The minimum wage will increase to 6,443 NIS in April 2026

The minimum wage is expected to increase to 6,443.85 shekels per month on April 1st 2026, based on average wage data for October published this week by the Central Bureau of Statistics. This is an increase of about 3.3%, or 196.17 shekels (compared to the current monthly wage of 6,247 shekels). The hourly minimum wage will increase to 35.4 shekels per hour (compared to 34.32 shekels per hour today).

The minimum wage is updated annually in April to be 47.5% of the average wage, as determined by the National Insurance Law. 

The average salary for the month of October was 13,324 shekels (for all workers, both Israelis and foreigners). In September it was 13,745 shekels and in August it was 13,629 shekels.

As part of the state budget for 2025, the Ministry of Finance sought to freeze the increase in the minimum wage - a move that was blocked due to the opposition of the Histadrut, led by Chairman Arnon Bar-David. "The increase in the minimum wage is expected to improve the income of tens of thousands of families in the economy and constitute a vital addition in a challenging economic period," the Histadrut added. "In families where both spouses earn minimum wage, the annual family income will grow by more than 4,700 shekels."

Monthly hours:
Following the shortening of the public sector workweek in the 2023 framework agreement, the hourly minimum wage in the public sector will be calculated based on 173.33 monthly hours (instead of 182 hours in the rest of the economy) and will stand at NIS 37.17 per hour. 

These sums are the gross wage (bruto), before deductions (such as income tax, national insurance, health insurance, the employee's share in the continuing education fund or pension insurance, etc.).

These amounts are for employed adults, over 18 years old. 

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis will benefit quite a bit from this when they see the money in their bank account for their April salary.

The law calculates wages based on 182 monthly work hours, and the Ministry of Labor emphasized that a workplace that does not pay the new minimum will be committing a criminal offense and an administrative violation, and the issue will be enforced by the Ministry of Labor, which may result in fines and sanctions.