Sector comparison · Ireland
Construction vs Education
Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024
Education pays 22% more than Construction · €54,413 vs €44,676
Education pays a median of €54,413 per year nationally, against €44,676 for Construction — a gap of 22%. Over the longer run, Construction has been the faster-growing of the two, at +2.3% per year on average — so while Education pays more today, Construction is closing the gap over time. The difference between the two sectors is not uniform across Ireland: it is widest in Dublin, where the gap reaches €3,071.
Growth Comparison
+2.3%
Construction annual growth (CAGR) since 2011
+1%
Education annual growth (CAGR) since 2011
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Construction
Education
County-by-County Comparison
| County | Construction | Education | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | €48,566 | €51,637 | €-3,071 |
| Meath | €47,434 | €54,413 | €-6,979 |
| Laois | €45,421 | €52,426 | €-7,005 |
| Kildare | €49,167 | €56,440 | €-7,273 |
| Wicklow | €44,718 | €52,166 | €-7,448 |
| Cork | €45,005 | €53,500 | €-8,495 |
| Offaly | €43,442 | €52,133 | €-8,691 |
| Westmeath | €44,716 | €54,355 | €-9,639 |
| Kilkenny | €45,433 | €55,185 | €-9,752 |
| Longford | €42,422 | €52,234 | €-9,812 |
| Louth | €43,160 | €53,541 | €-10,381 |
| Cavan | €42,534 | €53,720 | €-11,186 |
| Limerick | €44,617 | €56,249 | €-11,632 |
| Carlow | €43,325 | €55,074 | €-11,749 |
| Wexford | €40,487 | €52,898 | €-12,411 |
| Tipperary | €42,189 | €55,404 | €-13,215 |
| Waterford | €41,600 | €55,086 | €-13,486 |
| Roscommon | €43,180 | €57,102 | €-13,922 |
| Kerry | €41,120 | €55,264 | €-14,144 |
| Clare | €42,911 | €58,118 | €-15,207 |
| Galway | €43,962 | €59,410 | €-15,448 |
| Leitrim | €41,260 | €57,183 | €-15,923 |
| Mayo | €42,500 | €58,895 | €-16,395 |
| Monaghan | €39,300 | €57,193 | €-17,893 |
| Sligo | €39,711 | €59,313 | €-19,602 |
| Donegal | €35,000 | €55,582 | €-20,582 |
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