Median weekly earnings were highest in Dublin at €821.42 in 2024, a 3.5% increase from €793.71 in 2023. Weekly earnings in Dublin were 12.4% higher than the State (€730.89), and 36.1% higher than Donegal which, at €603.67, had the lowest median weekly earnings of all counties.
The highest median weekly earnings for both males and females were recorded in counties Dublin (males: €904.71, females: €736.09) and Kildare (males: €900.35, females: €692.28). Employments in Cork recorded the third highest median weekly earnings among males (€871.35) in 2024, while employments in Galway recorded the third highest median weekly earnings among females (€670.20). The disparity in median weekly earnings recorded for employments among males and females varied by county. In 2024, employments among males (€735.82) in Sligo recorded weekly earnings 12.2% higher than those among females (€656.05), while in Cork median weekly earnings among males (€871.35) were 32.5% higher than their female counterparts (€657.75).
The largest increase in median weekly earnings was recorded in Donegal, where earnings rose by 6.5% from €567.04 in 2023 to €603.67 in 2024. There was also a notable annual increase in median weekly earnings in counties Monaghan (6.3%) and Sligo (6.2%). Annual increases in median weekly earnings were less pronounced in Wicklow and Meath, where weekly earnings rose by 3.3% and 3.0%, respectively.
Please note: Analysis by region (county, province, NUTS classification) presented in this chapter is based on the region of residence of the employees, not their place of work. Region of residence was determined through linkage with Irish Population Estimates from Administrative Data Sources (IPEADS) 2023 and Census of Population (COP) 2022.
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.