Israel is a country built on negotiations, from the fruit market at the shuk to real estate and big business deals. So it’s no surprise that employers expect employees and potential employees to negotiate their salaries.
Still, there are situations where negotiating your salary won’t help, and may even work against you. This applies both before you accept a job offer and when you are already working and considering asking for a raise.
Before accepting a job offer
When the salary is fixed
Some jobs in Israel follow strict pay scales, which means there is little or no room to negotiate the salary. This is common in the public sector and in large institutions like universities, hospitals and government offices, as well as in fields that operate under collective labor agreements. Teachers, social workers and many healthcare workers are often covered by union agreements that set wages and benefits for the entire workforce.
In these roles, salaries are usually based on factors such as seniority, education level and years of experience. You can’t change the salary, but you may be able to discuss how your previous experience can count toward seniority and affect your placement on the pay scale.
With standardized starting salaries
Some companies use fixed starting salaries for certain roles, particularly entry level positions or large hiring programs such as junior tech positions, customer support roles and graduate programs. Companies often standardize these salaries to keep hiring consistent and efficient, so negotiating your salary isn’t possible.
When the offer is final
Sometimes an employer will tell you directly that the offer is non-negotiable, possibly due to budget constraints or a role that is already at the top of the salary range. Attempting to negotiate even after they have told you this might damage your relationship with the employer, so the only options you have are to accept or decline the offer.
When you don’t know the market range
Negotiating without knowing the typical salary range for your role in Israel can backfire.
If you ask for far more than the market rate, employers may assume you don’t understand the industry. Before negotiating, it’s worth researching salaries on Israeli job sites, speaking with recruiters or asking professionals already working in the field.
After you already have the job
Right after you start
You have to prove yourself with consistent results for 6-12 months before you ask for a raise in an Israeli company. If you feel that a raise is warranted, build a record of clear achievements that you can present at the next review and ask when the time is right.
When there’s a budget freeze
Many companies in Israel, especially startups, will periodically freeze hiring and salary increases during uncertain financial periods. Even if you deserve a raise, you won’t get one during a budget freeze and you might give the impression that you’re not a team player if you ask.
When your responsibilities haven’t changed
Raises are often tied to strong performance or to an expansion in responsibilities. If your role today looks exactly the same as when you were hired, the company might not see a clear reason to increase your salary. Ask for more responsibilities and tie them to a raise, or take on new projects that showcase your performance and ask for a raise at your next review.
When the company has fixed review cycles
Many Israeli companies review salaries once a year. Managers may have to submit recommendations for raises months before the decisions are finalized. Ask when salary decisions are made and put in your request at the right time.
If you can’t show your impact
Having been at the company for a long time isn’t a strong enough reason to warrant a raise in Israel. Go into a salary negotiation with a list of your accomplishments, such as revenue growth, successful projects, improved processes or expanded responsibilities.
What you can negotiate
Even when the salary itself isn’t negotiable, other parts of an employment package may be flexible. In Israel, employees often successfully discuss things like flexible work arrangements, remote work days, Keren Hishtalmut, signing bonuses or faster salary review timelines.
Sometimes negotiation is expected. Other times the structure of the role or the organization means there’s very little flexibility. When you know the difference, you can avoid pushing in situations where nothing can change and negotiate when it actually can have an impact.
Sources:
- Collective agreements (Hebrew)
- Is it time to ask for a pay rise? The five tests you need to pass
- Salary Negotiation Guide for Israel: Know Your Rights & Market Rates
- Negotiating a Job Offer without Sounding Greedy
- When and How to Ask for a Raise (Hebrew)
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