Israeli Salaries in the 40s: A Detailed Look at Income Across Professions

The average gross monthly salary for Israelis aged 40-49 is projected to reach approximately 20,700 shekels in 2026, reflecting a 5.2% increase from the previous year. This age group earns about 22% more than those in their 30s, who average around 17,000 shekels, and significantly more than the overall average salary of 15,900 shekels. However, the median salary for those in their 40s is considerably lower, estimated at 15,200 shekels, indicating that half of the approximately 770,000 workers in this age bracket earn less than this amount. This disparity highlights how high earners, particularly in fields like high-tech, finance, and senior management, can earn double or triple the average.

While the average salary saw a 22% increase from the 30s to the 40s, the median salary rose by only 16%. In the first half of 2026, the average monthly salary across all employees rose by 5.2% to about 14,200 shekels. The high-tech sector experienced a more substantial increase of 6.5%, with the average salary reaching approximately 35,300 shekels. This overall real wage increase of over 3% suggests an improvement in purchasing power, though it's not uniform across all workers.

Significant salary gaps exist between different professions. While some in their 40s earn under 12,000 shekels in service, education, or welfare roles, others in fields like high-tech can earn over 40,000 shekels. For example, customer service representatives earn between 11,000-13,500 shekels, teachers 12,000-16,500 shekels, and social workers 13,000-16,500 shekels. In contrast, certified electricians and plumbers earn 14,000-19,000 shekels, while nurses and accountants earn 19,000-24,500 shekels.

High-tech professionals in their 40s, such as software developers, earn an estimated 33,500-40,500 shekels, with specialists in algorithm development, chips, and machine learning potentially earning 40,000-53,000 shekels. This means a high-tech worker can earn three times more than a service sector worker of the same age. These disparities, which begin in the 30s, widen as careers progress.

Gender pay gaps also widen in the 40s. In 2026, the average monthly salary for men aged 40-49 is projected at 25,300 shekels, compared to 16,300 shekels for women, a difference of about 9,000 shekels. Men's average salaries are 55% higher than women's, a wider gap than in their 30s. While men's salaries increased by 24% from their 30s to their 40s, women's increased by only 20%. Factors like part-time employment, career breaks, and childcare responsibilities contribute to this gap, though the data doesn't isolate the exact impact of each.

After age 50, salary growth slows. The average salary for those aged 50-59 is expected to be around 21,300 shekels in 2026, a modest 3% increase from their 40s, with the median salary slightly decreasing to 15,000 shekels. Post-60, average salaries drop further to approximately 15,400 shekels, partly due to a shift towards part-time work and early retirement.