“Average earnings in the economy continue to increase year-on-year … driven by a number of factors, including a stable job vacancy rate … and annual employment growth of 2.3 %.
Dr Niall O’Sullivan, Statistician, CSO
When choosing your career path, deciding to relocate for work, or selecting a field of study, the average salary will likely be a key factor. Typically, the average salary for an entire country isn't very helpful regarding career choices. Still, given the growth of wages in Ireland following the country's strong economic performance, you'd rather choose an above-average salary. Let's examine salaries in various industries in Ireland.
Ireland's Average Salary
The average salary in Ireland is approximately €54,600 per year, with salaries ranging from €9,730 to €172,000. None of this information is really very useful other than determining whether you're earning more than half the population. While an average can still be helpful, let's examine some more specific averages by education, experience, and location. These should help inform you about where your salary (or potential salary) stands in the broader context.
According to the CSO, average weekly earnings were €1,015.43 in Q2 2025, with average hourly earnings of €31.04. That’s a 5.3% rise on last year.
How Education Level Affects Average Salaries
Education often plays a significant role in determining average salaries. In most cases, the more advanced your education, the higher your potential earnings. There are a few reasons for this, but the fewer people qualified to do a job, the more it typically pays. Jobs that "anybody can do" or "anybody will do" are quickly filled, and employers don't need to incentivise potential employees with higher salaries. Here's how average salaries break down by education:
While high earners can skew averages, the median annual earnings in 2023 were €43,221, and the median weekly earnings in 2024 were €730.89, giving a clearer picture of what most people take home.
How Experience Affects Average Salaries
Your earning potential will increase as you gain experience in a role. Much like with education, your expertise in a particular role builds over time, setting you apart from other potential employees. Here's how the salaries break down according to experience:
Just remember that these are just the averages according to how long a person has been in a role and ignore education, industry, and many of the other factors that will impact how much a person earns.
How Location Affects Average Salaries
Geographic factors are also to be considered. The average salaries across Ireland vary between urban centres like Dublin and more rural areas. To give you a better idea, here are a few of the average salaries across different parts of Ireland:
Again, these are just by geographical area, and the averages vary across industries, education, and experience. Salaries are usually higher in urban areas because of the higher cost of living and the better concentration of higher-paying industries and roles.
From 1 January 2025, the National Minimum Wage increased to €13.50 per hour, ensuring a higher income floor for full-time and part-time workers nationwide.
Cost of Living vs Salary in Ireland
The numbers we've quoted so far are only part of the story. After all, the numbers are fairly arbitrary until you know what your salary can do for you. A wage in Dublin doesn't stretch as far as the same amount in a rural town and Ireland regularly ranks among Europe's most expensive countries. Housing is the single most significant cost for most households, and with the average monthly rent in Dublin exceeding €2,000 for a one-bedroom flat, it's only slightly better in Cork and Galway, with averages ranging from around €1,500 to €1,700.
Rent isn't the only thing you have to pay for, either. Everyday expenses, such as groceries, transportation, childcare, and energy bills, will happily eat into your earnings. Many employees find that essential costs, especially in Dublin, consume a lot of their income.
The gap between pay and expenses is why you have to consider salary figures alongside Ireland's cost of living index, especially if you see lower salaries in other countries for similar jobs. It's certainly nice having a higher number in your pay, but not if it's already spent before you can do anything with it. Remember this when negotiatng salaries in interviews, too!
How Ireland Compares Internationally
Ireland's wages are in the top-tier when you compare it to other EU and OECD countries. Ireland ranks highly in the EU with its adjusted average wage of €58,700, which is ahead of the EU average of €37,900 (in 2023). Ireland is also competitive in terms of purchasing power. Generally, Ireland sits in the mid-to-upper ranks for wages in the OECD.
There are some caveats here, though. These numbers don't always consider the aforementioned cost of living, taxation, or social benefits. Currency fluctuations can also affect what they really mean, too. The good news is that even with Ireland's relatively high cost of living, it tends to be keeping up with wages, at least against its European neighbours.
Generally, for anyone relocating to Ireland from elsewhere in Europe, they can reasonably expect to earn more, despite Dublin's higher cost of living. The cost of living may be high, but the wages are outpacing those in countries like Spain, Italy, and even Germany!
The Top-Paid Professions: Tech, Finance, Law, and Medicine
After seeing the average wages, what about the very top end? Who in Ireland is earning the most money? These are some of the industries and roles that offer the highest wages in Ireland.
