Average Salary Rises in Israel, But High-Tech Workers Earn Nearly Three Times More
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
In May 2026, Israel's average gross salary rose to 14,263 shekels, a 6.6% increase from the previous year, with real wages up 4.6%. High-tech workers, making up 9.5% of jobs, earned nearly three times more than others, highlighting a large wage gap.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Average gross salary in Israel rose 6.6% to 14,263 shekels in May 2026.
- Real wages increased by 4.6% after inflation adjustment over the year.
- High-tech workers earn an average of 35,800 shekels, nearly triple other sectors.
- High-tech jobs constitute only 9.5% of total salaried positions.
- Total salaried jobs numbered 4.168 million, up 0.5% year-over-year.
- Job growth rate slowed by 2.9% annually from March to May 2026.
In May 2026, the average gross salary for Israeli employees reached 14,263 shekels, marking a 6.6% increase compared to May 2025, when it was 13,379 shekels. After adjusting for inflation, real wages rose by 4.6% over the year. The total number of salaried positions in Israel stood at approximately 4.168 million in May, a slight increase of 0.5% from the previous year. However, data from March to May indicate a 2.9% annual decline in job growth rate.
Despite the overall wage growth, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data reveals a significant wage gap between sectors. High-tech employees, who represent only 9.5% of all jobs, earned an average monthly salary of 35,800 shekels, nearly three times higher than the roughly 12,000 shekels average in other sectors. This disparity highlights how the average wage increase is heavily influenced by a relatively small group of high earners in the tech industry.
The figures underscore ongoing economic challenges, including inflation and uneven wage distribution across the Israeli labor market. The data was reported by Ariel Feiglin on August 4, 2026, based on CBS statistics.
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