Israel's Teacher Standing Falls Sharply in International Pay Comparisons

A new report from the OECD's Education at a Glance 2026 yearbook reveals a significant decline in the relative standing of Israeli teachers compared to other highly educated professionals. While in 2022, Israeli elementary school teachers earned 86% of what academics earned, by 2023 this figure had dropped to 73%, placing Israel fifth from the bottom among 26 reporting countries. This represents a doubling of the pay gap between teachers and other academics, from 14% to 27%.

Despite the worsening pay comparison, the report indicates that the overall situation for Israeli teachers is better than commonly perceived when viewed globally. For instance, between 2015 and 2024, the number of full-time elementary school teachers in Israel increased by 97%, far exceeding the OECD average of 13% and second-place Luxembourg's 57%. This dramatic rise in teacher numbers, while student numbers grew by only 18%, raises questions about the persistent teacher shortage, which is reportedly concentrated in the secular state education system.

Regarding teacher retention, Israel fares better than many other nations. In 2024/25, only 2.5% of qualified elementary and middle school teachers left the profession, compared to the OECD average of 6.4%. Furthermore, two-thirds of those who left did so due to retirement, a much lower proportion than the developed country average of 55% who resigned. However, the data does show that new teachers with less than five years of experience are leaving at the highest rate among reporting countries, suggesting a problem with retaining early-career educators.

The report also highlights that Israel has a relatively low percentage of unqualified teachers, with 7.1% in elementary and middle schools lacking full qualifications, placing it ninth among 23 countries. In terms of career changes, Israel sees a higher proportion of individuals entering teaching through second-career programs compared to the OECD average. While 83.8% of Israeli teachers report satisfaction with their jobs, this is lower than other academics, and satisfaction with salary is particularly low, though job conditions outside of salary are viewed more favorably.