Salary expectations in Ireland have shifted significantly as we move into 2026. Employers are operating in a market shaped by ongoing skills shortages, higher operating costs and changing workforce expectations. Candidates, meanwhile, are more informed and selective, weighing salary alongside flexibility, stability and long term career prospects.

Across Ireland, advertised pay levels have continued to rise. Dublin remains the highest paying region, but other cities and counties are closing the gap as businesses expand outside the capital and remote or hybrid work becomes more established. Sectors such as technology, finance, construction, healthcare and logistics continue to influence overall wage growth. This is also happening alongside major changes in how hiring decisions are made, including more widespread use of AI in recruitment.

For employers, understanding current salary trends is essential for attracting and retaining talent through workforce solutions. For candidates, it provides clarity when evaluating opportunities and preparing for salary conversations. This guide explains how salaries in Ireland are shaping up in 2026, where pay differs by sector and location, and what both sides should consider when making decisions about compensation.

What Salaries Look Like in Ireland in 2026

Salary data heading into 2026 shows a continued upward trend, although increases are not evenly distributed across all roles or industries.

IrishJobs salary and benefits data shows the median advertised salary in Ireland is approximately €55,000, reflecting what employers are actively offering rather than overall earnings averages. Dublin continues to lead, with median advertised salaries close to €60,000, while Galway averages around €52,000 and Cork approximately €46,000.

When looking at broader averages across all roles, platforms such as Jobted and Monster commonly place the average annual salary in Ireland between €46,000 and €50,000. The difference between average and median figures matters because highly paid senior roles can pull averages upward, while most roles advertised at scale sit closer to the median.

For employers hiring in Dublin and across Ireland, the most useful approach is benchmarking against role specific ranges and building consistency across offers, whether that is through permanent staffing, temporary recruitment or contracting services.

Average vs Median Salary Explained

Understanding salary data requires knowing the difference between average and median pay.

Average salary is calculated by dividing total earnings by the number of workers. This can be skewed by a small number of very high earners. Median salary represents the midpoint, where half earn more and half earn less. For most jobseekers and hiring managers, median advertised salary is often closer to real market conditions.

This distinction is especially relevant in sectors where senior pay is significantly higher than mid level pay, such as technology and finance. It also matters when candidates benchmark against advertised roles and then prepare for interviews, including AI supported screening processes.

How Location Impacts Salaries in Ireland

Location remains one of the strongest influences on pay.

Dublin continues to command the highest salaries due to the concentration of multinational employers, specialist roles and large scale operations. However, higher salaries often come with increased housing and commuting costs. Other regions are becoming increasingly competitive. Cork, Galway, Limerick and parts of Leinster are seeing steady salary growth, supported by investment in technology, life sciences, manufacturing and logistics.

For employers, this means salary benchmarking should consider location as well as role scope, shift pattern and operational demands. This is particularly important for organisations managing high volume recruitment in areas like hospitality, warehousing, logistics and construction, where consistency and speed matter as much as salary levels. If you are scaling hiring in the capital, a practical starting point is building offers that match what candidates are actually seeing in the market when they hire staff in Dublin.

Highest paying sectors in Ireland in 2026

Technology and IT

Technology remains one of the strongest paying sectors in Ireland. IrishJobs and Indeed data often show median salaries around €80,000 for many technology roles, with senior software engineers, architects and technical leads earning €90,000 to €100,000 or more, depending on experience.

Entry to mid level technology roles commonly fall into the €50,000 to €70,000 range. The salary difference often comes down to role scope, delivery responsibility and ability to work across systems, teams and stakeholders.

Technology also remains a major driver of wider hiring change in Ireland, especially as more employers adopt hiring with AI and candidates need to build confidence for AI influenced interviews.

Finance and accounting

Finance roles continue to rank among the highest paid in Ireland. Senior finance managers and controllers are frequently advertised with salaries close to €95,000 to €100,000, while mid level finance professionals typically earn between €55,000 and €80,000.

Demand remains strong in Dublin and other financial centres, particularly for roles that combine technical expertise with commercial decision making, compliance knowledge and forecasting responsibility. For candidates planning progression, these salary bands often align with broader patterns in highest paying jobs in Ireland for 2026.

Construction and engineering

Construction and engineering salaries have increased steadily, driven by infrastructure projects, housing demand and regulatory requirements.

Median advertised salaries in these sectors commonly sit around €70,000 to €75,000, with experienced site managers, project engineers and specialist roles earning €80,000 to €90,000 in some cases. Pay levels often reflect responsibility, safety oversight and delivery pressure rather than job title alone.

For employers, choosing the right mix of hiring types can protect budgets while maintaining output. In practice, this can involve a blend of permanent core teams supported by trades and labour cover during peak periods, and project based delivery supported through contracting.

