Israeli Ministry of Finance Report Reveals Wide Doctor Salary Disparities

A comprehensive report from Israel's Ministry of Finance detailing the salaries of over 120,000 public healthcare workers has exposed significant income variations among physicians. The average full-time salary in hospitals is NIS 22,560, with a median of NIS 18,804. In community-based health maintenance organizations (HMOs), the average full-time salary is slightly higher at NIS 23,326, though the median is lower at NIS 16,971.

Salaries escalate with experience and specialization. Interns earn an average of NIS 10,772, while residents average NIS 23,905. Doctors with a specialist certificate see a substantial increase, with junior specialists earning around NIS 34,418 and senior specialists, without management roles, averaging NIS 42,702. Overall, the average salary for all specialist doctors in hospitals is NIS 45,290.

At the top of the salary scale are hospital administrators. Department heads earn an average of NIS 53,613, deputy hospital directors NIS 64,859, and hospital directors lead with an average of NIS 83,245 per month. The report also highlights a considerable income gap within professional categories, with the top 10% of hospital specialists earning approximately NIS 104,650, while the bottom 10% earn around NIS 17,323.

Specialization significantly impacts earnings, with different fields being more lucrative depending on the workplace. In hospitals, geriatrics is the highest-paid specialty at NIS 46,958, followed by otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at NIS 46,037. In HMOs, obstetrics and gynecology specialists lead with an average of NIS 78,603, followed by ophthalmologists at NIS 75,244.

Additional income streams, such as working in medical corporations or queue-reduction programs, can add substantially to a doctor's total earnings, increasing average monthly income by over NIS 18,000 for those who combine hospital work with these activities. The report also noted a gender pay gap, with male specialists earning approximately 15% more than female specialists in hospitals and 11% more in HMOs, largely attributed to differences in additional work and on-call duties.