Average Salary in Bahrain

Table of Contents

How much does a worker in Bahrain make?

A monthly salary in Bahrain is roughly 1,480 BHD. In addition, the average worker in Bahrain earns 876.5 BHD a month. In total, a person employed in Bahrain can receive around 2,356.5 BHD every month.

In addition to this salary number, workers also get several bonuses from their employers. For example, employees working for an oil-based company generally receive a housing allowance.

Furthermore, the employer will pay for a worker’s food and transportation expenses.

In actuality, a Bahraini employee working for an oil company only makes 876.5 BHD a month. However, this number increases when various allowances are added to the salary structure of an individual in Bahrain.

Bahrain Salaries Distribution

Pay Scale

Bahraini salaries vary from 370 BHD to 6,600 BHD. However, the average monthly salaries in Bahrain are estimated to be around 700 BHD.

The pay scale of a job depends on the job sector and the qualifications required for a position. For example, jobs in the finance industry typically offer higher salaries compared to jobs in the retail or manufacturing industry.

In some sectors such as banking, airlines and oil companies offer salaries from 8,000 BHD to 10,000 BHD.

While high-level graduates can get starting annual salary from 3000 BHD to 6000 BHD.

Median Wage

The median monthly wage is 1,570 BHD, which implies that half of the population earns less than 1,570 BHD and the other half earns more.

The median is the midway pay. If you put all the salaries from lowest to highest, the median salary is the pay where half of Bahrainis earn less and the other half earns more. In 2010, the median income was 1,610 BHD. This shows a trend of increasing the median wage by 70 BHD per month over time.

Percentiles

25% of the population earns less than 870 BHD whereas 75% earn more. This is a quick and simple way to communicate how salary distribution works.

What is the difference between the median and average salaries?

The median salary is the halfway point between the highest and lowest salaries. If there is an even number of salaries recorded for example, then the median salary will be the average of the two middle numbers.

On the other hand, average pay is the total combined earnings of all employees divided by the number of people employed. Average salaries are calculated using both high and low rates.

Typically, the median salary is higher than the average salary because one or two highly paid individuals can inflate the average figure.

This does not mean that an organization pays below industry standards, just that individual salaries are lowered due to having a few workers who are being overpaid in relation to their position.

The main difference between median pay and average pay is how the figures are used by companies.

Salary by Experience

How does one’s pay grow over time?

Salary increases on average with experience. The more you work, usually the more you will be paid. However, there can be variations depending on your organization and profession.

In Bahrain, the average annual salary for a senior person is around BHD 40,000 (USD 119,461) and that of a junior person is around BHD 20,000 (USD 58,012). The difference in the salaries paid between a senior and junior staff member will be more as you work longer with an organization.

The amount also depends on the industry you work in. For example, working in the construction sector will pay much less compared to those who work in high-tech sectors or government jobs.

Also, your educational qualification has an influence on the salary you earn. Experience wise too there could be variations depending on how experienced you are as a particular profession. In general, as people gain experience they start getting better-paying jobs as well as promotions.

Salary By Education

How does education affect salary?

If we talk about salaries for Bachelor Degree holders (four years), they can get up to 2,000 – 3,000 BHD per month as a basic amount and only those who have much experience with this diploma can get more pay monthly.

In contrast, those with a Master’s Degree (normally 2 years), can get from 4,000- 5,000 BHD per month and on the other hand, those who have a Ph.D. degree or very high qualifications and extra experiences can reach 10 – 15 thousand BHD as base salary.

The conclusion is that before applying for a job or even joining the company, education is one of the most important factors you should work on.

Salary By Gender

Male workers in Bahrain earn 10% more than female employees in all industries. The disparity is even greater in the financial sector where men earn 25% more than women.

Women are, however, better represented at higher levels of employment both in the private and public sectors.

Sectors, where women earn less, include oil, gas, catering, insurance, and banking.

The disparity in salaries between men and women is due to the difference in the number of hours worked and types of jobs pursued.

Males in Bahrain work for longer than female workers and choose higher-level positions which pay more. Men in Bahrain also comprise a larger percentage of skilled labor jobs whereas women hold a larger percentage of unskilled labor jobs.

Education levels also contribute to disparities in income between men and women. Men with less education earn more than women with similar educational backgrounds.

However, when men and women have equal qualifications their salaries become almost identical, indicating that educational background may not be the only factor in salary disparities.

