County comparison · Ireland

Kilkenny vs Meath

Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024

7% gap

Meath pays 7% more than Kilkenny · €46,272 vs €43,132

Meath has the higher median salary at €46,272 per year, against €43,132 in Kilkenny — a gap of 7%. Looking at the longer trend, Kilkenny has grown faster, at +2.3% per year on average — so Kilkenny 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 €18,224.

Growth Comparison

+2.3%

Kilkenny annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

+2.2%

Meath annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

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Kilkenny

€31,837€34,661€37,485€40,308€43,132201120142017202020232024

Meath

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

Kilkenny Gender Pay Gap

14%

Meath Gender Pay Gap

22%

Sector-by-Sector Comparison

Sector Kilkenny Meath Diff
Information and Communication €61,062 €79,286 €-18,224
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security €54,057 €59,875 €-5,818
Education €55,185 €54,413 +€772
Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities €46,970 €59,941 €-12,971
Industry (B to E) €51,155 €50,340 +€815
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities €49,904 €50,411 €-507
Construction €45,433 €47,434 €-2,001
Human Health and Social Work Activities €45,059 €45,436 €-377
Transportation and Storage €39,548 €46,332 €-6,784
Administrative and Support Service Activities €34,065 €41,711 €-7,646
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles €30,852 €35,143 €-4,291
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Service Activities €27,481 €29,676 €-2,195
Accommodation and Food Service Activities €24,949 €25,220 €-271

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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: Kilkenny or Meath?
Meath has higher salaries, with a median of €46,272 compared to €43,132 in Kilkenny — 7% higher.
What is the gender pay gap in Kilkenny vs Meath?
The gender pay gap is 14% in Kilkenny and 22% in Meath.
Which county's salaries are growing faster: Kilkenny or Meath?
Kilkenny salaries are growing faster, at a compound annual rate of +2.3%, compared to +2.2% for Meath.
Which sector explains the biggest gap between Kilkenny and Meath?
Information and Communication shows the widest gap: €61,062 in Kilkenny versus €79,286 in Meath.