The average gross national salary rose to NIS 8,448 (about $2,356) per month in June from NIS 8,072 in May, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported Sunday. The average gross national salary was NIS 8,120 in the first half of 2008, up 1.4% as compared to the first half of 2007.
Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) and Mekorot water company employees topped the salary rankings in June, with an average salary of NIS 19,573. The average salary of financial sector employees rose by 4.6% in the first half, compared with the second half of 2007 - the highest gain of any sector.
The number of Israeli wage-earners rose by 0.7% in the first half of 2008. The number of financial sector employees rose by 3.4%, the largest increase by any sector.