Average Salary in Israeli Security Forces Rises 17% Over Two Years, Secret Agencies Lead Pay Scale

The average starting salary for young servicemembers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased by 17% over two years, reaching 13,845 shekels in 2024 compared to 11,786 shekels in 2022. This data comes from the 2023-2024 salary report for security system employees published by the Wage and Labor Agreements Division of the Ministry of Finance. Although much of the data reflects the period before and immediately after the outbreak of the Iron Swords war on October 7, the report already shows some impact of the conflict on wage agreements and structural changes in security personnel.

Among security bodies, employees in affiliated units such as the Atomic Energy Committee earned the highest average gross salary at 34,315 shekels. Workers in secretive agencies like Mossad and Shin Bet earned an average of 32,225 shekels, while those at the Biological Research Institute (MABBI) earned 31,932 shekels. Civilian IDF employees earned an average of 22,926 shekels, with the overall IDF average salary at 18,756 shekels in 2024. The Israel Police reported an average salary of 20,562 shekels, and the Prison Service (Shabas) averaged 18,889 shekels. Significant salary increases for police and prison service personnel began mid-2024 and are expected to appear in the 2025 report.

The number of civilian IDF employees grew substantially during the Iron Swords war, rising from about 6,600 in 2021 to 8,000 in 2024, mainly in intelligence, cyber, and technology sectors. This growth lowered the average age from 50 to 44 years. Their average salary rose from 21,800 shekels in 2021 to 25,700 shekels in 2024, driven by a 2024 wage agreement and increased overtime during the war.

The report also highlights that the average pension value for IDF officers stands at 9 million shekels, with an average retirement age of 45 and a monthly pension of 20,019 shekels. However, there are concerns about meeting the target pension levels for retirees by 2025. Female representation continues to rise, comprising about one-third of all permanent IDF personnel and 41.2% at MABBI. Nonetheless, gender wage gaps slightly widened in 2024, mainly due to combat and activity level pay supplements, which predominantly benefit male-dominated field roles.

Senior ranks earn significantly higher salaries, with IDF generals earning 73,099 shekels gross monthly in 2024, police commissioners earning 66,084 shekels, and prison service commanders earning 62,946 shekels.