Overview of Road Workers Jobs in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s highway and urban-road network is expanding rapidly in 2025, driven by Vision 2030 mobility targets, logistics corridors, and continuous upkeep of expressways and city streets. This translates into steady demand for asphalt crew members, paver/roller/grader operators, traffic control marshals, survey teams, lab/QC technicians, drainage/culvert crews, road marking painters, foremen, and civil site engineers. Packages are typically tax-free and often include accommodation, transport, duty meals, medical insurance, and company-sponsored work visas.
Hiring is active across mega-projects in and around Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Dammam/Al Khobar, Makkah-Jeddah express links, Eastern Province industrial roads, and new northern corridors. International primes and Tier-1 Saudi contractors (plus their specialist subcontractors) run 24/7 shifts during peak asphalt seasons, creating vacancies from entry-level road labor to senior foreman and plant leadership.
Top Roles in Road Construction & Maintenance
- Asphalt Crew / Road Labor: Tack coat, laying, raking, compaction support, hand tools, barricading and clean-up.
- Paver Operator: Operating asphalt paver (screed setup, augers, speed control, joint matching) with quality finish.
- Roller Operator: Steel drum/tandem rollers; compaction passes, mat temperature awareness, density targets.
- Grader Operator: Sub-base/base grading, camber/crossfall, final trimming; GPS/laser guidance preferred.
- Skid-Steer/Backhoe/Excavator Operator: Trenching, culverts, utilities relocations, loading materials.
- Traffic Marshall / Flagman: Lane closures, detours, pilot car operations, signage & cones, radio communication.
- Survey Assistant / Chainman: Assisting setting-out, levels, offset stakes; working with GNSS/Total Station.
- Road Marking / Signage Crew: Thermoplastic application, reflective beads, barrier/guardrail installation.
- Lab / QC Technician (Asphalt & Soils): Marshall stability, density, gradation, moisture, plate bearing tests.
- Site Foreman / General Foreman: Crew scheduling, machinery allocation, progress tracking, method statements.
- Safety Officer (HSE): Tool-box talks, PTW, traffic management plans, heat-stress programs, incident reporting.
- Civil Site Engineer: Drawings/IFC reviews, setting-out, ITPs, RFIs, quantity take-off, subcontractor coordination.
- Plant Technician / Mechanic: Paver/roller maintenance, bitumen sprayer servicing, plant uptime assurance.
Job Requirements, Licenses & Eligibility
While entry-level road crew roles prioritize physical fitness and field discipline, machine operators and engineers require proof of skills and safety competence.
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Education | High School/Diploma for crew; Civil/Mechanical Diploma/Degree for engineers/foremen |
| Experience | 0–2 yrs (crew); 2–5 yrs (operators/technicians); 4–10 yrs (foreman/engineers) |
| Licenses | Valid operator license for heavy equipment; Saudi/intl forklift & MEWP where relevant |
| Language | Basic English required on most sites; Arabic basics are helpful |
| Documents | Passport, photos, experience letters, police clearance, medical fitness |
| Visa | Company-sponsored Employment Visa (KSA) |
| Systems | Familiarity with GNSS/Total Station, level machines, spreadsheets for reports |
| Safety | PPE usage, heat-stress awareness, traffic mgmt & work-zone control |
Salary Chart & Pay Scale 2025 (SAR)
Road worker salaries vary by city, brand tier, shift pattern, and plant-equipment exposure. The table below shows realistic monthly ranges (base pay; benefits vary by employer).
| Role | Monthly Salary (SAR) | Typical Benefits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Labor / Asphalt Crew | 2,200 – 3,200 | Accommodation, transport, duty meals | Peak season overtime common |
| Traffic Marshall / Flagman | 2,500 – 3,800 | PPE, training, allowances | Night shift differentials |
| Lab / QC Technician (Asphalt/Soils) | 3,500 – 5,000 | OT, certification support | Higher for mix-design labs |
| Paver / Roller / Grader Operator | 4,200 – 6,200 | OT, skill bonus | GPS/laser operators earn more |
| Survey Assistant / Junior Surveyor | 4,000 – 6,000 | Housing + transport | GNSS/TS experience valued |
| Site Foreman / General Foreman | 6,000 – 9,500 | Housing, transport, phone | Multi-crew leadership |
| Safety Officer (HSE) | 5,500 – 8,500 | Certifications, allowances | NEBOSH/OSHA boosts pay |
| Civil Site Engineer | 7,500 – 12,000 | Housing, transport | Roadworks/structures expertise |
| Area Engineer / Project Engineer | 10,000 – 16,000 | Car allowance, bonus | ITPs, QA/QC, claims exposure |
| Road Works Manager / Superintendent | 14,000 – 22,000 | Family benefits (brand-dependent) | Tier-1 contractor roles |
SAR 2,000 ─────────────── Entry Crew / Traffic Control SAR 4,000 ─────────────── Skilled Operators (Paver/Roller/Grader) SAR 8,000 ─────────────── Foreman / HSE / QC Lab SAR 15,000 ────────────── Site Engineer / Superintendent
City-Wise Hiring Hotspots
Riyadh
Massive expressway upgrades and arterials around the capital require crews for asphalt, utilities diversions, culvert/box culvert works, and traffic management. Tier-1 contractors and PMCs engage multiple subcontractors for continuous shifts.
