Women's Soccer League Salaries Lag Far Behind Men's

The average gross monthly salary for a player in Israel's top women's soccer league is just 2,000 shekels (approximately $540 USD), a figure described as "unfathomable" and highlighting a massive disparity compared to their male counterparts. This data emerged from a segment on "Press Box - Tuesday's Headlines," which previously revealed the average salaries in the men's Premier League and National League.

According to contracts filed with the Israel Football Association, the average gross monthly salary for a player in the men's Premier League is 45,000 shekels (approximately $12,150 USD), while players in the National League earn an average of 8,000 shekels (approximately $2,160 USD) gross per month. The women's league average of 2,000 shekels is significantly lower than the national average gross monthly salary across all sectors in Israel, which stands at 15,218 shekels (approximately $4,100 USD) as of September 2023.

While these figures represent averages and some top players earn considerably more, the low overall average reflects the financial realities for most women footballers. Many players in the top women's league train five times a week and often hold second jobs as coaches or in other fields outside of soccer to supplement their income. The presence of many young players from youth academies on team rosters, alongside star players, also contributes to the lower average salary.