each of the major industries in Saudi Arabia.

You will see that companies in bigger and more lucrative industries tend to have the higher annual pay raises.

Banking
2%
Energy
4%
Information Technology
6%
Healthcare
8%
Travel
1%
Construction
3%
Education
5%

Culinary Associate Bonus and Incentive Rates in Riyadh

Another part of your overall compensation in a job is how much bonus you receive. Some job roles will be more likely to pay a bonus than others and also more likely to have higher bonus rates.

Generally speaking, jobs that are more involved with direct revenue generation will receive higher bonuses based on the performance towards revenue goals.

A Culinary Associate is a low bonus based job, with 25% of employees reporting at least one bonus in the last 12 months.

75% reported that they had not received any bonuses in the previous 12 months.

For the employees that did receive a bonus in the previous 12 months, the reported bonuses ranged from 1% to 3%.

Received Bonus
25%
No Bonus
75%

What are the Types of Bonus?

There are a number of difference types of bonus you can receive in a job. Including:

  • Individual performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee for general performance in the job. It's the most common type of bonus.
  • Company performance bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to a company employees to share profit with the staff.
  • Goal based bonus - This is a bonus that is awarded to an individual employee (or a team) for achieving specific goals, objectives, or milestones.
  • Holiday bonus - This type of bonus is usually paid around the holidays, often the end of the year, and is a token of appreciation for the hard work throughout the year.

Government vs Private Sector Salaries

Another commonly asked question is whether you get paid a higher salary working in the public (government) sector or the private sector.

Public sector employees in Saudi Arabia earn approximately 8% more than private sector employees in the same role.

Public Sector
207,800 SAR
Private Sector -8%
192,600 SAR

Salaries for Jobs Similar to a Culinary Associate

In the table below, we have salary information for jobs that are similar to a Culinary Associate in Riyadh.

Job Title Category Salary
All Rounder Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 73,980 SAR
Assistant Executive Housekeeper Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 54,700 SAR
Assistant Food and Beverage Controller Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 114,900 SAR
Assistant Food and Beverage Director Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 237,400 SAR
Assistant Hospitality Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 247,800 SAR
Assistant Storekeeper Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 50,180 SAR
Assistant Tour Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 127,700 SAR
Baker and Pastrycook Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 67,120 SAR
Bakery Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 151,800 SAR
Bakery Superintendent Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 98,440 SAR
Banquet Captain Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 76,440 SAR
Banquet Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 101,860 SAR
Banquet Server Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 63,500 SAR
Bar Attendant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 64,640 SAR
Bar Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 128,500 SAR
Bar Supervisor Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 89,800 SAR
Barista Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 75,260 SAR
Bartender Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 75,260 SAR
Bellman Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 60,480 SAR
Beverage Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 152,100 SAR
Bistro Attendant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 64,040 SAR
Buffet Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 118,800 SAR
Buffet Host Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 60,020 SAR
Buffet Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 136,100 SAR
Butcher and Slaughterer Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 50,020 SAR
Cafeteria Assistant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 67,900 SAR
Cafeteria Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 112,660 SAR
Cafeteria Supervisor Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 87,520 SAR
Cake Decorator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 73,800 SAR
Casino Shift Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 225,300 SAR
Chain Store Customer Support Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 99,920 SAR
Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 125,100 SAR
Chef De Cuisine Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 172,200 SAR
Club Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 228,500 SAR
Cluster Director Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 301,800 SAR
Cluster Revenue Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 232,400 SAR
Cocktail Server Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 61,580 SAR
Coffee Shop Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 222,300 SAR
Concierge Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 59,480 SAR
Confectionery Baker Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 66,840 SAR
Conference and Sales Coordinator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 109,000 SAR
Conference Services Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 139,100 SAR
Cook Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 103,900 SAR
Corporate Sous Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 167,100 SAR
Corporate Travel Consultant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 172,200 SAR
Croupier Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 85,700 SAR
Culinary Assistant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 55,320 SAR
Demi Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 125,100 SAR
Dietary Aide Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 119,900 SAR
Dining Room Supervisor Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 104,060 SAR
Dishwasher Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 46,980 SAR
Duty Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 150,000 SAR
Events Coordinator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 91,560 SAR
Executive Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 138,800 SAR
Executive Pastry Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 110,340 SAR
Fast Food Cook Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 96,600 SAR
Fast Food Shift Supervisor Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 105,800 SAR
Fine Dining Cook Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 167,100 SAR
Fine Dining Restaurant Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 172,200 SAR
Fleet Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 297,000 SAR
Food and Beverage Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 216,800 SAR
Food Consultant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 196,800 SAR
Food Safety Coordinator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 143,200 SAR
Food Server Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 64,040 SAR
Food Service Director Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 233,600 SAR
Food Service Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 233,900 SAR
Food Service Sales Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 151,800 SAR
Food Service Worker Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 63,500 SAR
Front Desk Agent Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 67,800 SAR
Front Desk Clerk Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 66,120 SAR
Front Office Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 124,400 SAR
Guest Service Executive Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 191,600 SAR
Guest Service Representative Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 80,760 SAR
Head Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 150,000 SAR
Head Concierge Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 94,900 SAR
Hospitality Director Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 351,900 SAR
Hostess / Host Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 72,360 SAR
Hotel Desk Clerk Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 69,240 SAR
Hotel Maid Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 51,080 SAR
Hotel Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 344,600 SAR
Hotel Sales Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 257,700 SAR
Hotel Service Supervisor Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 191,600 SAR
Hotel Staff Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 61,840 SAR
Inventory Coordinator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 82,480 SAR
Kitchen Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 117,520 SAR
Kitchen Staff Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 63,500 SAR
Kitchen Supervisor Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 97,260 SAR
Line Cook Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 105,300 SAR
Luggage Porter Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 51,100 SAR
Motel Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 187,300 SAR
Pastry Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 99,100 SAR
Pastrycooking and Baking Assistant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 64,040 SAR
Production Operator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 103,820 SAR
Quality, Health and Safety Coordinator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 107,880 SAR
Receptionist Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 72,360 SAR
Regional Restaurant Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 259,100 SAR
Restaurant Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 240,500 SAR
Restaurant Server Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 57,800 SAR
Room Reservations Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 237,400 SAR
Room Service Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 221,500 SAR
Sous Chef Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 134,600 SAR
Special Events Coordinator Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 139,100 SAR
Supervisor of Food Services Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 161,600 SAR
Tour Consultant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 174,000 SAR
Tour Guide Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 115,260 SAR
Tour Manager Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 159,400 SAR
Travel Agent Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 119,900 SAR
Travel Consultant Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 163,800 SAR
Waiter / Waitress Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering 61,400 SAR

Salary Comparison by City

If you want to compare salaries with different cities in Saudi Arabia, you can use the links below to explore the data for each specific city we have researched.

City Average Salary
Abha 51,340 SAR
Dammam 59,380 SAR
Jeddah 58,200 SAR
Khubar 54,180 SAR
Mecca 60,400 SAR
Medina 55,020 SAR
Tabuk 51,340 SAR
Taif 50,560 SAR

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