Israeli Localities Show Stark Wage Gaps With Savion Leading at 31,000 Shekels

New data from Israel's Ministry of Interior reveals significant disparities in average monthly wages across local authorities in 2022. The report, based on the 2026 Local Government Status Report, highlights a wide economic divide between affluent and peripheral communities, with average salaries ranging from over 31,000 shekels in Savion to under 7,000 shekels in Emanuel.

The highest average wage was recorded in the local council of Savion at 31,134 shekels, followed closely by Kfar Shmaryahu with 30,650 shekels. Notably, Lehavim in southern Israel ranked third with an average salary of 21,673 shekels, showing that economic prosperity is not limited to central Israel. Other top earners included Tel Mond and Ramat Hasharon, with average wages above 21,000 shekels. Cities like Tel Aviv and Modiin ranked lower, with Tel Aviv averaging 17,922 shekels and Modiin 23rd on the list.

At the lower end, Emanuel had the lowest average wage of 6,584 shekels, followed by Modiin Illit at 6,667 shekels. Other low-wage localities included Rekhasim, Beitar Illit, and Jisr az-Zarqa, all with average salaries below 7,000 shekels. Several other communities faced average wages just above 7,000 shekels, underscoring persistent economic challenges in these areas.

The report also shows that labor force participation rates are stable at around 70% across all groups, indicating that wage disparities stem from salary levels rather than employment rates. Some localities experienced remarkable wage growth between 2021 and 2022, with Savion’s average wage rising by over 17.2% (4,580 shekels) and Kfar Shmaryahu increasing by 14.2%. Other notable increases occurred in Tel Mond, Kochav Yair, Hof HaSharon Regional Council, and Migdal, with double-digit percentage growths, reflecting economic strengthening even in more remote areas such as the Central Arava and Tamar Regional Council.

These findings paint a complex picture of Israel’s socioeconomic landscape, revealing a country divided into distinct economic zones with sharp income inequalities persisting and, in some cases, widening.