Working in Jerusalem: Jobs, Salaries and How Employment Works for English-Speakers

Jerusalem is not Tel Aviv's job market: it is the capital, so government and public bodies are the largest employers; it has two universities, the biggest hospitals in the country, a growing tech cluster around the Har Hotzvim and Givat Ram parks and the JVP quarter, a large nonprofit sector, tourism and the trades. English-speakers find work fastest in tech, in English-language roles at nonprofits and universities, in teaching, translation and content, in customer-facing roles for global companies, and by bringing a remote job with them. Salaries are lower than in North America or the UK for the same work, and the tax and benefits system is generous in ways that offset part of that.

The numbers, as of 2026

• Minimum wage: a little under 6,500 shekels a month for a full-time position from April 2026, about 35 shekels an hour.
• Average salary: around 14,000 shekels gross nationally, pulled up by tech; the median is nearer 9,000 to 10,000. Jerusalem averages sit below Tel Aviv's.
• Working week: 42 hours, typically Sunday to Thursday with a short Friday in some sectors; Friday is a workday in retail and health.
• Take-home: roughly three-quarters of gross after income tax, national insurance and health tax; less at high salaries.

Reading the payslip

An Israeli payslip (tlush) shows gross salary, the employer's pension and severance contributions (a percentage of salary into a pension fund you choose, with the employer paying the larger share), the further-education fund (keren hishtalmut) if the job offers it, deductions for income tax, Bituach Leumi and health tax, and often a travel allowance, meal card and recreation pay (dmei havra'a) once a year. Vacation days and sick days accrue by law; holidays are paid. The pension fund is yours and moves with you between jobs; choose it in the first month or the default fund is chosen for you. The Bituach Leumi guide explains the contributions.

Olim and tax

New immigrants and qualifying returning residents get extra income-tax credit points for their first years, which raise the tax-free portion of salary, and a ten-year exemption on foreign-source income and the reporting of it: dividends, rent and business income from abroad. Foreign pensions have their own rules. It is worth an hour with an accountant who does olim returns before your first tax year ends; the exemption is generous but the filing rules are not intuitive.

Finding the job

• Nefesh B'Nefesh's employment department and the AACI run job boards, CV clinics and networking for English-speakers; the Ministry of Aliyah has employment counsellors and vocational courses.
• LinkedIn and the Israeli job boards (AllJobs, Drushim, JobMaster) carry most openings; Hebrew is needed for most of them, less so in tech.
• The Anglo Facebook and WhatsApp groups carry the English-language roles at nonprofits, schools and small businesses before they are advertised.
• Networking works: Israel hires through people. Say what you do to everyone; the second cousin of your neighbour is how it happens.
• Licensed professions (medicine, law, accounting, teaching, engineering, therapy) need recognition or exams through the relevant ministry; start before you arrive.

Freelancing and small business

Self-employed people open a file with the Tax Authority (as an osek patur below the VAT threshold or an osek murshe above it), register with Bituach Leumi as self-employed, and file annual returns; an accountant handles it for a modest monthly fee. Invoicing is through approved software, and payment terms in Israel are slow: "shotef plus 30" means the end of the month plus thirty days. Working remotely for a foreign employer while living here is common and taxable in Israel; get the structure right early. The bank guide covers the business account.

Culture

Israeli workplaces are direct, informal and hierarchical at the same time: first names for everyone including the CEO, blunt feedback, arguments that are not personal, WhatsApp at all hours, and a real expectation that family comes first when it has to. Contracts are shorter than you are used to; get the salary, hours, pension percentage, vacation and notice period in writing. Hebrew at work matters more than in Tel Aviv; ulpan is an investment in your earning power.

Hebrew you will meet

• avoda — work / job
• tlush — payslip
• brutto / netto — gross / net
• pensia — pension
• keren hishtalmut — further-education savings fund
• osek patur / murshe — small / VAT-registered self-employed
• kabbalat kahal — reception hours

More everyday words are in our Hebrew vocabulary guide.

Common questions

Can I find a job in Jerusalem without Hebrew?

In tech, at English-language nonprofits, universities and global companies, and in teaching and content, yes; in most other fields working Hebrew is expected. Ulpan raises your options and your salary.

What is the minimum wage in Israel in 2026?

A little under 6,500 shekels a month for full-time work from April 2026, about 35 shekels an hour on the 42-hour week; check the current figure, it rises periodically.

Do olim pay less tax?

New olim receive extra tax credit points for their first years and a ten-year exemption on foreign-source income; Israeli salary is taxed normally beyond the credits.

Can I keep my remote job when I move to Jerusalem?

Yes, and many do; income earned while living in Israel is taxable here even from a foreign employer, so set up the right structure (employee of record, contractor with an Israeli file, or the employer's Israeli entity) with an accountant.

A wage figure or rule that changed? Tell us and we will fix it.