Tech and Engineering
Technology and engineering roles, particularly those in software development and biomedical engineering, have very high salaries and require a high level of education. For example, software engineers earn an average annual wage of around €62,500. Geographically, many of these industries are located in Dublin, which is a hotspot for high-wage jobs in Ireland with competitive salaries for IT managers, data scientists, and engineers.
Healthcare and Medicine
Another industry that requires a high level of education and specialisation. A medical specialist can earn over €60,000 a year. Dentists and orthodontists are some of the highest-paid professionals in Ireland, with annual salaries often exceeding €100,000.
per year.
Business and Finance
The industries that make money are the ones that often have money to spend. However, you'll likely need advanced degrees like MBAs to work in these industries. Top-level executives could earn between €75,000 and €100,000 a year within the business market.
a year in the business and finance sector.
Law
Legal professionals in Ireland earn a median salary of €73,000. Like every other role, this will vary wildly according to experience, specialisation, and who you work for.
Well-Paid Jobs Without a Degree: Trades, Sales, and Digital
While all of the highest-paying jobs we've mentioned often require at least an undergraduate degree, there are plenty of good jobs that don't require a degree. If you don't particularly enjoy academia or would like to explore options with good earning potential outside of schooling, these jobs pay well and don't require hours spent in a classroom.
Trades and Vocational Jobs
There are plenty of well-paying trades. While these don't require degrees, they sometimes require training and qualifications. Electricians and plumbers, for example, can earn good salaries without an undergraduate degree. Electricians, for example, earn an average of €52,500 per year, with the most experienced earning closer to €70,000, which is way above the average for those with an undergraduate degree.
Sales Managers
Sales managers in Ireland earn an average of around €55,000 a year. These roles typically require a good track record in sales rather than academic qualifications. Earnings are often linked to performance and business growth, so the better you or the business do, the more likely you are to earn.
Digital Marketing and Software Development
These two key industries are also happy to favour employees with specific skills over formal education. Software developers can earn around €50,000 a year, learn the skills they need from online courses, or even teach themselves. As for marketing, digital marketing managers can earn a similar amount, especially if they're working on high-profile campaigns.
Real Estate
Estate agents or brokers don't need a university degree, and like sales roles, earning potential is often based on performance. In areas like Dublin, where housing demand is high, real estate professionals can earn between €40,000 and €80,000 annually.
High-Earning Remote Roles: Data, Project Management, and Consulting
Much like your earnings don't necessarily need to be linked to your education level, you can ignore the geographical factor and enjoy a nice income wherever you are in Ireland. While wages are typically lower in rural areas than in Dublin, remote jobs allow workers to earn better wages than the average salary.
Content Writers and Copywriters
Writing roles can be done from anywhere in the world, and wages are more closely related to the industry than to a geographical location. Entry-level writing positions can pay around €30,000 a year. However, you can earn much more from international clients and gain a lot of experience.
Data Analysts and Scientists
Certain tech sector roles, such as data analysts and data scientists, can be done remotely. With an average salary of €60,000 a year, there's even more earning potential available for those with the right qualifications and experience.
Project Managers
Project management is another high-paying remote job, especially in tech, finance, and business sectors, where teams can be located worldwide. After all, location doesn't matter when teams are spread across the globe. Depending on a project's budget, project managers can earn an average wage between €50,000 and €70,000 a year.
per year.
Freelance Consultants
People with the right experience and expertise in business, finance, or marketing can offer specialised advice to companies worldwide. With clients worldwide, this is a job they can do from home or remotely. Just make sure your internet connection is good enough for video calls! Just remember that these are just some of the best-paid jobs that you can do from home or anywhere with a decent internet connection.
Best Teen Jobs in Ireland: Part-Time and Weekend Earnings
Last but not least, here are some jobs for those too young to have experience or academic qualifications (yet). If you're in school or university, your earning potential is limited. Still, several jobs suitable for teenagers can pay quite well.
Babysitting and Childcare
Babysitting and childcare are classic jobs for teenagers looking to prove themselves responsible. They can also be good ways to earn money, with parents typically paying between €10 and €20 an hour. Enterprising teens can boost their earnings by offering a premium service.
Pet Sitting and Dog Walking
Sometimes, people are even more willing to spend money on their pets than their children. Busy pet owners are often looking for people to help them, and you could earn around €15 an hour walking a dog (more if you walk multiple dogs at once) and €40 a day for pet sitting. Pet sitting, especially at home, could be combined with remote work to further boost your earning potential.
If you'd like to learn any of the skills necessary for these jobs, why not look for a private tutor on the Superprof website? Most tutors offer the first lesson for free so you can always try a few before choosing the one that's right for you.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
