The reform will apply to about 5,000 psychologists who are employed in the public healthcare services. The main point of this reform is a significant increase in the employees’ salaries and an improvement in their status. The new salary structure will create a professional and administrative horizon, and will include a salary increment that may reach up to 40%, according to the employees’ professional level, administrative level and the professional responsibility that they are tasked with.
The historical revolution in the salaries of the psychologists in the public healthcare services is underway. The reform that is being signed (Thursday) in the Histadrut headquarters will significantly improve both the salaries and the status of about 5,000 psychologists who are employed in the public healthcare services, including in the government agencies, local councils, hospitals and HMO clinics. Furthermore, it will assist in solving the manpower shortage in this profession by a significant salary increment with a view to encouraging psychologists from the private sector to move to the public sector, and allowing psychologists in the public sector to dedicate all of their time to the public system. This motion, which is currently underway, was a joint initiative by the Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Local Government Center.
Chairman of the Histadrut, Arnon Bar-David, said the following while signing the reform: “Not all wounds are visible to the eye, and the war only reinforced our need for public psychological services that are professional, high quality and accessible to every citizen, a measure that will ease the distress that many of us are experiencing. Out of the understanding that the demand for psychological support will only increase, I have made it my mission to promote this sector and to make sure that it is staffed by high-quality professionals who are rewarded properly. I welcome this historical revolution in the salaries of psychologists in the public healthcare services that is now underway, and that shall bring with it significant improvement to the public psychological services in Israel. This groundbreaking reform will significantly improve the terms according to which psychologists are employed in the public services. Their work is so important and crucial, especially during these times. The Histadrut shall continue to lead processes for the benefit of the employees and the general public as part of its mission to reinforce the national resilience of the State of Israel”.
The Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich: “These are important tidings for the public services in Israel and to the health and education systems. The psychologists are at the forefront of the undertaking to reinforce the national resilience, especially in times of crisis, and even more so during this war. This reform is an acknowledgement of their tremendous contribution to Israeli society and the importance of improving the terms of their employment. We are committed to continue to reinforce the public services and to provide real solutions to the challenges facing them. I would like to thank the professionals in the department of salaries and the other associates for their intensive work on this important agreement”.
The Minister of Health, Uriel Busso: “The salary agreement that was signed today is a significant milestone in reinforcing the status of the psychologists in the public sector and a remedy for an injustice that lasted for years. The psychologists are a pillar of the mental health array in Israel, and this agreement is another significant step in the implementation of the national program that we at the Ministry of Health have been leading. The agreement guarantees not only professional and accessible services for every citizen, but also improved conditions that will increase the attractiveness of the public sector for professionals. I believe that this agreement will assist in recruiting and preserving the best psychologists, whose work is essential for the resilience of society as a whole.
I would like to thank all of the partners in this motion: The Histadrut, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and the psychologists’ organizations, as well as the staff of my Ministry who have worked with determination to bring about historical tidings. Now, I call upon psychologists to join the public service, to take part in shaping the future of mental health in Israel, and to be partners in building a stronger and more just system, for the benefit of the patients, the profession and the public system”.
The Ministry of Health’s Director General, Moshe Bar Siman-Tov: “Against the backdrop of increased demand for solutions in the field of mental health, in light of the events of the war, the Ministry of Health has made it its mission to double the number of therapists in the public service in this field.
The psychologists’ salary agreement that was signed today bring important tidings in this field. This is a historical agreement and it is another significant tool in increasing the availability of mental health services in the State of Israel. In addition to the salary agreement, the Ministry of Health is leading additional motions for increasing the numbers of interns in the field of psychology, with more than 500 scholarships bringing in about 1,000 new interns in psychology, alongside additional grants and motions that the Ministry has been introducing with a view to increasing the scope of the employment of psychologists who are employed in the public service”.
The Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch: “The reform that we bring today is a result of a prolonged effort that we have been leading out of a deep commitment to reinforcing the status of educational psychologists, those who stand in the front line of the emotional struggles in schools and in the community. In times when students and teaching staff are faced with challenges that are more complicated than ever before, the educational psychologists serve as an anchor of stability and resilience. The reinforcement of their status and their salary is not only a professional duty but also part of the joint national efforts, because by investing in them, we reinforce the future generation of Israel”.
The Ministry of Education’s Director General, Meir Shimoni: “The educational psychologists are a key component in the education system, especially in an age where students, parents and teaching staff cope with emotional challenges more complicated than ever before. This important agreement is not just a required remedy, but rather a strategic motion designed to ensure the future of the profession, to lure high quality manpower and to preserve a strong public service of educational psychologists. The investment in these professionals is a direct investment in our educational and social stability, in order to ensure that our children not only learn, but also grow from the challenges of reality”.
The Senior Deputy Director of Wages, Hanan Lazimi: “The reinforcement of the mental health array in the public service was, and remains, one of the objectives that the Ministry of Finance set for itself for the current year. I am pleased that we were able to reach a good agreement that is expected to bring real improvement on the scene, and soon. I would like to thank all the partners and those who had a hand in this matter, especially Gilad Virgin, Yosef Kolik, Adv. Maor Lazar, Adv. Naomi Calvo-Lax, Adv. Eyal Shani and Adv. Erez Enzweig. Your hard and professional work, around the clock, proves time and again the high quality and dedication of the employees of the public sector”.
