Key Facts: Israel vs Syria Wages
- Israel Minimum Wage
- ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD)
- Syria Minimum Wage
- £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD)
- Israel Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- ₪12,000 /mo ($4,262.12 USD)
- Syria Avg. Gross Monthly Salary
- £S13,500 /mo ($120.13 USD)
- Data Sources
- Ministry of Economy and Industry / National Insurance Institute; 2026 figure verified via Wikipedia List of countries by minimum wage (eff 2026-04-01) (2026-05-04), ILO ILOSTAT / World Bank / Syria Report economic analyses (2026-02-25)
Israel
Syria
Updated 2026-05-04
Israel, a high-income economy, and Syria, classified as low-income, take different approaches to wage policy. Average gross salaries diverge further: $4,262/mo in Israel versus $120/mo in Syria, a 35.5:1 ratio. GDP per capita (PPP) in Israel is 12.0x that of Syria, underscoring the structural economic divide.
Israel has higher GDP per capita ($57,236 vs $4,772). Israel's unemployment rate is 3.5% compared to Syria's 13.6%.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Israel | Syria |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage /hr | ₪35.40 $12.57 | — |
| Minimum wage /mo | ₪6,443.85 $2,288.71 | £S1,850 $16.46 |
| Minimum wage /yr | ₪77,326.20 $27,464.46 | — |
| Avg. gross salary /mo | ₪12,000 /mo $4,262.12 | £S13,500 /mo $120.13 |
| Avg. net salary /mo | ₪9,000 /mo $3,196.59 | £S12,000 /mo $106.78 |
| Median individual income /yr | ₪108,000 /yr $38,359.08 | N/A/yr |
Percentage differences are based on USD equivalent values. Positive means Israel is higher.
Work Week
- Israel
-
42 hrs/wk standard
Max 42 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.25x pay
Standard workweek reduced from 43 to 42 hours in April 2018. Typically 5-day work week (8.4 hrs/day) or 6-day week. First 2 overtime hours: 125% of regular rate; subsequent hours: 150%. Weekly rest day is typically Friday evening to Saturday evening (Shabbat). Maximum 12 hours in any workday.
- Syria
-
48 hrs/wk standard
Max 48 hrs/wk
Overtime : 1.5x pay
Labour Law No. 17 of 2010 set 48 hours/week as the standard. Friday is the weekly rest day. Enforcement is impossible across most of the country due to conflict. Government employees in Damascus and other major cities are the primary remaining formal workforce.
What This Means for Workers
A minimum wage worker in Israel earns 31% less per hour in USD terms than one in Syria. Standard work weeks differ: Israel mandates 42 hours while Syria mandates 48 hours. A minimum wage worker's weekly earnings in Israel are $528 vs $790 in Syria.
See this comparison from Syria's perspective: Syria vs Israel
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the minimum wage higher in Israel or Syria?
In Israel, the minimum wage is ₪35.40/hr ($12.57 USD). In Syria, it is £S1,850/mo ($16.46 USD). Syria has the higher rate by 31% in USD terms. That nominal gap does not account for local prices; see the purchasing power comparison below for a cost-of-living-adjusted view. Workers in Israel may retain a larger share of their earnings if prices there are lower.
How much more does the average worker earn in Israel compared to Syria?
The average gross salary in Israel is ₪12,000/mo ($4,262.12 USD), compared to £S13,500/mo ($120.13 USD) in Syria. In USD terms, workers in Israel earn approximately 3448% more. Average salaries reflect the full labor market, not just the minimum wage floor. The gap between Israel and Syria is shaped by differences in industry composition, labor productivity, and the overall cost of living in each country. Workers in Israel earn more in nominal terms, though how far that income stretches depends on local prices in Syria.
How do work hours compare between Israel and Syria?
Syria has a longer standard work week at 48 hours, compared to 42 hours in Israel. Workers in Israel work 42 hours per week by law. Longer mandatory hours can offset a nominally higher wage; a worker in Israel working fewer hours may have comparable or better effective hourly earnings depending on the wage levels of each country. Total annual compensation depends on both the wage rate and the number of hours required.
What is the cost of living difference between Israel and Syria?
While direct cost of living data varies by source, GDP per capita (PPP) gives a useful proxy for overall economic level. Israel has the higher GDP per capita at $57,236, which is 12.0x that of Syria at $4,772. From Israel's perspective, this means goods and services are priced at a higher economic level. A higher GDP per capita generally correlates with higher wages, higher consumer prices, and greater availability of goods and services. Workers moving between these two countries should expect significant differences in rent, food, and transportation costs.