Jeddah
Coastal humidity, port access roads and elevated interchanges drive steady demand for paver/roller operators, drainage teams, and road marking crews. Night paving is common to avoid peak traffic.
Mecca (Makkah) & Medina (Madinah)
Pilgrimage-season maintenance windows spur rapid resurfacing, pothole programs, and signage/barrier upgrades. Strict safety and lane-closure discipline are enforced.
Dammam & Al Khobar (Eastern Province)
Industrial corridors and logistics roads around oil & gas hubs create vacancies for operators, QA/QC lab techs, and HSE officers with petro-industrial safety awareness.
NEOM / Tabuk & Northern Corridors
New corridors and site roads periodically require mobilization of experienced grader operators, survey assistants, and foremen for desert alignments and wind/sand considerations.
Top Contractors & Employers — Official Links
| Employer | Focus | Careers / Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Transport & Logistics Services (KSA) | Roads & transport oversight | mot.gov.sa/en/empower |
| Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs & Housing | Urban/municipal works | momah.gov.sa/en |
| Saudi Aramco (Infra & Roads in industrial areas) | Industrial roads/utilities | aramco.com/en/careers |
| Nesma & Partners | Highways, infra, bridges | nesmapartners.com/careers |
| Al Bawani | Infrastructure & EPC | albawani.net/careers |
| Saudi Binladin Group | National mega projects | careers.sbg.com.sa |
| Almabani | Airfields, highways, EPC | almabani.com/careers |
| RTCC (Al Rashid Trading & Contracting) | Roads, bridges, utilities | rtcc.com.sa/career/ |
Where to Apply — Job Portals & Direct Links
- LinkedIn — Road Worker Jobs Saudi Arabia
- Bayt — Roads & Infrastructure (KSA)
- GulfTalent — Road/Highway Jobs KSA
- NaukriGulf — Road Jobs in Saudi Arabia
Career Growth & Certifications That Boost Pay
Typical ladders: Asphalt Crew → Skilled Operator → Foreman → Superintendent; Survey Assistant → Junior Surveyor → Land Surveyor → Senior Surveyor; Lab Tech → Senior Lab → QA/QC Engineer; Site Engineer → Project Engineer → Area Engineer → Construction Manager. Certifications that help: NEBOSH/OSHA (HSE), Saudi driving licenses & equipment operator endorsements, AutoCAD/Civil 3D basics, Work-Zone Traffic Control, Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) QC/QA, First Aid & Fire Warden.
HSE, Site Safety & Working Conditions
- PPE & Heat-Stress: Hard hat, safety boots, reflective vest, gloves, eyewear; hydration and shaded rest enforced.
- Traffic Control: Cones, barriers, arrow boards, speed control; flaggers and police coordination for closures.
- Night Work: Light towers, visibility checks, reflective clothing, supervisor spot checks, safe fueling.
- Plant & Equipment: Daily pre-start checks, lock-out/tag-out for repairs, fire extinguishers on plant.
- Quality: Tack coat rates, temperature windows, compaction passes, joint density, plate load/field density tests.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What Is the Average Salary for Road Workers in Saudi Arabia?
Entry-level asphalt crew/road labor roles average SAR 2,200–3,200 monthly, while operators (paver/roller/grader) average SAR 4,200–6,200. Foremen/HSE/Engineers range from SAR 6,000 to SAR 16,000+ depending on brand, city, shifts and overtime.
2) Do Employers Provide Accommodation & Transport?
Yes. Most Tier-1 contractors provide accommodation, site transport, duty meals and medical coverage; some senior roles add car allowance/bonuses.
3) Can Freshers Apply?
Yes. Many subcontractors hire freshers into asphalt crew, traffic control, and lab assistant roles, then train for operators/foreman tracks.
4) Which Cities Have the Most Openings?
Riyadh (expressways), Jeddah (coastal corridors), Mecca/Medina (seasonal maintenance), and the Eastern Province (industrial/logistics roads) are consistently active.
5) What Skills Raise My Salary Fast?
Operator multiskilling (paver + roller + grader), GNSS surveying, HMA QC/QA, NEBOSH HSE certification, and proven night-shift leadership significantly improve pay bands