County comparison · Ireland

Galway vs Limerick

Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024

1% gap

Limerick pays 1% more than Galway · €44,498 vs €43,995

Limerick has the higher median salary at €44,498 per year, against €43,995 in Galway — a gap of 1%. Looking at the longer trend, Limerick has grown faster, at +2.5% per year on average. Industry (B to E) is the sector where the two counties diverge most, with a difference of €14,490.

Growth Comparison

+2.4%

Galway annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

+2.5%

Limerick annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

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Galway

€31,816€34,861€37,906€40,950€43,995201120142017202020232024

Limerick

€32,174€35,255€38,336€41,417€44,498201120142017202020232024

Galway Gender Pay Gap

12%

Limerick Gender Pay Gap

17%

Sector-by-Sector Comparison

Sector Galway Limerick Diff
Information and Communication €70,556 €58,736 +€11,820
Education €59,410 €56,249 +€3,161
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security €54,987 €55,693 €-706
Industry (B to E) €45,154 €59,644 €-14,490
Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities €47,978 €50,432 €-2,454
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities €47,835 €50,140 €-2,305
Human Health and Social Work Activities €45,493 €44,053 +€1,440
Construction €43,962 €44,617 €-655
Transportation and Storage €39,555 €40,321 €-766
Administrative and Support Service Activities €35,389 €36,795 €-1,406
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles €33,557 €31,423 +€2,134
Accommodation and Food Service Activities €27,265 €26,636 +€629
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Service Activities €26,795 €26,368 +€427

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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: Galway or Limerick?
Limerick has higher salaries, with a median of €44,498 compared to €43,995 in Galway — 1% higher.
What is the gender pay gap in Galway vs Limerick?
The gender pay gap is 12% in Galway and 17% in Limerick.
Which county's salaries are growing faster: Galway or Limerick?
Limerick salaries are growing faster, at a compound annual rate of +2.5%, compared to +2.4% for Galway.
Which sector explains the biggest gap between Galway and Limerick?
Industry (B to E) shows the widest gap: €45,154 in Galway versus €59,644 in Limerick.