Healthcare

Healthcare salaries vary widely depending on role and specialisation. Median advertised salaries for specialist healthcare roles are often close to €70,000, while senior practitioners and leadership positions can earn more depending on responsibility, shift requirements and compliance scope.

For candidates, healthcare roles also highlight how pay expectations can shift based on region and the balance of stability versus flexibility. This often links closely to the decision between temporary and permanent roles in Ireland.

Logistics, warehousing and operations

Logistics and warehousing roles have become increasingly important as supply chains grow more complex.

Operational supervisors and managers typically earn between €40,000 and €60,000, with higher pay for roles involving team leadership, shift management, performance accountability and systems experience. In many organisations, pay progression in this area depends heavily on reliability and the ability to maintain consistent performance under pressure.

For employers managing short term peaks, temporary recruitment can support stability without inflating long term fixed costs. For candidates, temporary roles can also be a strategic way to build experience quickly, particularly for those navigating transition, as explored in career change through temp work.

What is driving salary growth in 2026

Several factors continue to shape salary trends across Ireland.

Skills shortages remain a key driver, particularly in technology, engineering, healthcare and finance. Cost of living pressures influence salary expectations, especially in urban areas. Employers are also placing greater value on candidates who can perform with minimal onboarding and adapt quickly.

Minimum wage increases lift baseline pay across many sectors, while competition for experienced staff continues to push wages upward. As the hiring process becomes faster and more digital, candidates are also navigating greater risk, which makes basic due diligence more important than ever, including awareness of recruitment scams in Ireland.

How employers can stay competitive on salary

For employers, salary decisions are increasingly strategic.

Benchmarking roles against current market data is essential. Salary bands provide flexibility and help manage expectations. Clear and transparent pay structures build trust and reduce turnover. Beyond base salary, total reward plays a growing role. Stability, progression opportunities, training and predictable scheduling all contribute to retention.

In 2026, many employers are also balancing salary competitiveness with speed to hire, particularly where demand spikes create urgent staffing needs. In these cases, partnering with a recruitment agency in Ireland can support faster access to pre screened talent and more consistent hiring outcomes.

Where training is part of the retention strategy, building role readiness through training and certification can strengthen onboarding and reduce early turnover.

How candidates can approach salary conversations

Candidates benefit from preparation and clarity when discussing salary.

Understanding current market rates, being realistic about experience levels and clearly communicating value all strengthen negotiating positions. Highlighting reliability, outcomes and transferable skills can be just as important as years of experience.

It also helps to treat salary discussions as part of a wider career strategy, especially for candidates planning progression. Practical guidance on structuring these conversations is covered in how to ask for a raise, including how to build an evidence based case and approach timing professionally.

Candidates should also factor in how hiring processes are changing, particularly where screening and interviews increasingly involve structured scoring and digital assessments, which is explored in standing out in AI job interviews.

Salary transparency and fair pay

Salary transparency is becoming more common across Ireland. Clear salary ranges allow candidates to make informed decisions and help employers attract applicants who align with their budget. Transparent pay practices also support fairness and consistency, which can improve engagement and trust throughout the hiring process.

This trend connects to broader workforce expectations, including clarity on progression, job scope and hiring timelines. In 2026, transparency is increasingly part of what makes an employer competitive, not just pay alone.

Key takeaways

• Salaries in Ireland continue to rise heading into 2026

• Median advertised pay sits around €55,000, with Dublin close to €60,000

• Technology and finance remain the highest paying sectors

• Construction, engineering and healthcare continue to show strong salary growth

• Location and skills availability significantly influence pay

• Employers and candidates both benefit from realistic, data led salary expectations

Conclusion

Salary trends in Ireland for 2026 reflect a competitive and evolving labour market. Employers face ongoing pressure to attract and retain talent, while candidates are better informed and more selective than ever.

Understanding salary benchmarks by sector and location supports better decision making on both sides. Employers can build more effective hiring strategies, while candidates gain confidence when evaluating offers and negotiating pay. Staying informed, flexible and realistic will remain essential as Ireland’s job market continues to evolve, particularly as changes in AI driven hiring influence how candidates are assessed and how quickly employers move.

FAQs

References

• Indeed Ireland Salary Data: https://ie.indeed.com/career/salaries

• IrishJobs Salary and Benefits Trends 2026: https://www.irishjobs.ie/recruiters/recruiters-news/the-irishjobs-salary-and-benefits-trends-for-2026

• Jobted Ireland Salary Statistics: https://www.jobted.ie/salary

• Monster Ireland Salary Guide: https://www.monster.ie/career-advice/article/salary-guide-ireland