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 vast disparity compared to their male counterparts. This data emerged from "Press Box - Tuesday's Headlines," which also revealed average gross monthly salaries of 45,000 shekels for men in the top league and 8,000 shekels in the second division.

The contracts for both male and female players are submitted to the Football Association's budget control and serve as their official agreements. The stark difference in pay has been noted, with the women's league average significantly lower than even the men's second division.

For context, the average gross monthly salary across all sectors in the Israeli economy is 15,218 shekels, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. While the exact calculation method for the soccer salaries is not detailed, the figures provided by the Football Association represent the earnings of Israeli footballers.

It is important to note that this is an average, and some top female players earn considerably more. However, many players in the women's league, who often train five times a week, also hold second jobs as coaches or in other fields outside of soccer. The presence of many young players from youth academies alongside star athletes in women's teams also contributes to the lower average salary.