Highest-Paying Counties in Ireland

Ranked by median annual salary · 2024

This ranking shows which counties currently record the highest median annual pay in Ireland. It is a useful snapshot for jobseekers, relocation research, and salary benchmarking, but county-level results usually reflect employer mix and sector concentration as much as local living costs.

Key Facts

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The ranking gives you the shortlist. The better next step is opening the top counties directly or comparing the leaders side by side.

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Use the county shortlist, then pivot into a specific county page or the wider search index without stepping back to navigation.

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Interactive Ranking

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26 results currently shown.

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.

Keep Exploring

Use the county ranking for orientation, then move into county detail pages and direct comparisons to see what actually drives the gap.

What drives county salary differences

Higher county pay is often associated with a stronger presence in technology, finance, pharmaceuticals, and other high-value sectors, along with access to larger employers and commuter labour markets.

Use these rankings as a quick signal, then open the county detail pages to see age, gender, and local salary context before drawing a conclusion about affordability or career opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest-paying county in Ireland?
Dublin is the highest-paying county with a median salary of €49,224 (2024). This reflects the concentration of technology, finance, and professional services employers in the region.
What is the second-highest-paying county in Ireland?
Kildare is the second-highest-paying county at €48,431. Click through to see a sector-by-sector breakdown and gender pay gap data.
What is the lowest-paying county in Ireland?
Donegal is the lowest-paying at €36,967. Lower county medians often reflect a larger share of agriculture, hospitality, and retail employment relative to the county's workforce — not that every job pays poorly.
Does living in a higher-paying county mean a better standard of living?
Not necessarily. Higher county salaries can be offset by higher housing costs, particularly in Dublin and surrounding commuter counties. A useful check is to compare the salary against the average rent in that county — both figures are available on each county detail page.
Why does Dublin pay so much more than other counties?
Dublin is home to the Irish headquarters of most major multinational technology, pharmaceutical, and financial services companies. These employers tend to pay above national averages, which lifts the overall county median. Roles in the same sector may still pay differently depending on whether you are based in Dublin or elsewhere.