Israeli Healthcare Report Reveals Significant Salary Gaps Among Doctors

A comprehensive salary report on Israel's public healthcare system, released by the Ministry of Finance's Wage Commissioner and Labor Agreements Department, highlights substantial pay disparities among medical professionals. The average monthly salary across all hospital positions stands at NIS 22,560, with a median of NIS 18,804. Approximately 71% of hospital employees earn over NIS 15,000 monthly. In community health funds, the average salary per position is NIS 23,326, with a median of NIS 16,971, and about 62% of workers earning above NIS 15,000.

Significant wage gaps are particularly evident among specialist doctors. The top 10% of earners in hospitals make an average of NIS 104,700 per month, a sixfold difference compared to the lowest 10%, who earn around NIS 17,300. Pay also varies by specialty, with gynecologists earning an average of NIS 78,603 monthly, while psychiatrists earn NIS 42,663. The report notes that a recent agreement in September 2024 for psychiatrists will reflect in future salary reports.

Specialist doctors in peripheral areas of Israel earn approximately 33% more than their counterparts in central Israel, a difference attributed partly to a higher volume of on-call duties in the periphery. Conversely, the number of on-call shifts for residents is decreasing, averaging five per month in 2025, though this varies by specialty. For instance, general surgery residents averaged 5.4 shifts, while dermatology residents averaged only 2.2.

The report also addresses the aging medical workforce, with 24% of specialist doctors nearing retirement age, reaching 36% in pediatric surgery. The Ministry of Finance emphasizes the need for national planning of specialization training and targeted incentives. Salaries in psychiatric hospitals are about 5% lower than in general hospitals for staff, and around 7% lower for doctors.

Furthermore, gender pay gaps persist. Women constitute about 65% of hospital employees but earn an average of 19% less than men in full-time positions. In community health funds, where women are 76% of the workforce, the gap widens to 40%. This disparity is largely due to differences in additional work hours, professions, and job ranks.