IT Salaries in Ireland: What Tech Professionals Really Earn in 2025

Firstly, let’s explore the IT jobs market in Ireland.
The Irish tech sector remains one of the highest‑paying industries in the country. In this updated blog, I will explain how IT salaries compare to the wider market. I will also discuss what different roles usually earn. This information is useful for anyone thinking about moving to Ireland or changing jobs in the sector.

The Bigger Picture: Salaries, Cost of Living and “High Income” in Ireland

In recent years, Ireland has experienced rising salaries and ongoing inflation. The cost of living remains high, especially for housing, childcare, and energy. Public debate around what counts as a “high income” hasn’t gone away.
A common reference point is a household income of around €90,000–€100,000. For many couples and families, that’s now seen less as “wealthy” and more as the level required to live reasonably comfortably in major cities like Dublin, once you factor in:
  • Rent or mortgage costs
  • Transport and commuting
  • Childcare and education
  • Rising utilities and everyday expenses
The average full‑time salary in Ireland is often quoted in the €45,000–€55,000 range depending on the source, sector and methodology. Surveys can differ in sample sizes, job types, and whether they focus on the public or private sector. So, instead of relying on just one number, it’s better to say:
  • Ireland sits above the EU average on gross salary
  • But also among the highest in the EU for cost of living and housing
Against that backdrop, IT and engineering roles stand out as some of the better‑paid options, particularly for experienced professionals.

Who Gets Paid What in the Irish IT Jobs Market?

In Ireland, it’s no secret that IT professionals are generally well paid. Below are indicative salary ranges for common roles we work with at Elwood Roberts.
These are not exact averages – they’re ballpark figures based on:
  • Our own placements and live roles
  • Cross‑referencing with major job boards and salary tools (Indeed, Glassdoor, PayScale, etc.)
  • Typical Dublin / large‑city packages (regional roles can be lower; some specialist roles and FAANG‑type employers can be significantly higher)

Indicative Salary Ranges – Ireland IT & Tech (2025)

  • Software Engineer: €65,000 – €85,000+
  • Senior Software Developer: €80,000 – €110,000+
  • Principal Software Developer: €100,000 – €140,000+ (can exceed €150,000 in some cases)
  • Technical Project Manager: €75,000 – €95,000+
  • Cloud Architect / Solutions Architect: €90,000 – €120,000+
  • Cloud Engineer: €70,000 – €95,000+
  • Technical Support Engineer: €35,000 – €50,000
  • Data Analyst: €40,000 – €60,000
  • Application Support Engineer: €45,000 – €65,000
  • Network Engineer: €45,000 – €65,000
  • Senior Network Engineer: €65,000 – €85,000+
  • Network Development Engineer: €70,000 – €90,000+
  • Systems Engineer: €45,000 – €65,000
  • Senior Systems Engineer: €60,000 – €80,000+
  • Data Scientist: €55,000 – €85,000+
  • QA Engineer: €40,000 – €60,000
  • Site Reliability Engineer (SRE): €75,000 – €110,000+
  • Operations Manager (IT / Technical): €60,000 – €80,000+
  • UX Designer: €45,000 – €70,000
  • .NET Developer: €50,000 – €80,000+
  • IT Manager: €65,000 – €90,000+
  • Security Engineer: €55,000 – €85,000+
  • Senior Security Engineer / Security Consultant: €70,000 – €110,000+
  • Product Owner: €60,000 – €85,000+
  • Senior Product Manager: €90,000 – €120,000+
  • Data Engineer: €60,000 – €95,000+
Again, these are guides, not guarantees. Within each role you’ll see variation based on:
  • Location (Dublin vs regional)
  • Company type (startup vs SME vs global tech giant)
  • Tech stack and niche skills
  • Remote / hybrid flexibility
  • Experience, certifications and domain knowledge

Big Tech, New Entrants and the “Salary Ceiling”

Ireland has the advantage (and challenge) of hosting some of the world’s largest tech employers: Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta and others. These companies collectively employ tens of thousands of people in Ireland, and for many mid‑senior technical roles, total compensation can easily exceed €100,000 when you include:
  • Base salary
  • Bonus
  • Stock / RSUs
  • Benefits
In recent years, newer players – such as Stripe, high‑growth SaaS companies and some crypto / fintech firms – have also competed aggressively on salary and equity to attract top talent away from the traditional “big guns”.
The result:
  • The top end of the market (principal engineers, staff engineers, senior security, senior product, niche data roles) has been pushed higher
  • SMEs and startups without deep funding find it harder to match pure cash compensation
For those smaller employers, equity, career progression, flexibility and culture are often the key levers to attract and retain strong candidates. In many cases, that’s where they can genuinely differentiate.

How Does IT Compare to Other High‑Paying Sectors?

When you look beyond IT, there are only a handful of sectors in Ireland that consistently match or exceed tech salaries on average, for example:
  • Legal – senior solicitors and partners can comfortably exceed typical IT salaries
  • Healthcare – consultants and senior doctors can reach well into six figures
  • Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals – strong packages for experienced professionals and leadership roles
  • Specialist engineering – particularly in data centres, electrical, mechanical and alarm engineering, where demand remains high
For most professionals, though, IT and engineering remain among the most attractive sectors in terms of salary, career mobility and international portability of skills.

Cost of Living, Tax and What It Takes to Live Comfortably

Strong salaries are only part of the story. Ireland’s cost of living and tax burden are also significant:
  • Living costs (housing, utilities, transport, childcare) are among the highest in the EU
  • Depending on your income level, you can expect to pay a combined tax and social charge rate in the 30–50% range
If your annual living costs are in the €40,000–€45,000 range, you typically need a net income of at least €50,000 to live with some comfort and the ability to save. For many households, that translates into a combined gross income of €90,000–€100,000+, particularly in Dublin.
This is why IT salaries – especially in the €70,000–€100,000+ band – are so attractive to both local and international candidates.
(Always check the latest official tax calculators and cost‑of‑living data for precise figures – the above is a practical rule of thumb rather than tax advice.)

Thinking About Moving to Ireland or Changing Roles?

If you’re considering:
  • Relocating to Ireland for an IT or engineering role, or
  • Moving from one tech role to another within the Irish market
…it’s important to look beyond just the base salary. Consider:
  • Total compensation (bonus, equity, benefits)
  • Cost of living where you’ll actually live and work
  • Remote / hybrid options
  • Career progression and learning opportunities
  • Visa / permit requirements (e.g. Critical Skills Employment Permit) – see more details here
If you’d like a confidential, realistic conversation about your options in Ireland – across Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and the rest of the country – feel free to get in touch with the Elwood Roberts team. We’re happy to talk through:
  • What roles you’re likely to qualify for
  • Typical salary bands for your profile
  • Which companies and sectors are hiring right now