Executive Support & Operations Salaries in MENA: What US Companies Should Expect
MENA has become a competitive and reliable region for hiring Executive Support & Operations professionals. Countries such as Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Lebanon offer hybrid EA/Ops talent with a strong balance of communication skills, operational rigor, and experience supporting US executives.
To help founders plan effectively, this guide outlines salary benchmarks, seniority ranges, and compensation variables for EA/Ops roles across the region.
Why US Startups Can Hire High-Quality EA/Ops Talent at Competitive Rates
Cost-of-living differences
MENA offers cost-efficient salary structures compared to US equivalents while maintaining high-quality operations capacity.
Mature administrative and operations markets
Egypt, Jordan, UAE, and Morocco have established service and business operations sectors.
Strong communication capability
Clear English proficiency enables candidates to manage inboxes, reporting, documentation, and coordination tasks.
These compensation dynamics align with the role definitions described in Building an Effective Executive Support & Operations Hiring Pipeline in MENA (Founder Edition).
Salary Benchmarks (Monthly USD)
Salary ranges vary by country, seniority, and scope of responsibilities.
Egypt
Mid-Level: $1,400–$2,000
Senior: $2,000–$3,200
Strong English, exceptional documentation skills, and hybrid EA/Ops capability.
Jordan
Mid-Level: $1,600–$2,400
Senior: $2,400–$3,500
Known for communication quality and structured operational thinking.
Lebanon
Mid-Level: $1,500–$2,200
Senior: $2,200–$3,500
High business literacy and strong reporting capability.
Morocco
Mid-Level: $1,400–$2,000
Senior: $2,000–$3,200
Multilingual talent with strong coordination skills.
Saudi Arabia / UAE
Mid-Level: $1,800–$3,000
Senior: $3,000–$4,500+
Premium candidates with corporate operations exposure and advanced administrative backgrounds.
What Influences EA/Ops Compensation?
1. Role scope
Hybrid roles (EA + Operations) earn more than pure administrative roles.
2. Tool proficiency
Candidates well-versed in:
- Google Workspace
- Notion
- Slack
- Asana / ClickUp
- CRM systems
command higher rates.
3. Process ownership
EAs who write SOPs, run reporting cycles, or manage recurring workflows sit at the higher end of the range.
4. US-hour alignment
Full US-time availability typically increases compensation.
These variables correspond with the evaluation framework covered in How to Evaluate Executive Support & Operations Professionals: Communication, Systems, Reliability.
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Comparing MENA EA/Ops Salaries With Other Regions
While MENA is the primary focus, founders sometimes compare with other optimized hiring regions:
MENA remains especially strong for cross-functional EA/Ops roles requiring communication, coordination, and operational ownership.
Salary Ranges by Seniority Level
Entry-Level EA/Ops (1–2 years)
$1,000–$1,600 (depending on country)
Suitable for task-based execution, basic admin, and coordination.
Mid-Level EA/Ops (3–5 years)
$1,400–$2,400
Strong communication, task ownership, operations support, calendar/inbox management.
Senior EA/Ops (5–10 years)
$2,400–$4,500+
High autonomy, SOP creation, reporting excellence, cross-functional workflow management, executive communication.
Lead EA/Ops or Ops Supervisors
$3,000–$5,000+ (UAE/Saudi Arabia)
Experienced in managing multi-executive workflows and overseeing other admin/ops staff.
Budgeting for EA/Ops Talent in 2025
For US startups, recommended budgeting ranges are:
- Part-time EA/Ops: $800–$1,500/mo
- Full-time EA/Ops: $1,400–$3,500/mo
- Senior hybrid EA/Ops: $2,500–$4,500+
- Corporate-grade Ops Support: $3,500–$5,000+ (UAE/Saudi Arabia)
These ranges ensure predictable cost planning and competitive compensation.
FAQ
Q1: Why do salaries vary across MENA countries?
Differences in cost of living, industry maturity, and administrative experience drive variation.
Q2: Are senior EA/Ops roles common in MENA?
Yes—Egypt, Jordan, and UAE have deep pools of experienced EA/Ops professionals.
Q3: What skills justify higher compensation?
Process ownership, advanced documentation, SOP creation, multi-executive support, and strong communication.
Q4: Does working US hours affect salary?
Absolutely—full US alignment increases compensation.