Annual Salary Increment in Bahrain

What is the yearly wage increase in Bahrain? How frequently do workers receive raises?

Bahrain has one of the highest annual salary increments in the world. The average annual salary increment for Bahrain is around 10%.

Workers do not receive raises very frequently due to severe inflation; however, it is not uncommon for workers to get pay increases two or three times per year.

For example, if a worker received a 3% raise on January 1st and a 5% raise on April 1st, the total amount that they would have been paid during that 6 month period would be 7% higher than their original wage.

Annual Industry Growth Rate

Education – 2%
Banking – 8%
Travel – 4%
Healthcare – 5%
Energy – 7%

Booming businesses tend to provide more frequent and larger increases. There are exceptions, but in general, a company’s status is directly linked to the country’s or region’s economic situation.

These statistics tend to fluctuate.

Average Salary Growth Rates by Experience

Salary growth rates are the percentage increase in the salary of an employee. They measure how much a person is paid relative to inflation and wage growth.

Salary growth rates are closely tied to inflation because changes in the economy result in changes in base pay which can cause increased or decreased purchasing power for employees.

In Bahrain, the average salary grew by 3%, outpacing both inflation and wage growth. This came after years of negative real salaries (-8%) between 2007-2010 due to the financial crisis.

Junior-level employees in Bahrain earned an average salary of BHD 500, middle-level employees earned an average salary of BHD 700 and senior-level employees earned an average salary of BHD 1,000.

Bahrain’s Bonus & Incentive Rates

How frequently and how much are bonuses given?

A bonus is a financial reward paid to an employee by his/her employer for having achieved certain goals or targets.

A bonus can also be given voluntarily and on top of regular wages and is often understood as the only incentive besides salary (income) within companies.

Bahrain has a high rate of employees that receive bonuses; around 88% of all Bahraini’s get one every year. The average length that Bahrainis work until they get their bonus is 4 months.

However, the value differs greatly from company to company based on the amount of work transferred and how successful it was received.

Bonus Types

Individualized Performance Bonuses

IPBs, also known as Individualized Incentive Compensation (IIC) among other things, are bonuses that vary according to individual performance.

Individualized Performance Bonuses are awarded to employees depending on the quality of their work and how well they meet their objectives for an organization.

It is used by organizations to retain talented employees or by companies whose culture encourages individual achievement.

Individualized Performance Bonuses differ from one-size-fits-all bonuses in so far as they cater to each employee’s specific needs.

For example, if an organization has two bonus schemes, an IPB may reflect an employee’s salary or market value while a one-size-fits-all bonus scheme may just offer extra cash with no particular purpose.

Corporate Performance Bonuses

These are a form of incentive compensation given to employees when a milestone is achieved by the whole company. This is when the company meets its yearly financial targets.

These are different from individual performance bonuses in that they are not given to individuals who meet their own personal milestones, but rather to the whole department or company.

For example, if one part of a department does well enough compared to other departments within the same organization, then that particular department would not receive the bonus.

The only way for an individual employee to receive this type of bonus would be if he or she met his/her own individual milestones and was able to contribute to the overall success of his/her department in the meeting.

Goal-based Bonuses

Goal-based bonuses are given when an achievement is attained in the company. The bonus received will depend on how the goal was met, whether or not it was completed successfully, and what kind of work has been done.

A bonus is intended to motivate employees to perform better at their respective jobs.

Goal-based bonuses can be given as a lump sum payment after completion of an annual goal or received throughout the year in smaller increments. It’s important that goals are realistic but also challenging so that employees work hard for their bonuses.

This ensures high morale and production levels within the company because employees are motivated by achieving specific goals set out by management, thus making them more efficient workers.

Holiday/Year-End Bonuses

These bonuses are a way for companies to thank their employees and boost morale, as well as increase productivity.

The advantage of giving one is that it can be easily budgeted and prepared with little or no cost to the company (essentially a gift out of their own profits).

They also make employees happier and more productive by increasing morale and motivation.

One of many reasons why they usually seem more dependable after receiving a bonus from work is because they receive some form of financial acknowledgment from the company they work for, making them feel appreciated.

Having this feeling of being needed or wanted can boost productivity as well as pride in their job, thus having a positive effect on how hard they will work.

Bonus Rates by Job Title

What qualifies a job for large bonuses and high pay in Bahrain?

