The official emblem of the Saratov Region is a pentagonal "French" light-blue (azure) shield with three silver sterlets in the form of a fork-like cross, their heads converging to a point, thus telling us about the abundant fish resources of the Volga. The colour of the shield symbolizes the Volga and many smaller rivers that run through the region. Above the shield you can see the traditional ancient crown with five visible jags stylized as domes of Christian churches. This alludes to the city's history tracing it back to the moment of foundation of Saratov in 1590 as a frontier post in the reign of the tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

The present-day emblem is based on the version ratified on August 23, 1781, which represented the azure shield surrounded by a golden wreath consisting of entwined oak and laurel twigs and wheat ears entwined with a golden ribbon.

The present-day emblem of the Saratov region was ratified by the Law of the Saratov region in March 2002.