Psychologists working in the public sector will see a long-negotiated pay raise, following months of negotiations between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Histadrut.
The reform, which is expected to come into effect in January 2025, will significantly advance the status of around 5,000 psychologists in the public service, including in government ministries, local authorities, hospitals and health management organizations. It is also expected to help solve the staffing shortage in the profession by encouraging psychologists to transition from the private sector to the public sector.
Until the agreement goes into effect, all psychologists in the public sector will be paid a one-time grant of 5,000 shekels ($1,361), according to the number of hours worked per week.
The agreement is expected to significantly improve the salaries of psychologists, such that the salary of an expert psychologist will increase by about 40% on average compared to their current salary. The updated salary table, which will take effect on January 1, will set a base monthly salary of 11,000 shekels ($2,994) for a full-time intern; 13,000 shekels ($3,539) for an expert; 15,000 shekels ($4,083) for a counselor and 17,000 shekels ($4,628) for a senior counselor.
On April 1, 2026, those salaries will increase by 250 shekels ($68) per month and on April 1, 2027 by an additional 250 shekels. In addition, from 2026 onwards, psychologists will be entitled to an additional seniority at a rate of 1.5% annually, up to a ceiling of 25 years of seniority. The psychologists will also be entitled to an additional seniority of 1% for each year of compulsory service in the Israeli military.
Psychologists employed in management positions in the public psychological system will also be entitled to a management supplement ranging from 5% to 25% of the base salary, depending on the management hierarchy and the size of the unit they manage (starting at the level of team leader). In addition, psychologists will be entitled to additional professional responsibility pay ranging from 500 shekels to 800 shekels ($136 to $218) for a full-time position.
Other issues settled in the agreement are a grant mechanism for psychologists in hospitals, in community settings, and in local government; a special on-call bonus pay for psychologists in hospitals and in the community (through HMOs); additional pay to psychologists with a PhD related to the profession; and regulation of employer participation in professional training.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commended the initiative. “As part of the many efforts that the government is making, both for the benefit of the soldiers on the front lines and for the benefit of civilians on the home front, we decided to make a large investment in mental health, part of which is reflected in the empowerment of public psychology,” he said. “The psychologists do sacred work and save lives every day, and I hope that the improvement in their status will reflect some of the high esteem they deserve.”
Education Minister Yoav Kisch echoed his remarks. “The complex security situation that the state of Israel is facing these days emphasizes even more strongly the vital importance of public psychology for enshrining and strengthening the resilience of Israeli society,” he said. “The work of educational psychologists, both in routine and emergency situations, with students, parents and education staff, is a sacred duty worthy of all praise and recognition.”
He added that the salary increase would help maintain and recruit staff.
Health Minister Uriel Buso said that the agreement would help psychologists interested in working in the public sector but turned off by the compensation. “I thank the professionals in the Ministry of Health who are working diligently with the Ministry of Finance and the Histadrut to reach a significant agreement that will change the face of the system for years to come,” he said. “Since the events of October 7, it has become clear to everyone that the working conditions of psychologists in the public sector must change dramatically, and this is what we plan to do.”
Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David also welcomed the reform. “The past year has proven how important it is to have professional, high-quality and available psychological services,” he said. “After intensive work and an understanding of the urgent changes needed, we have reached a groundbreaking reform for psychologists in the public service, who are doing such important work, especially these days.”
He said that the agreement would help ensure that every Israeli can access mental health care.
Michal Waldiger, a lawmaker from the Religious Zionist party, echoed that sentiment.
“A society’s resilience lays the foundation of a healthy and productive society, especially during these challenging times,” she said. “Resilience starts at a society’s roots, with its infrastructure and its local communities, but must also be built on the public system, and on having high-quality, professional, and accessible psychologists. The new agreement is good news for psychologists in the public service, but even more so for Israeli society and its resilience, who will have more and better psychologists who will help cope with the challenges and provide support to those who need it.”
Efi Malkin, commissioner of wages at the Ministry of Finance, also praised the deal, noting the importance of public-sector psychology in Israel’s health, education, and welfare systems, and Alexandra Krushinski, chair of the Histadrut’s union for academics in the social sciences and the humanities, described strengthening public psychology is part of the “national mission.”
Moshe Bar Siman Tov, director general of the Ministry of Health, noted that the deal was just one step in achieving the ministry’s National Mental Health Program. “I welcome the progress regarding the salaries of psychologists in the public system, and we will continue to accompany the process until its completion and implementation,” he said.
