Atomic Energy Committee Tops Israeli Security Sector Salaries, IDF Lowest Among Agencies

A 2024 salary report for Israel's security sector reveals that employees of the Atomic Energy Committee earn the highest average monthly gross salary, exceeding 34,000 shekels. They are followed by personnel from secretive agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, with averages just above 32,000 shekels, and the Biological Research Institute, with just under 32,000 shekels. In contrast, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have the lowest average salary at 18,756 shekels, below the police (around 20,000 shekels) and the Prison Service (nearly 19,000 shekels). The Finance Ministry noted that lower-ranked IDF soldiers saw a higher salary increase than senior ranks, narrowing pay gaps, with initial fixed salaries for young soldiers rising 17% over two years to 13,845 shekels. Significant pay raises were also granted mid-2024 to police and prison service personnel, expected to be fully reflected in the 2025 report.

The report also highlights pension data for early retirees in the security sector. IDF officers retire youngest, at an average age of 45, with an average pension value of about 9 million shekels and monthly pensions averaging 20,019 shekels. Police officers retire at 54 with pensions valued at 7.4 million shekels and monthly payments around 22,000 shekels, while prison service officers retire at 55 with pensions worth 5.4 million shekels and monthly payments near 17,000 shekels. These pension figures are notably higher than the average state service retiree pension of 6,984 shekels per month.

The number of civilian IDF employees has grown significantly during the ongoing conflict, rising from approximately 6,600 to 8,000 in 2024, mainly in intelligence, cyber, and technology roles. Their average salary increased from 21,800 shekels in 2021 to 25,700 shekels in 2024, driven by the growth in tech roles, a new 2024 wage agreement, and increased overtime during wartime.