Top Highest Paying Jobs In Ireland 2024

Are you a seasoned professional or a fresh graduate? Looking for employment opportunities in Ireland but finding it difficult to find the right job with competitive pay? Don’t worry! We are here for you.

In this article, we will highlight some of the highest-paying roles across the industries in this dynamic country. Before that, let’s look at what makes Ireland stand out as a hub for employment opportunities.

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Why Ireland Stand Out As An Exceptional Hub For Employment Opportunities?

  • Increase in job opportunities. According to the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, 50,000 jobs were added to the job market in the first quarter of 2024. The employment now stands at 2.71 million, which is an increase of 1.9% over the first quarter of 2023. This trend is likely to continue in the future as well.
  • Ireland is strategically located between Europe and the US. This strategic advantage appeals to global companies as it makes it easier to operate and manage business activities across both continents. As a result, many global companies choose to expand their business in Ireland, creating numerous job opportunities.
  • The Irish government has introduced several policies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). For example, competitive corporate tax rates. The government has introduced a low corporate tax of 12% on trading income. In addition to this, they have a transparent and business-friendly regulatory framework that enables ease of doing business. All this brings FDI and creates jobs. 
  • Ireland offers high-skilled talent due to its high-quality education system. According to Campus Advisor, the education system in Ireland is ranked 5th worldwide. Naturally, any company would establish a presence in Ireland to tap into the highly skilled workforce, thereby creating employment opportunities.

What Are The Top Paid Jobs In Ireland?

Here are some of the highest-paying jobs in Ireland:

Software Development Manager

A software development manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of successful projects. The manager recruits and trains software developers and other technical staff. The software development market in Ireland is promising. According to estimates, the market is estimated to reach $11 billion by 2030. This means the demand for software development managers will be high and the pay scale will significantly grow.

Experience Needed: 7 to 8 years

Qualifications: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or related field. Additionally, I am proficient in languages such as Java, Python, Agile, Scrum, and JavaScript.

Average Salary: € 100,000 to € 120,000 per year

Data Scientists

One of the hot job roles in today’s digital world is data scientist. A data scientist gathers data from various sources, analyzes it, and interprets it to help organizations make informed decisions. According to the data, by 2026 this field will witness an increase of 27.9% in employment. This means professionals or students with data science skills will have competitive salaries and great careers.

Experienced Required: Entry-level – 0 to 1 year, Senior data scientist – 5 to 10 years

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in data science. Additionally, I am proficient in languages such as Python, SQL, Hadoop, and others. 

Average Salary: Enter-level data scientists earn between € 60,000 and € 100,000 annually. On the other hand, an experienced data scientist can earn €123,000 per year.

CEO

CEOs are paid the highest salaries in Ireland. Particularly, CEOs in the field of technology typically earn the highest salaries. A CEO’s role is to provide leadership, identify market growth, and drive growth and innovation.

Experience Required: 10 to 15 years

Qualifications: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, or other fields.

Average Salary: The average salary is € 279,000 per year. According to estimates, this salary could see a 15% increase by 2029. The salary would be approx € 400,000 per year.

Neurosurgeons

Among the medical professionals, neurosurgeons are paid the highest salaries in Ireland because of the complexity of the specialty. A neurosurgeon diagnoses and treats conditions using complex surgical procedures of the brain and the spinal cord.

Experience Required: It takes around 12 to 15 years of education and training to become a neurosurgeon in Ireland.

Qualifications: A medical degree with a one-year internship in a clinical setup.

Average Salary: An entry-level surgeon earns anywhere between € 100,000 and € 200,000 per year. According to the data, the estimated salary of a neurosurgeon in Ireland may see a 7% rise by 2029. A neurosurgeon can earn approximately € 300,000.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

A CFO oversees the development and implementation of financial strategies of the organization. In addition to this, they provide financial health reports to the board of directors, updating them about the current financial status of the company.

Experience Required: Typically, 10 to 15 years of experience in finance and accounting roles.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or MBA in finance, accounting, or business administration. In addition to this, the certification of Chartered Accountant is highly regarded.

Average Salary: The estimated salary of a CFO is around € 180,000 depending on the experience. According to estimates, the salary could see a significant jump of about 15% in the next five years. The salary could increase by € 210,000 by 2029.

Corporate Lawyer

A corporate lawyer advises companies on legal and corporate governance practices and ensures the company complies with the corporate laws set by the government. The role often involves advising senior executives and boards, requiring a high level of specialization and, therefore, high salaries.

Experience Required: To become an entry-level corporate lawyer, you need 2 to 5 years of experience in corporate law or related fields.

Qualifications: A law degree or master’s in corporate law.  

Average Salary: € 75,000 to € 110,000 per year. According to estimates, the salary can grow up to 15% in the next five years. It can reach € 139,017 by 2029.

How Professionals Or Students Can Secure High-Paying Jobs In Ireland?

  • Understand the Irish job market. Three of the prominent industries in Ireland, where jobs are in demand are Technology, Finance, and Pharmaceuticals. These industries pay competitive salaries.
  • Acquire the desired skills in these sectors. Pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in these industries. If you are interested in technology, acquiring certification, practical training, and attending coding boot camps are essential in gaining skills.
  • Start with internships. Gain practical skills with internships in high-demand industries like tech, finance, or healthcare.
  • Converse or network with people for high-paying jobs. If you are interested in the tech industry, join TechIreland or the Irish Computer Society. These platforms will help you connect with the best minds in the tech industry in Ireland. For the finance industry, join the Irish Funds Industry Association – a platform of individuals with experience in the funds industry.
  • Leverage recruitment agencies specific to your industry to find high-paying jobs. For example take the help of agencies like Reperio Human Capital, Hays Recruitment, and Cpl Healthcare to name a few.

Work Environment In Ireland

  • Hierarchy in the companies is usually relaxed. You can use first names and socialize with your colleagues easily.
  • The average working week in Ireland is 48 hours.
  • In Ireland, plenty of business activities take place in social settings like bars, golf courses, and restaurants to close deals. Therefore, the work environment is informal and relaxed.
  • 40% of Irish businesses have diversity and inclusion initiatives in place. This means most Irish businesses support diversity.
  • Most Irish companies, to be specific 80% of them invest in employee growth by offering employee training and development programs.

Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs In Ireland

Job RoleAverage Payment
Tutor€ 15 to € 25 per hour
Library Assistant€ 16 to € 23 per hour
Jobs at restaurants€ 10 to € 12 per hour
Babysitting€ 10 to € 16 per hour
Community Support Worker€ 15 to € 24 per hour
Research Assistant€ 17 to € 21 per hour
Call Center Agent€ 11 to € 19 per hour
Drivers€ 15 to € 19 per hour

Conclusion

Ireland’s job market offers lucrative jobs be it in technology, finance, or healthcare. All you need is the right education and skills to advance your career with competitive pay. Consider Ireland as your gateway to professional success and take the first step toward earning big bucks in this dynamic country.