The minimum wage in Bahrain is BHD 450 per month, however, the average wage for citizens of Bahrain is over BHD 1,000.

Unskilled laborers are paid a minimum salary but they receive generous amounts as monthly allowance and overtime payment, especially during Ramadan and Hajj season when there is high demand for labor.

However, salaries tend to be higher for workers who have a college degree as well as specific training.

In Bahrain, the bonus rates vary depending on the career and job type. Some of these jobs include:

Engineers – 15% to 20% per annum
Administrative Assistants – 10% to 25 % per annum
Sales Staff – 10% to 25 % based on monthly targets

The best employees receive significant bonuses and prizes throughout the year. There are also cases where employers give out cars during special occasions such as Eid Al Fitr or Hajj.

Although there exists gender discrimination in Bahrain, companies that do discriminate claim it is due to different ‘levels’ that men and women occupy within an organization.

Bonuses by Seniority in Bahrain

In Bahrain, most firms have a clear system of bonuses given to their employees.

Naturally, the senior members of the firm are more likely to receive a high percentage in their bonus when compared with junior employees. In some companies, the salary increase is also taken into account when giving out bonuses.

For example, an employee who has been working for over 5 years will certainly get more money in his/her annual bonus than a person who has spent less time in a particular company.

Although there is no fixed rule about how much a certain person gets in his/her annual bonus, it’s safe to say that most companies follow this practice:

The longer you work in the same company, the higher your chances of getting more money as your bonus.

Bonuses are usually given out to employees who have wintered at a particular firm for more than 5 years.

It’s almost impossible to find companies that give out annual bonuses to their employees who have spent less than three months in the company. Some firms even go as far as not giving any bonus to first-time recruits, but this is very rare.

Other than seniority, other things like an employee’s performance and contribution can be considered when it comes time to decide what percentage of his/her annual salary will be paid as a bonus.

Salary Trends in Bahrain

Bilingual

Teacher – 1,200 BHD
Translator – 1,310 BHD

Care Giving and Child Care

Nanny – 640 BHD
Nursery Teacher – 590 BHD

Customer Service and Call Center

Call Center Representative – 540 BHD
Customer Service Manager – 2,060 BHD
Customer Service Representative – 580 BHD
Customer Services Supervisor – 560 BHD
Telephone Operator – 540 BHD

Sales and Marketing

Marketing Specialist – 1,660 BHD
Account Executive for Sales – 770 BHD
Assistant Brand Manager – 1,690 BHD
Brand Manager – 2,290 BHD
Magazine Sales Agent/Reporter – 500-580 BSD
Marketing Assistant – 740-820 BDH

Healthcare and Medical

Dental and Oral Hygienist – 1,010 BHD
Doctor (Gastroenterology) – 3,360 BHD
Emergency Medicine Specialist – 2,240 BHD
Family Nurse Practitioner – 1,850 BHD
Health Care Administrator- 780-920 BSD
Medical Assistant – 820-1,050 BDH

Executive and Management

Assistant Vice President – 2,300 BHD
Business Analyst – 1,730 BHD
Sales Operations Manager – 1,800-1,950 BSD
Project Manager – 3,120 BHD
Quality Assurance Manager – 2,660-2,900 BDH
Risk Management Specialist – 780-920 BSD

Telecommunications and Utilities

Line Mechanic (Oil and Gas) – 590-860BHD
Customer Experience Representative (Electricity) – 600-700 BSD
Client Relationship Officer(Gas) – 570BDH

Bahrain’s Hourly Wage

Bahrain’s average hourly earnings are 9 BHD. For every hour worked, the typical Bahraini earns about 9 BHD.

Bahraini citizens working in non-managerial, blue-collar jobs earn about 9 BHD for every hour that they work. Bahrainis working as managers and directors earn a much greater hourly wage of around 20 BHD.

Salary Comparison: Public vs. Private in Bahrain

Overall, public sector workers in Bahrain earn 17% more than private-sector employees.

Salaries in Bahrain are calculated based upon years of experience and level of skills. In the private sector, a new graduate will earn around 600 BDH per month, while a 10-year veteran can expect to make 2,400 BDH per month.

In the public sector, the starting salary is higher at 800 BDH; however, it does not increase as much as in the private sector (only to around 1800 BHD).

The private sector has the advantage of offering more room for career growth. However, in the public sector, benefits are better with employees enjoying free access to health care and transportation services.