Israeli Local Authorities Show Stark Income Gaps From Savion to Emmanuel

The latest official data on average salaries across Israeli local authorities reveal significant economic disparities nationwide. According to the 2022 figures from the Ministry of Interior's 2026 Local Government Status Report, income gaps between municipalities are widening, reflecting a divided society with vastly different economic realities often just a short drive apart.

The highest average monthly salary is found in the affluent local council of Savion, where residents earn 31,134 shekels, followed closely by Kfar Shmaryahu at 30,650 shekels. Notably, Lehavim in southern Israel ranks third with an average salary of 21,673 shekels, showing that economic prestige is not limited to central Israel. Other top earners include Tel Mond (21,577 shekels) and Ramat Hasharon (21,472 shekels). Several other wealthy municipalities such as Kochav Yair, Omer, Hod Hasharon, Even Yehuda, and Kiryat Ono also report average salaries exceeding 19,000 shekels.

In contrast, the lowest average salaries are found in peripheral and socioeconomically weaker areas. Emmanuel ranks last with an average monthly salary of just 6,584 shekels, followed by Modiin Illit at 6,667 shekels. Other low-income localities include Rekhasim, Beitar Illit, and Jisr az-Zarqa, all with averages below 7,000 shekels. Additional municipalities with average salaries slightly above 7,000 shekels include Kfar Manda, Ein Mahil, Tel Sheva, Neve Midbar Regional Council, and Ba'ana, highlighting stark development and employment gaps.

The report also shows that labor force participation rates remain stable at around 70% across all groups, indicating that income disparities stem mainly from wage levels rather than employment rates. Several municipalities experienced notable salary increases between 2021 and 2022. Savion's average salary rose by over 4,580 shekels (17.2%), Kfar Shmaryahu by 3,828 shekels (14.2%), and Tel Mond by nearly 15.7%. Other councils such as Kochav Yair, Hof HaSharon, Migdal, and more peripheral areas like Central Arava, Tamar Regional Council, and Ma'aliya also saw double-digit percentage salary growth, signaling emerging economic resilience beyond central Israel.

Overall, the data paints a clear picture of deepening economic inequality across Israeli localities, with the wealthiest areas pulling further ahead while many peripheral and lower-ranked municipalities struggle with significantly lower incomes.