A person working in Sharjah typically earns around 15,000 AED. Salaries range from 2,720 AED (lowest average) to 71,300 AED (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries in Sharjah vary drastically between different careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Minimum Salary 2,720 AED |
Median 13,600 AED |
Maximum 71,300 AED |
Salaries in Sharjah range from 2,720 AED (starting salary) to 71,300 AED (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher). This is not the minimum wage as per the law, only the lowest reported number in the salary survey that had thousands of participants and professionals from all over the country.
The median salary is 13,600 AED, which means that 50% of the population in Sharjah earns less than that while the other half earns more. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of the population in Sharjah earn less than 9,440 AED while 75% of them earn more. Also from the diagram, 75% of the population earn less than 21,400 AED while 25% earn more than that.
We grouped the most common and recurring salaries into brackets to give more insight into what salary to expect. This method is more accurate than just the average salary and gives more insights into how salaries are actually distributed in Sharjah. Around 65% of all reported figures are in the range 8,540 AED to 24,200 AED. Approximately 20% fall under the 8,540 AED cap. Ten percent of wages are from 24,200 AED to 31,400 AED. Only 5% of people grossed 31,400 AED or more.
Salary is primarily determined by the level of experience one possesses, with higher levels of experience resulting in higher wages.
In Sharjah, employees with two to five years of experience typically earn an average of 32% more than entry-level and junior workers in all industries and fields.
Individuals with more than five years of experience tend to earn an average of 36% more than those with less than five years of experience.
After ten years of work, salaries increase by 21%, with an additional 14% increase for those who have worked for over 15 years.
These figures should be used as rough estimates, as considering individual job titles can lead to more accurate assessments.
The correlation between higher education and higher salary is widely acknowledged, but how much of an income increase can one expect from obtaining a degree?
We conducted a study in Sharjah comparing the salaries of professionals with different levels of college degrees who held similar positions in various industries.
Our results showed that individuals with a certificate or diploma earned an average of 17% more than those who only completed high school.
Those who obtained a Bachelor's Degree earned 24% more than their counterparts with a certificate or diploma.
Professionals with a Master's Degree earned 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.
Finally, those who held a PhD earned an average of 23% more than those with a Master's Degree while performing the same job.
Earning a Master's degree or any post-graduate qualification in United Arab Emirates is a substantial financial commitment, with tuition fees ranging from 71,700 AED to 215,000 AED and a duration of around two years. It's important to note that during this period, any salary increases are unlikely, assuming ongoing employment. Salary reviews are typically conducted after completing the program and obtaining the degree.
Many individuals pursue advanced education as a means of transitioning to higher-paying positions, and the statistics indicate that this is an effective strategy. On average, individuals who change jobs after earning a higher degree receive a salary increase of about 10% more than the typical annual raise.
Ultimately, deciding whether or not to pursue advanced education depends on a variety of factors, including the personal situation and experience. However, if one can afford the financial costs of obtaining a higher degree, the return on investment is likely to be worthwhile, with the ability to recoup the costs in approximately a year.
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? In United Arab Emirates, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 7% across all career fields.
Male | 14,800 AED | |
Female | -7% | 13,700 AED |
Employees in United Arab Emirates are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately 8% every 17 months.
