Post by bobsyouruncle on Jun 8, 2023 21:53:55 GMT
US Citizen, licensed engineer, Masters degree and 9 years experience in electric utility business. Was encoued by a few colleagues from the Middle East to apply and after researching the company, potential compensation and benefits have decided to pursue a position in Saudi Arabia. This forum is very helpful but there is a lot of conflicting or incomplete information. Im trying to build an estimate of what I could potentially receive as an offer. Based on what I've gathered the compensation package would look something like this:
1. Base Salary offered by Aramco seems to be based on your current base salary in the US and would range between plus/minus 20%. Looks like Aramco's strategy is to lowball expecting the candidate to counter.
2. A premium to this base salary is applied. There seems to be a 40% + 20% = 60% multiplier that keeps coming up in the thread.
3. Annual bonus is variable but seems to range between 15-25% based on company performance. Im assuming this component has the potential to be zero.
4. 401k matching can amount to 9%. Looks like they have an option to do annual cash payment instead of the match which can be between 17-19% of base salary.
5. Travel allowance is $6k per adult/children 12 and above and 75% of $6k per child below the age of 12. I read this in an old post and not sure it it works like this now.
6. Tax Savings: Due to the Foreign Income Tax Exclusion and protected tax treatment on several components of the compensation package (protected by Aramco?), tax liability is considerably reduced. As I interpret this, US citizens would only need to pay tax on any base income exceeding $112,000 plus the annual bonus amount.
A couple of questions:
1. Does Aramco consider annual and spot bonuses as part of the base salary they are trying to match?
2. Is the Airfare allowance explained in their benefits section of the website different from the travel allowance I've read about in the forum?
3. Does Aramco offer a pension in addition to the matching and/or cash payment alternative?
4. Based on what Ive read, Aramco does not offer car or pays for car insurance. Can someone confirm the cost of shipping a car from the East Coast to Saudi Arabia? Ive read it between $2-3k but on old posts. Would it be possible to ship 2 vehicles?
5. What would be a ballpark cost for shipping a small dog? Ive read $1k.
6. How difficult will it be for my wife to find a job once we are there? She is an Architect with a Masters degree and 11 years of experience in Project Management. She would be ok with not working assuming the compensation package I receive is able to replace both of our salaries in the US.
7. Am I missing a component of the salary package? Looks like, in addition to the above listed compensation package, Aramco pays for housing, utilities, medical, school for kids 4 years and older. Am I missing anything else?
I'm amazed as to why I had not heard about this opportunity before. Im very intrigued to learn more about the company, the country and hopefully work there in the near future.
1. Base Salary offered by Aramco seems to be based on your current base salary in the US and would range between plus/minus 20%. Looks like Aramco's strategy is to lowball expecting the candidate to counter.
2. A premium to this base salary is applied. There seems to be a 40% + 20% = 60% multiplier that keeps coming up in the thread.
3. Annual bonus is variable but seems to range between 15-25% based on company performance. Im assuming this component has the potential to be zero.
4. 401k matching can amount to 9%. Looks like they have an option to do annual cash payment instead of the match which can be between 17-19% of base salary.
5. Travel allowance is $6k per adult/children 12 and above and 75% of $6k per child below the age of 12. I read this in an old post and not sure it it works like this now.
6. Tax Savings: Due to the Foreign Income Tax Exclusion and protected tax treatment on several components of the compensation package (protected by Aramco?), tax liability is considerably reduced. As I interpret this, US citizens would only need to pay tax on any base income exceeding $112,000 plus the annual bonus amount.
A couple of questions:
1. Does Aramco consider annual and spot bonuses as part of the base salary they are trying to match?
2. Is the Airfare allowance explained in their benefits section of the website different from the travel allowance I've read about in the forum?
3. Does Aramco offer a pension in addition to the matching and/or cash payment alternative?
4. Based on what Ive read, Aramco does not offer car or pays for car insurance. Can someone confirm the cost of shipping a car from the East Coast to Saudi Arabia? Ive read it between $2-3k but on old posts. Would it be possible to ship 2 vehicles?
5. What would be a ballpark cost for shipping a small dog? Ive read $1k.
6. How difficult will it be for my wife to find a job once we are there? She is an Architect with a Masters degree and 11 years of experience in Project Management. She would be ok with not working assuming the compensation package I receive is able to replace both of our salaries in the US.
7. Am I missing a component of the salary package? Looks like, in addition to the above listed compensation package, Aramco pays for housing, utilities, medical, school for kids 4 years and older. Am I missing anything else?
I'm amazed as to why I had not heard about this opportunity before. Im very intrigued to learn more about the company, the country and hopefully work there in the near future.
