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Employment in Israel

Is Hi-Tech All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

You’ll often hear Israelis (especially Anglo-Israelis) say that the best jobs in Israel are those that are in the hi-tech sector. The main reason cited is that hi-tech salaries tend to be higher than jobs in many other industries. 

Salaries in hi-tech vs. other industries

The average salary in Israel as of January 2024 was 12,942 NIS a month, while the average salary in hi-tech was 30,126. That’s a difference of over 17,000 shekel! In addition to the high salaries, some hi-tech jobs come with perks like food vouchers and car leases that make them even more attractive.  

While salaries do tend to be high in the hi-tech industry, the amount of money that is deposited into your bank account is not the only factor to take into account when judging the advantages of a job.

Job security

One of the reasons that the average salary in hi-tech is so high is that in times of crisis (such as war) the lower-paid employees get laid off and are not replaced. The hi-tech industry is very competitive, so companies don’t feel pressured to retain employees when they can easily replace them. In fact, it’s rare to find people who have been employed at the same hi-tech company for many years, whether because they were fired or because they quit when they saw they weren’t getting promoted or receiving raises at their previous place of employment.

Long hours

A frequent complaint of hi-tech workers is that the hours are grueling. In addition to the fact that most hi-tech jobs require full time hours (42 a week), many also expect overtime and availability by phone/WhatsApp/email during non-work hours. Sometimes you are expected to work until a certain hour no matter when you have gotten into work, to overlap with other employees who have come in later. These long hours can cut into work-life balance and be especially difficult for parents of young children.

On the other hand, in the aftermath of Covid many hi-tech companies have implemented hybrid  and remote work policies, cutting down on commute and reducing the amount of time spent away from home.

High pressure

A lot of hi-tech jobs are pretty high pressure, with expectations that may be unrealistic. Sometimes this is a factor of two few employees doing too much work, sometimes it’s a result of ineffective planning and occasionally it’s just the work culture in a particular company. This kind of pressure can cause you to feel frustrated, anxious and worried about your job security.

Of course, many other jobs are also high pressure without the high salary and perks that come with hi-tech work, and this issue isn’t exclusive to only one industry.

Is hi-tech right for you?

If you thrive on long hours (or at least don’t mind them), aren’t nervous about switching jobs periodically and don’t get too worked up over pressure at work, hi-tech might be the right fit. You’ll also need an affinity for the skills that are needed in the hi-tech world – programming, cybersecurity, website development, marketing, technical writing etc. You will need either a degree in a relevant field or a certificate from a recognized and respected institution. 

Many olim find that aliyah provides a good opportunity to switch careers. If you’re in that mindset, consider retraining in a field that will serve you in the hi-tech industry. If hi-tech is definitely not the right direction for you, another way to earn a higher than average salary is by finding a remote job for an American company.

Whatever you choose, we wish you a successful and fruitful career here in Israel.