The 2027 Ireland Salary Guide From Robert Half

As AI adoption, evolving skill demands and cost pressures reshape the labour market, employers are paying a premium for specialised talent and, in some cases, exceeding planned salary ranges to stay competitive.

The 2027 Ireland Salary Guide from Robert Half provides projected starting salaries across 3 professional fields, helping employers make informed compensation and workforce planning decisions, and professionals assess career opportunities and earning potential.

Overall employment levels remain strong

The Irish labour market remains resilient, with employers continuing to recruit despite a more cautious economic backdrop.

Businesses are adapting their hiring strategies, placing greater emphasis on workforce agility and flexible talent solutions to meet evolving business needs.

Contract and project-based recruitment is gaining momentum, enabling organisations to access key skills quickly while maintaining flexibility in a changing market.

While some sectors are undergoing restructuring, hiring demand remains evident across the wider economy.

2027 Ireland compensation trends

Overall wage growth in Ireland is becoming more moderate, but specialised skills continue to drive salary decisions. Employers are offering targeted premiums to attract in-demand talent, particularly professionals with AI-related expertise.

Insights at a glance

41%

of European and UK hiring managers expect compensation budgets to increase next year to help attract and retain top talent, despite other cost pressures.

48%

are offering salaries above their planned range to secure top talent, with 62% citing specialised skills as a key reason.

36%

are paying more for professionals with generative AI skills.

Value of salary benchmarking

As pay transparency legislation and expectations expand across Europe, comparing salaries against reliable market data is a critical step in validating pay decisions and identifying necessary adjustments. External benchmarks help Irish hiring managers and businesses set competitive and credible salary ranges. The Salary Guide reveals that more than 8 in 10 European and UK companies (81%) are reviewing, or plan to review, salaries for parity.

84% have established or intend to establish clear salary bands across roles and levels. 

76% use or plan to use external market data to benchmark salaries. 

Benefits of pay transparency

Many organisations are evaluating and adjusting how they communicate compensation, especially as they prepare to implement the new EU Pay Transparency Directive. Employers say sharing salary ranges upfront leads to:

of companies are either increasing their salary budget to reduce disparities or considering doing so. 

of professionals would consider leaving or actively search for a new job if pay transparency revealed they were underpaid. 

Most in-demand skills and roles in Ireland

The strongest demand is expected for skills that help professionals navigate change, work effectively across teams and support digital transformation. Employers continue to place a premium on a mix of technical expertise and human-centred capabilities.

Adaptability

Collaboration and teamwork

Communication

Customer support

GenAI skills

IT skills

Leadership

Project management

Demand is expected to remain strongest for professionals who combine technical expertise with commercial insight. These roles are particularly sought after as organisations look to support growth, improve performance and navigate a changing business environment.

Finance Business Partner

Financial Controller

Financial Modeller

Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst

Part-Qualified Financial Accountant

Demand is expected to remain strongest for professionals with expertise in AI, software development, data and IT operations. Roles that help organisations build, scale and support digital transformation initiatives are particularly sought after as businesses continue to invest in innovation, resilience and operational efficiency.

AI Engineer

Chief Technology Officer

Data Scientist

IT Support Manager

Lead Software Developer

Demand is expected to remain strongest for professionals who help organisations attract, engage and retain talent while maintaining efficient operations. Roles that combine people expertise, strategic partnership and operational coordination are particularly sought after as businesses navigate workforce change and evolving employee expectations.

Executive Assistant

HR Administrator

HR Business Partner

HR Director

Office Manager

Why trust our salary numbers?

The Salary Guide from Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers and industry leaders.

140+

roles benchmarked

3

professional fields

19

Salary Guides produced globally

View salaries by category

Starting salaries can vary depending on your skills, experience, the size and sector of the organisation, and local demand for the role. Salaries are based on compensation data observed by Robert Half across Dublin and Greater Dublin, reflecting starting pay only (excluding bonuses, benefits, and perks). Figures are shown in ranges and percentiles to account for varying experience levels.

Finance and Accounting

IT and Technology

Administrative and Business Support

Accounting Operations

Finance Leadership

Financial and Management Accounting

Systems and Projects Accounting

Tax and Treasury

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

Transactional Finance Manager

84750

96750

104000

Purchase Ledger Manager

70500

77250

85750

Purchase Ledger Clerk

40750

45500

50000

Credit Control Manager

65750

73750

81250

Credit Controller

43750

47750

52750

Payroll Manager

63500

72250

79000

Payroll Administrator

44000

47750

55750

Sales Ledger Manager

63250

68500

76250

Sales Ledger Clerk

41750

49250

60250

Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable Manager

61250

66250

71500

Part-Qualified Management Accountant

48500

53500

58750

Part-Qualified Financial Analyst

46750

52000

57250

Part-Qualified Financial Accountant

46250

51500

56750

Assistant Management/Financial Accountant

46000

51000

56000

Accounts Assistant

40500

43250

47000

25th percentile

The candidate has little or no prior experience in the position and is still developing relevant skills.

50th percentile

The candidate has an average level of experience and has most of the necessary skills.

75th percentile

The candidate has above-average experience, has most or all the necessary skills, and may have specialised qualifications.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Ireland Salary Guide from Robert Half?

The 2027 Ireland Salary Guide provides projected starting salaries and compensation trends in 3 professional fields. It helps employers make hiring, retention and workforce planning decisions, and supports job seekers with career planning and salary negotiation.

Why should I use a salary guide? Why are salary guides important?

Salary guides help employers set competitive pay, and professionals negotiate fair compensation based on their skills and experience. While expanding pay transparency legislation and initiatives give professionals more visibility into individual roles, knowing how compensation compares across companies adds another layer of insight. That’s where data like ours comes in.

How accurate is the Ireland Salary Guide from Robert Half?

The salary benchmarks in the Ireland Salary Guide from Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. The salary survey is based on insights from our recruiting professionals who validate the data against real-world hiring and compensation trends.

Do salaries in the Robert Half Ireland Salary Guide include bonuses or annual merit increases?

No. The guide shows starting salaries only for someone new to the role. They do not include bonuses or annual merit increases.

What are the compensation trends for Ireland in 2027?

Salary growth is expected to remain measured in 2027, but employers are still investing in competitive pay for critical roles, hard-to-staff positions, and candidates with specialised skills. Pay transparency is also increasing demand for current salary data as employers need accurate market benchmarks to set and communicate competitive salary ranges.

Explore a world of salary insights

The salary benchmarks in the Ireland Salary Guide from Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on insights from our recruiting professionals who validate the data against real-world hiring and compensation trends.

Non-salary data is from online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by a third-party research organisation, including responses from 2,500 hiring managers and 5,000 professionals across the UK and Europe.