HULA Ireland Salary Report 2026
What roles actually pay in Ireland in 2026, what each city costs to live in, and which employers are hiring from abroad. A single person needs around €55,000 in Dublin and €45,000 outside it to live comfortably. Ireland granted 26,629 employment permits in the first eight months of 2026, across 16,063 named employers, and health, hospitality and technology took the largest share.
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Written by Hugo F, career coach, HULA Career Coaching.
Ireland in 2026: the figures worth quoting
39,390
Employment permits granted in 2024
31,044
Employment permits granted in 2025
26,629
Permits granted January to August 2026
16,063
Named employers granted a permit since 2024
11,738
Permits going to Dublin in 2026
€38,000
Critical Skills salary floor in 2026
Permit figures from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment employment permit statistics, 2026 to end of August. Earnings context from the CSO earnings releases. Salary ranges are HULA's own, built from offers our clients received and live job postings.
Salary ranges by role, 2026
Gross annual base salary, excluding bonus and pension. Mid-level means roughly three to six years of experience, senior means seven or more or team responsibility.
| Role | Mid-level | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Software engineer | €60,000 to €78,000 | €85,000 to €115,000 |
| Data engineer / data scientist | €60,000 to €80,000 | €90,000 to €120,000 |
| DevOps / cloud engineer | €65,000 to €85,000 | €95,000 to €125,000 |
| IT support / systems administrator | €35,000 to €48,000 | €55,000 to €70,000 |
| Digital marketing manager | €48,000 to €62,000 | €70,000 to €90,000 |
| Product manager | €65,000 to €85,000 | €95,000 to €125,000 |
| UX / product designer | €50,000 to €68,000 | €75,000 to €95,000 |
| Sales / account executive (base) | €45,000 to €60,000 | €65,000 to €90,000 |
| Financial accountant | €50,000 to €65,000 | €75,000 to €95,000 |
| HR / talent partner | €45,000 to €60,000 | €70,000 to €90,000 |
| Registered nurse | €37,000 to €50,000 | €55,000 to €70,000 |
| Construction site engineer | €45,000 to €62,000 | €70,000 to €90,000 |
Want to know what your number turns into after tax? Use the take-home pay calculator.
What each city costs, and the salary that covers it
| City | One-bed rent, per month | Comfortable single salary |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | €1,800 to €2,200 | €55,000 |
| Cork | €1,350 to €1,650 | €44,000 |
| Galway | €1,300 to €1,600 | €42,000 |
| Limerick | €1,150 to €1,450 | €39,000 |
Dublin pays roughly 8% to 15% more for the same role, and charges 25% to 45% more in rent. That is why a Cork or Galway offer that looks smaller on paper often leaves more in your account at the end of the month.
Who is hiring internationally
The employers granted the most Irish permits since 2024 are a mix of food production, technology, healthcare and professional services: Dawn Meats, Google Ireland, Ernst & Young, Amazon Development Centre Ireland, Cork University Hospital, Accenture, Tata Consultancy Services and WuXi Biologics. Health and social work took 7,227 permits in 2026, hospitality 2,760 and technology 2,707.
How to use this report in your job search
- 1. Set your floor and your target. Pick the bottom of your band as the number you will not go below, and the top as what you ask for.
- 2. Convert it to net. Compare offers monthly, after tax, not by headline salary.
- 3. Match it to the city. A €70,000 Dublin offer and a €62,000 Cork offer are close to identical in real life.
- 4. Check sponsorship before you apply. If you need a permit, confirm the employer has granted one before spending a week on the application.
- 5. Rehearse the number out loud. Most people lose money in the ten seconds after the question, not in the negotiation.
Questions people ask
What is a good salary in Ireland in 2026?
A single person needs roughly €45,000 to live comfortably outside Dublin and about €55,000 in Dublin, once rent of €1,800 to €2,200 a month is covered. Mid-level professional salaries in tech, finance and engineering sit between €55,000 and €85,000, and senior roles commonly pass €95,000.
What is the average salary in Ireland?
Average weekly earnings published by the CSO put the typical full-time Irish salary around €51,000 a year, but that blends every sector. Tech, pharma, finance and medical devices pay well above it, while hospitality, retail and care roles sit below it.
Which sectors pay the most in Ireland?
Information and communication technology, pharmaceuticals and biotech, medical devices, financial services and funds, and professional services. These are also the sectors that sponsor the most employment permits, which is why they dominate international hiring.
How much more does Dublin pay than the rest of Ireland?
For the same role, Dublin typically pays 8% to 15% more than Cork, Galway or Limerick, but rent is 25% to 45% higher. In net terms, a Cork offer at €5,000 less can leave you better off month to month.
What salary do I need for a work permit in Ireland?
A Critical Skills Employment Permit generally requires €38,000 for roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List and €64,000 for roles that are not. A General Employment Permit generally starts at €34,000, with separate thresholds for some healthcare and care roles.
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