New Report Reveals Doctor Salaries in Israel, Highlighting Pay Gaps

A new report from Israel's Ministry of Finance details the salary structure for public healthcare workers, revealing significant disparities among doctors based on specialization, seniority, and location. The average full-time salary in public hospitals is NIS 22,560, while in community clinics it's NIS 23,326. Salaries range from NIS 10,772 for interns to NIS 83,245 for hospital directors.

Senior specialists earn an average of NIS 42,702 per month in hospitals, with top earners in management positions like hospital directors reaching over NIS 83,000. The report highlights a substantial pay gap between the top 10% and bottom 10% of specialists, with the highest earners making over six times more than the lowest. In community clinics, the average salary for specialists is higher, at NIS 56,075, with top earners exceeding NIS 103,000.

Geographic location plays a crucial role, with hospitals in "Periphery 1" (northern Israel) offering significantly higher salaries, especially for management and senior roles, to attract staff. For instance, a department head in Periphery 1 earns an average of NIS 70,156, compared to NIS 49,150 in central Israel.

Additional income from health corporations and programs to shorten waiting times can boost a specialist's total monthly earnings to an average of NIS 58,571, with the top 10% of specialists working with these corporations earning over NIS 102,000. The report also indicates a gender pay gap, with male specialists earning approximately 11-15% more than female specialists, largely due to differences in additional work hours and on-call duties.

Specialization also impacts earnings, with gynecology and obstetrics being the most lucrative in community clinics, while geriatrics leads in hospitals. Critical care and emergency department heads are among the highest earners in hospital management roles.