Sector comparison · Ireland
Construction vs Accommodation and Food Service Activities
Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024
Construction pays 72% more than Accommodation and Food Service Activities · €44,676 vs €26,000
Construction pays a median of €44,676 per year nationally, against €26,000 for Accommodation and Food Service Activities — a gap of 72%. Over the longer run, Accommodation and Food Service Activities has been the faster-growing of the two, at +2.8% per year on average — so while Construction pays more today, Accommodation and Food Service Activities is closing the gap over time. The difference between the two sectors is not uniform across Ireland: it is widest in Kildare, where the gap reaches €23,410.
Growth Comparison
+2.3%
Construction annual growth (CAGR) since 2011
+2.8%
Accommodation and Food Service Activities annual growth (CAGR) since 2011
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Construction
Accommodation and Food Service Activities
County-by-County Comparison
| County | Construction | Accommodation and Food Service Activities | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kildare | €49,167 | €25,757 | +€23,410 |
| Meath | €47,434 | €25,220 | +€22,214 |
| Laois | €45,421 | €23,402 | +€22,019 |
| Longford | €42,422 | €20,882 | +€21,540 |
| Louth | €43,160 | €21,950 | +€21,210 |
| Westmeath | €44,716 | €23,604 | +€21,112 |
| Offaly | €43,442 | €22,858 | +€20,584 |
| Kilkenny | €45,433 | €24,949 | +€20,484 |
| Cork | €45,005 | €24,866 | +€20,139 |
| Tipperary | €42,189 | €22,313 | +€19,876 |
| Carlow | €43,325 | €23,630 | +€19,695 |
| Dublin | €48,566 | €28,913 | +€19,653 |
| Roscommon | €43,180 | €23,724 | +€19,456 |
| Cavan | €42,534 | €23,480 | +€19,054 |
| Wicklow | €44,718 | €26,110 | +€18,608 |
| Leitrim | €41,260 | €22,691 | +€18,569 |
| Waterford | €41,600 | €23,381 | +€18,219 |
| Limerick | €44,617 | €26,636 | +€17,981 |
| Mayo | €42,500 | €24,839 | +€17,661 |
| Wexford | €40,487 | €23,399 | +€17,088 |
| Galway | €43,962 | €27,265 | +€16,697 |
| Monaghan | €39,300 | €22,646 | +€16,654 |
| Clare | €42,911 | €26,596 | +€16,315 |
| Kerry | €41,120 | €26,213 | +€14,907 |
| Sligo | €39,711 | €25,204 | +€14,507 |
| Donegal | €35,000 | €20,663 | +€14,337 |
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Kildare is one of the clearest local splits in this comparison.
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