County comparison · Ireland

Donegal vs Meath

Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024

25% gap

Meath pays 25% more than Donegal · €46,272 vs €36,967

Meath has the higher median salary at €46,272 per year, against €36,967 in Donegal — a gap of 25%. Looking at the longer trend, Donegal has grown faster, at +2.4% per year on average — so Donegal is closing the gap over time even though Meath still pays more today. Information and Communication is the sector where the two counties diverge most, with a difference of €29,917.

Growth Comparison

+2.4%

Donegal annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

+2.2%

Meath annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

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Donegal

€26,992€29,486€31,980€34,473€36,967201120142017202020232024

Meath

€34,454€37,409€40,363€43,318€46,272201120142017202020232024

Donegal Gender Pay Gap

8%

Meath Gender Pay Gap

22%

Sector-by-Sector Comparison

Sector Donegal Meath Diff
Information and Communication €49,369 €79,286 €-29,917
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security €51,423 €59,875 €-8,452
Education €55,582 €54,413 +€1,169
Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities €41,915 €59,941 €-18,026
Human Health and Social Work Activities €43,273 €45,436 €-2,163
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities €37,881 €50,411 €-12,530
Industry (B to E) €36,333 €50,340 €-14,007
Construction €35,000 €47,434 €-12,434
Transportation and Storage €33,828 €46,332 €-12,504
Administrative and Support Service Activities €30,278 €41,711 €-11,433
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles €26,325 €35,143 €-8,818
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Service Activities €21,194 €29,676 €-8,482
Accommodation and Food Service Activities €20,663 €25,220 €-4,557

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County comparison pages are most useful when they feed the next question: which sector explains the gap, and what does each county look like on its own?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has higher salaries: Donegal or Meath?
Meath has higher salaries, with a median of €46,272 compared to €36,967 in Donegal — 25% higher.
What is the gender pay gap in Donegal vs Meath?
The gender pay gap is 8% in Donegal and 22% in Meath.
Which county's salaries are growing faster: Donegal or Meath?
Donegal salaries are growing faster, at a compound annual rate of +2.4%, compared to +2.2% for Meath.
Which sector explains the biggest gap between Donegal and Meath?
Information and Communication shows the widest gap: €49,369 in Donegal versus €79,286 in Meath.