Sector comparison · Ireland

Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security vs Human Health and Social Work Activities

Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024

27% gap

Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security

€56,745

Human Health and Social Work Activities

€44,622

Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security pays 27% more than Human Health and Social Work Activities · €56,745 vs €44,622

Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security pays a median of €56,745 per year nationally, against €44,622 for Human Health and Social Work Activities — a gap of 27%. Over the longer run, Human Health and Social Work Activities has been the faster-growing of the two, at +2% per year on average — so while Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security pays more today, Human Health and Social Work Activities is closing the gap over time. The difference between the two sectors is not uniform across Ireland: it is widest in Carlow, where the gap reaches €18,104.

Growth Comparison

+1.9%

Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

+2%

Human Health and Social Work Activities annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

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Open Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social SecurityOpen Human Health and Social Work ActivitiesSee Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security in Carlow

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Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social SecurityHuman Health and Social Work ActivitiesPublic Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security in CarlowHuman Health and Social Work Activities in CarlowSearch all salary pages

Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security

€44,537€47,589€50,641€53,693€56,745201120142017202020232024

Human Health and Social Work Activities

€33,618€36,369€39,120€41,871€44,622201120142017202020232024

County-by-County Comparison

County Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security Human Health and Social Work Activities Diff
Carlow €56,974 €38,870 +€18,104
Kildare €62,617 €45,893 +€16,724
Wicklow €59,902 €44,246 +€15,656
Laois €59,326 €43,923 +€15,403
Meath €59,875 €45,436 +€14,439
Wexford €54,887 €40,823 +€14,064
Monaghan €53,870 €39,918 +€13,952
Clare €55,159 €41,655 +€13,504
Roscommon €56,245 €43,014 +€13,231
Cavan €56,063 €42,851 +€13,212
Cork €56,725 €43,986 +€12,739
Longford €53,513 €41,088 +€12,425
Limerick €55,693 €44,053 +€11,640
Tipperary €53,507 €41,876 +€11,631
Louth €55,292 €43,827 +€11,465
Kerry €51,848 €40,421 +€11,427
Dublin €58,423 €47,164 +€11,259
Offaly €54,818 €44,419 +€10,399
Waterford €54,179 €43,923 +€10,256
Mayo €52,291 €42,444 +€9,847
Galway €54,987 €45,493 +€9,494
Leitrim €52,571 €43,221 +€9,350
Westmeath €54,582 €45,321 +€9,261
Kilkenny €54,057 €45,059 +€8,998
Donegal €51,423 €43,273 +€8,150
Sligo €53,416 €48,180 +€5,236

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See the biggest county gap for Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security

Carlow is one of the clearest local splits in this comparison.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security or Human Health and Social Work Activities?
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security pays more, with a median salary of €56,745 compared to €44,622 for Human Health and Social Work Activities — a difference of 27%.
What is the salary difference between Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security and Human Health and Social Work Activities?
The median salary difference is €12,123 per year (27% higher for Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security).
Which sector's salaries are growing faster: Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security or Human Health and Social Work Activities?
Human Health and Social Work Activities salaries are growing faster, at a compound annual rate of +2%, compared to +1.9% for Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security.
Where is the gap between Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security and Human Health and Social Work Activities widest?
The gap is widest in Carlow, where Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security pays €56,974 and Human Health and Social Work Activities pays €38,870 — a difference of €18,104.