Average salary falls

The average salary in Israel fell 2.1% to NIS 7,740 in January.

by Zeev Klein 
11 Apr 07
Globes

The average gross salary fell by 2.1% in January to NIS 7,740, 
compared with NIS 7,907 in December, the Central Bureau of 
Statistics reports. However, it was 2.1% higher than the average 
salary in January 2006, was NIS 7,575. 

The Central Bureau of Statistics said that in recent months the 
average salaries of Israeli employees fell by an annualized 1.2%. 
The average salary of Israel's working population including 
Palestinian workers was NIS 7,623, while the average salary for 
foreign workers was NIS 4,274. 

The number of employed persons reached an all-time high of 
2.7 million in January. The number of legal foreign workers reached 
68,700 and the number of Palestinians working legally within Israel 
was 15,800. The Central Bureau of Statistics said that in recent 
months the number of jobs in the economy has been rising at 
an annual rate of 4%. 

Employees in the electricity and water sectors continued to receive 
the highest average salary in January. Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) 
and Mekorot National Water Company employees earned an average 
salary of NIS 17,237, 2.2 times the average national salary. 

Employees of banks, insurance and financial companies had an 
average salary of NIS 15,097, 95% higher than the average national 
salary. Public administration employees were ranked third with an 
average salary of NIS 12,719, 64% higher than the national average. 
Industrial employees earned NIS 10,391, 34% higher than the 
national average, while employees in the transport and 
telecommunications sector earned an average salary of 
NIS 8,927, 15% higher than the national average. 

The lowest paid group of employees were in catering and 
accommodation, with an average salary of NIS 3,734, 52% less 
than the average national salary. Agricultural workers earned an 
average gross salary of NIS 4,979, 36% below the average national 
salary.