Salary in Sligo
Based on CSO data · 2024
County Sligo has a diverse economy spanning medical devices, financial services, education, and tourism. Atlantic Technological University (formerly IT Sligo) is a significant regional employer and talent pipeline. The county consistently has higher salary levels than many surrounding rural counties due to its medical devices cluster.
Earning in Sligo: What the Data Shows
Sligo's salary profile is elevated relative to surrounding western counties by its medical devices manufacturing cluster and its role as a regional services hub for the north-west. The presence of employers like Abbott and Abbvie provides a concentration of well-paid engineering and quality roles that would be unusual in a town of Sligo's size. Atlantic Technological University adds a significant public sector employer and a graduate pipeline that supports both local and regional employment.
The county's position as the main service centre for the north-west means it hosts regional offices for banking, professional services, and government agencies that pay above what a purely local economy would support. This hub function gives Sligo a salary advantage over neighbouring Leitrim and Roscommon that is structural rather than cyclical.
Housing costs in Sligo are moderate — higher than the deep midlands and west but well below Dublin, Cork, or Galway. The lifestyle offering, combining coastal and mountain access with genuine urban amenities, has made Sligo attractive to remote workers. The county's salary trajectory is positive, supported by continued medtech investment and the university's growing role as a regional economic anchor.
Quick Answers
The current median salary in Sligo is €42,468 and sits 5% below the national median.
The highest-paying local sector is Education at €59,313, and the gender split is available on the county gender pages.
Use the sector table and age-band links below to move from the county headline into narrower salary pages, or compare Sligo directly with Dublin.
Median Salary
€42,468
per year · CSO 2024
Mean Salary
€49,875
per year · CSO 2024
vs National
N/A
-5% below average
Salary Analysis
+2.2%
Annual growth (CAGR) since 2011
+6.4%
Real growth (after inflation)
€29,042
After rent (32% of salary on rent)
193%
Sector pay spread (€20,273 – €59,313)
40.9%
Third-level educated (Census 2022)
+6.5%
Population growth 2016–2022
15,149
Live Register (2026 March)
In 2011 prices, today's €42,468 is worth €34,168 — a real increase in purchasing power. CPI data from the CSO.
Compare This County
Most county visitors want a fast second answer: compare Sligo with another county, check the gender split, or jump into the strongest local sector.
Search Another Sector Or County
Use Sligo as the anchor, then pivot into a sector page, a gender split, or another county without restarting your search.
Annual figures: CSO 2024 · National quarterly average (Q4 2025): €52,618 annualised · About our data
Sligo salary trend
Switch between median and mean, or compare this trend against the baseline.
Next Step
Need salary benchmarks with live job-market context?
Salaries.ie shows the public data. If you want current openings, employer demand, and a stronger sense of what roles are actually live in Ireland, use RoleUp alongside the salary pages.
Gender Pay Gap
7%
Women earn €40,911 vs men at €44,065 (median)
Cost of Living
€1,119
Avg monthly rent (2025 H1)
€13,426
Annual rent cost
32%
of median salary on rent
Sligo Profile
69,819
Population (Census 2022)
+6.5%
Growth since 2016
40.9%
Third-level educated
15,149
Live Register (2026 March)
Border region
Salaries by Sector in Sligo
| Sector | Median Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Education | €59,313 | |
| Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security | €53,416 | |
| Information and Communication | €51,100 | |
| Human Health and Social Work Activities | €48,180 | |
| Industry (B to E) | €47,684 | |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities | €45,000 | |
| Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Activities | €43,276 | |
| Transportation and Storage | €41,930 | |
| Construction | €39,711 | |
| Administrative and Support Service Activities | €32,961 | |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles | €28,886 | |
| Accommodation and Food Service Activities | €25,204 | |
| Arts, Entertainment, Recreation and Other Service Activities | €20,273 |
Salary by Age Group in Sligo
40 - 49 years
€46,923
50 - 59 years
€46,819
30 - 39 years
€45,323
25 - 29 years
€37,690
60 years and over
€37,192
15 - 24 years
€21,965
Keep Exploring
Once you know the headline salary in Sligo, the next useful question is usually which sector, age band, or comparison explains that number.
Education is the top sector here
Education currently leads Sligo on median pay.
Check another strong sector
Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security is another high-signal sector page for Sligo.
Open the top age band
40 - 49 years is the strongest age group for earnings in Sligo.
Review the gender split
Open the female salary view and compare it with the county-wide median.
Compare with Dublin
See how Sligo stacks up against another high-interest county.
Browse the county rankings
Move across the national league table and compare this county with the rest of Ireland.
Want to compare the salary data with real hiring demand?
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