County comparison · Ireland

Limerick vs Waterford

Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024

5% gap

Limerick pays 5% more than Waterford · €44,498 vs €42,460

Limerick has the higher median salary at €44,498 per year, against €42,460 in Waterford — a gap of 5%. Looking at the longer trend, Limerick has grown faster, at +2.5% per year on average. Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities is the sector where the two counties diverge most, with a difference of €6,666.

Growth Comparison

+2.5%

Limerick annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

+2.2%

Waterford annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

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Limerick

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

Waterford

€31,595€34,311€37,028€39,744€42,460201120142017202020232024

Limerick Gender Pay Gap

17%

Waterford Gender Pay Gap

20%

Sector-by-Sector Comparison

Sector Limerick Waterford Diff
Information and Communication €58,736 €57,488 +€1,248
Industry (B to E) €59,644 €54,721 +€4,923
Education €56,249 €55,086 +€1,163
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security €55,693 €54,179 +€1,514
Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities €50,140 €44,094 +€6,046
Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities €50,432 €43,766 +€6,666
Human Health and Social Work Activities €44,053 €43,923 +€130
Construction €44,617 €41,600 +€3,017
Transportation and Storage €40,321 €40,080 +€241
Administrative and Support Service Activities €36,795 €31,600 +€5,195
Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles €31,423 €29,793 +€1,630
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Service Activities €26,368 €26,142 +€226
Accommodation and Food Service Activities €26,636 €23,381 +€3,255

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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: Limerick or Waterford?
Limerick has higher salaries, with a median of €44,498 compared to €42,460 in Waterford — 5% higher.
What is the gender pay gap in Limerick vs Waterford?
The gender pay gap is 17% in Limerick and 20% in Waterford.
Which county's salaries are growing faster: Limerick or Waterford?
Limerick salaries are growing faster, at a compound annual rate of +2.5%, compared to +2.2% for Waterford.
Which sector explains the biggest gap between Limerick and Waterford?
Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities shows the widest gap: €50,432 in Limerick versus €43,766 in Waterford.