Israeli Defense Report Reveals Salary Gaps Among Military and Security Personnel

The Israeli Ministry of Finance released its 2023-2024 salary report for the defense sector, highlighting wage disparities across the IDF, police, prison service, Mossad, and Shin Bet. The report shows a significant 10% salary increase in one year and 17% over two years for young permanent IDF soldiers, whose average monthly salary in 2024 reached 13,845 shekels. This rise is attributed to a multi-year IDF plan focusing on strengthening young combatants and the heightened military activity during wartime.

Despite this increase, young permanent soldiers still earn the lowest salaries in the defense system due to their age and limited experience. The overall average salary in the IDF is 18,756 shekels, compared to 20,562 shekels in the Israeli police and 18,889 shekels in the prison service. The highest salaries are found in affiliated units like the Atomic Energy Commission, averaging 34,315 shekels, followed by intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet, with averages of 32,225 shekels, and the Biological Research Institute at 31,932 shekels.

The report also notes an increase in civilian employees within the IDF, growing from approximately 6,600 three years ago to about 8,000 in 2024, mainly in intelligence, cyber, and technology sectors due to wartime manpower needs. Additionally, it highlights the substantial value of IDF officers’ budgetary pensions, averaging 9 million shekels, with an average retirement age of 45 and a monthly pension of 20,019 shekels.

Gender representation in the defense sector continues to improve, but the gender pay gap slightly widened in 2024. The Ministry of Finance explains this is mainly due to combat-related pay supplements, which are predominantly awarded to male-dominated field roles.