When hiring a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia, it is important to separate an advertised recruitment offer from an official wage rule. The official sources reviewed for this article do not publish a fixed or average salary table for domestic workers from the Philippines, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burundi, or Tanzania. For that reason, employers should not rely on unverified nationality-based salary ranges.
Instead, review the current offers available through Musaned. The platform states that recruitment-service-provider offers include the worker’s due salary and CV, allowing offers to be reviewed and compared. The final wage and payment method must then be stated in the domestic work contract.
How domestic-worker pay is set
Saudi domestic-work rules require the contract to state the wage the employer will pay and the method of payment. The contract also records key matters such as the type of work, rights and obligations, the probation period, daily working hours, weekly rest, overtime arrangements, term, extension or termination method, and contract insurance where applicable. Read the Ministry’s domestic-worker contract requirements.
This means nationality alone is not a reliable substitute for the signed contract. When comparing candidates or offers, check the job title and duties, stated experience and skills, the wage shown in the offer, and all contractual terms before proceeding.
Using Musaned to compare current recruitment offers
Musaned describes recruitment options based on the employer’s preferences, including selecting from available nationalities and occupations and specifying preferred age, experience, and skills. Its stated process includes choosing the recruitment type, selecting a service provider, receiving offers that include salary and CV information, paying after contract creation, and following the request electronically. View Musaned’s recruitment journey.
- Choose the appropriate recruitment type and the available occupation and nationality options.
- Compare service-provider offers, including the listed salary and candidate information.
- Read the proposed contract carefully before confirming it.
- Keep the agreed wage, work description, working-time arrangements, and payment method aligned with the contract.
Availability of nationalities, occupations, providers, candidates, and offers can change. A nationality mentioned in a general guide is not confirmation that recruitment is currently available for that nationality.
Contract and wage protections to check
Monthly payment and permitted deductions
The Ministry’s rules require domestic-worker wages and amounts due to be paid in Saudi Arabia’s official currency. The employer must pay the wage monthly using the methods determined by the Ministry. The rules also limit total wage deductions in the specified cases to no more than one-quarter of the wage. Read the Ministry’s wage provisions.
The Ministry announced that electronic salary transfer for domestic workers became mandatory for all employers from January 1, 2026, using banks and digital wallets approved through Musaned. The Ministry explains that the service documents wage payments. Read the Ministry’s January 21, 2026 announcement.
Working time and weekly rest
Official rules state that a domestic worker may not be actually required to work more than 10 hours in one day. Work and rest periods must be arranged so that the worker does not work more than five consecutive hours without a break of at least 30 minutes for rest, prayer, and food. The worker is also entitled to a paid weekly rest day of at least 24 consecutive hours; the day is agreed in the domestic-work contract. Read the Ministry’s working-time and weekly-rest rules.
A practical checklist before accepting an offer
- Confirm that the occupation and duties in the offer match the household’s actual needs.
- Compare the wage shown in current Musaned offers rather than relying on a generic salary table by nationality.
- Ensure the contract clearly states the wage and payment method.
- Review daily work, breaks, weekly rest, contract duration, and insurance provisions in the contract.
- Use the approved salary-transfer route and retain payment records.
- Use official Musaned and Ministry information when checking requirements or changes.
Conclusion: Domestic Worker Salaries by Nationality
There is no single official salary range that can safely be applied to all domestic workers from a particular nationality. The sound approach is to compare current Musaned offers, then ensure the selected wage and all employment terms are clearly included in the domestic work contract. This helps both parties work from documented, current terms rather than unsupported market estimates.