Chairman of the Local Government Center and Mayor of Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut, Haim Bibas: “The agreement that was signed today bring real tidings to psychologists, with a rewarding reform that change the structure of their salary and that encourages the increase of positions and investment in the human capital through professional continuing education programs. The local government values and cherishes the important and meaningful work of the educational psychologists, and the key role that they play in building the mental resilience of our students, especially after the events of October Seventh. We shall continue to work to promote the human capital in the local councils and to reinforce their status and the terms of their employment”.
Below are the principles upon which the salary agreement will be based:
The salary agreement will significantly improve the salary of psychologists in the public service. For example: The salary of a specialist psychologist will increase by 40% on average, compared to their current salary.
The psychologists’ base salary table became effective on January 1st of this year, and will be retroactively paid starting from January’s salary.
The base salary table will be updated over the course of the agreement’s period, as detailed below:
| Base salary for full-time position | |||
| Profession/date | 01.01.2025 | 01.04.2026 | 01.04.2027 |
| Intern | 11,000 | 11,250 | 11,500 |
| Specialist | 13,000 | 13,250 | 13,500 |
| Mentor | 15,000 | 15,250 | 15,500 |
| Senior mentor | 17,000 | 17,250 | 17,500 |
In addition to the base salary, the following components will be paid:
- Seniority increment:
- Starting from 2026 and beyond, for each year of employment as psychologists, employees will be eligible for a seniority increment at a rate of 1.5% per year for the first 25 years of seniority, and 0.6% per year for the years 26 to 30.
- As part of the seniority increment, psychologists will be eligible for a seniority increment of 1% for each year of service in the IDF / civilian service (for the compulsory service years only).
- Management increment: A psychologist who will be employed in administrative positions in the psychological array will be eligible for a salary increment that will range from 5% to 25% their base salary, according to the administrative hierarchy and the size of the unit, starting from the level of team leader and beyond.
- Professional responsibility increment: Between 500 and 1,200 Shekels per full-time position.
- Regulation of a grants mechanism for increased position for psychologists in the public healthcare services
- Regulation of a grants mechanism for psychologists employed in hospitals and in the community
- Unique tension increment for psychologists employed in hospitals and in the community (in HMO clinics)
- Increment for psychologists with a doctor’s degree relevant to their profession
- Regulation of employer’s financial participation in professional training programs
- Regulation of a vacation for the certification exam for interns who continue their position after their certification exam.
It should be noted that in September 2024 salary, all psychologists in the public service received a one-time grant in the amount of 5,000 Shekels, according to the percentage of their employment.
The following persons participated in this motion:
From the Histadrut:
Adam Blumenberg, Director General of the Department of Professional Unions and Deputy Director General of Economy and Policy
Alexandra Kroshinsky, Chairperson of the Histadrut of MACHAR
Omri Zinger, Department Director of Collective Salary Agreements in the Department of Economy and Policy
Ron Buchnik, Division Director in the Histadrut of MACHAR
Adv. Mia Perry Alterman, Chairperson of the Department of Pensions
Adv. Maya Tzahor, the Legal Bureau
Tamir Marco, Economist in the Department of Economy and Policy
From the Department of Wages in the Ministry of Finance:
Hanan Lazimi, Senior Deputy Director of Wages
Gilad Virgin, Macro Coordinator
Yosef Kolik, Macro Referent
Adv. Maor Lazar, the Legal Bureau of the Department of Wages
Adv. Naomi Calvo-Lax, the Legal Bureau of the Department of Wages
Adv. Eyal Shani, Deputy Legal Counselor to the Department of Wages
Adv. Erez Enzweig, Legal Counselor to the Department of Wages
May Shmuel, Former Macro Referent
Adv. Liz Cohen, Legal Bureau of the Department of Wages
From the Local Government Center:
Hagit Magen, Head of the Labor Agreements and Wages Division
From the Ministry of Education:
Meir Shimoni, Ministry of Education’s Director General
Inna Saltzman, Senior Deputy Director General and Director of the Pedagogical Administration
Moshe Sagi, Senior Deputy Director General and Director of the Administration of Finance and Budgets
Einav Luke, Executive Department Director, Psychological Counseling Service
Michal Englert, National Head Psychologist and Department Director of Psychology in the Ministry of Education
Orna Kerstein, Superintendent of Inclusion and Integration, Psychological Counseling Service
Adv. Inbal Vilner, Senior Deputy to the Legal Counsel
Orit Rizel, Counselor to the Department of Budgets (Salary Agreements)
From the Ministry of Health:
Moshe Bar Siman-Tov, Ministry of Health’s Director General
Gabi Peretz, National Head Psychologist
Shani Sharvit, Deputy Director General of Human Capital
Sima Rosenblum, Department Director of Wages and Work Relations
Yossi Nave, Economist, Department of Planning, Budgeting and Pricing
Zvi Sandler, Economist, Department of Planning, Budgeting and Pricing