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
100% of surveyed staff in United Arab Emirates reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
Received Bonus | % | |
No Bonus | 100% |
The most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
Finance | High | |
Architecture | High | |
Sales | High | |
Business Development | High | |
Marketing / Advertising | High | |
Information Technology | Moderate | |
Healthcare | Moderate | |
Insurance | Moderate | |
Customer Service | Moderate | |
Human Resources | Moderate | |
Construction | Low | |
Transport | Low | |
Hospitality | Low |
The main two types of jobs | |
Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Job Title | Average Salary |
Accounting and Finance | |
Accountant | 9,850 AED |
Accounting Assistant | 7,620 AED |
Accounting Manager | 22,800 AED |
Bookkeeper | 6,170 AED |
Chartered Accountant | 13,000 AED |
Corporate Treasurer | 21,300 AED |
Financial Analyst | 20,400 AED |
Financial Manager | 30,000 AED |
Internal Auditor | 14,600 AED |
Administration / Reception / Secretarial | |
Administrative Assistant | 7,520 AED |
Office Manager | 13,300 AED |
Receptionist | 6,610 AED |
Secretary | 5,690 AED |
Advertising / Graphic Design / Events | |
Art Director | 15,000 AED |
Creative Director | 15,200 AED |
Graphic Designer | 8,690 AED |
Photographer | 7,950 AED |
Airlines / Aviation / Aerospace / Defense | |
Aerospace Engineer | 19,800 AED |
Air Traffic Controller | 17,300 AED |
Flight Attendant | 9,950 AED |
Pilot | 25,700 AED |
Architecture | |
Architect | 18,900 AED |
CAD Drafter | 6,630 AED |
Automotive | |
Mechanic | 4,850 AED |
Service Advisor | 9,750 AED |
Banking | |
Bank Branch Manager | 27,100 AED |
Teller | 4,890 AED |
Bilingual | |
Teacher | 11,600 AED |
Translator | 13,000 AED |
Business Planning | |
Business Analyst | 18,700 AED |
Business Development Manager | 25,000 AED |
Project Manager | 18,600 AED |
Care Giving and Child Care | |
Nanny | 5,220 AED |
Nursery Teacher | 4,800 AED |
Construction / Building / Installation | |
Civil Engineer | 13,400 AED |
Construction Project Manager | 26,300 AED |
Health and Safety Officer | 5,690 AED |
Customer Service and Call Center | |
Call Center Representative | 4,800 AED |
Customer Service Manager | 20,400 AED |
Customer Service Representative | 4,800 AED |
Engineering | |
Civil Engineer | 14,100 AED |
Electrical Engineer | 14,900 AED |
Engineer | 13,800 AED |
Mechanical Engineer | 14,600 AED |
Executive and Management | |
Chief Executive Officer | 36,400 AED |
Chief Financial Officer | 33,700 AED |
General Manager | 26,900 AED |
Project Manager | 17,600 AED |
Food / Hospitality / Tourism / Catering | |
Chef | 8,390 AED |
Executive Chef | 10,500 AED |
Hotel Manager | 28,300 AED |
Receptionist | 4,940 AED |
Travel Agent | 9,230 AED |
Waiter / Waitress | 3,610 AED |
Health and Medical | |
Dentist | 36,600 AED |
Dietitian | 30,400 AED |
Laboratory Technician | 11,300 AED |
Nurse | 11,400 AED |
Human Resources | |
Human Resources Manager | 22,800 AED |
Human Resources Officer | 8,460 AED |
Information Technology | |
Computer Technician | 11,400 AED |
Database Administrator | 15,400 AED |
Developer / Programmer | 15,200 AED |
Information Technology Manager | 25,500 AED |
Network Engineer | 12,800 AED |
Law Enforcement / Security / Fire | |
Police Officer | 8,210 AED |
Legal | |
Attorney | 32,000 AED |
Legal Assistant | 7,010 AED |
Media / Broadcasting / Arts / Entertainment | |
Journalist | 17,500 AED |
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology | |
Biomedical Engineer | 12,700 AED |
Pharmacist | 20,400 AED |
Sales Retail and Wholesale | |
Cashier | 4,850 AED |
Sales Manager | 26,200 AED |
Sales Representative | 9,290 AED |
Teaching / Education | |
Elementary School Teacher | 10,000 AED |
Secondary School Teacher | 12,400 AED |
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
The minimum pay rate per hour for a person in Sharjah is 16 AED. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
City | Average Salary |
Abu Dhabi | 15,300 AED |
Ajman | 14,100 AED |
Al Ain | 14,500 AED |
Dubai | 15,700 AED |
Fujairah | 13,200 AED |
Ras Al Khaimah | 13,700 AED |
Sharjah | 15,000 AED |
Um Al Quiwain | 12,800 AED |
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United Arab Emirates is 6% on average across all career fields.
Private Sector | 13,800 AED | |
Public Sector | +6% | 14,700 AED |
It is extremely difficult to give an exact figure of a good salary when no specific job is selected, however; an estimate can be provided based purely on the cost of living. A good compensation in Sharjah would range anywhere between 13,600 AED and 21,400 AED.
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
The base salary in Sharjah ranges from 2,720 AED to 9,440 AED. The base salary depends on many factors including profession, experience, and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary