How to answer salary expectations in Ireland

To answer salary expectations in Ireland, give a gross annual range in euro that you have researched for the role and location, with your target near the bottom, and say you are open to discussing the full package. For example: "Based on similar roles in Dublin, I'm looking for €62,000 to €68,000 base, depending on the overall package."

That answer works because it is specific, based on the market rather than your current pay, and stated the way Irish employers write offers: gross, annual and in euro. This guide shows you how to build the range, the latest official earnings data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), where Ireland stands on pay transparency in October 2026, and example answers you can adapt. For the general version of this question, see our guide to answering the salary expectations question.

How to answer salary expectations in Ireland, step by step

1. Look for a range first. Many Irish adverts state a salary or band. If yours does not, ask the recruiter early: "Could you share the budgeted range for this role?" It is a normal question and it saves time for both sides.
2. Research the market. Compare similar roles in the same city and sector, recruiter salary guides and people you know in the field. Dublin pay often differs from pay in other counties, so match the location.
3. Set a range with your target at the bottom. If €62,000 is the number you would be happy with, a range of €62,000 to €68,000 protects it. Keep the spread to about 10 percent so it sounds researched rather than vague.
4. Say what the number covers. State "base salary" and mention the parts of the package that matter to you, such as employer pension contributions, bonus, health insurance or hybrid working.
5. Close with flexibility. "I'm open to discussing the full package" keeps the conversation going without lowering your number.

Our free salary negotiation calculator helps you set the bottom, target and top of your range before the call.

What is the average salary in Ireland in 2026?

The CSO's Earnings and Labour Costs release, published on 25 August 2026, put average weekly earnings at €1,046.88 in Q2 2026 (preliminary estimates), up 3.9% from €1,007.58 a year earlier. Average hourly earnings were €31.96 (CSO Earnings and Labour Costs, Q2 2026).

These are averages across full-time and part-time employees, so treat them as a sanity check, not as your answer. The annual figures are our own calculation (weekly figure × 52).

The same release put average weekly earnings at €1,261.16 in the public sector and €978.71 in the private sector. Accommodation and food services had the largest annual rise, at 7.7%.

At the floor, the national minimum wage for adults has been €14.15 an hour since 1 January 2026, and Budget 2027 announced an increase to €14.94 from 1 January 2027, subject to legislation (Citizens Information: minimum wage, as of October 2026).

Can an employer in Ireland ask about your current salary?

As of October 2026, yes, they can still ask. The EU Pay Transparency Directive (Directive 2023/970) gives job applicants the right to information about the starting pay or pay range of a role and bars employers from asking about pay history. Member states had to transpose it by 7 June 2026 (Directive (EU) 2023/970).

Ireland missed that deadline. In a written answer to parliamentary questions on 26 May 2026, Minister Norma Foley said the European Commission had been told the Directive would not be fully transposed by June, that implementation would be phased, and that employers would not be penalised for not having every element in place by then (Law Society Gazette, 28 May 2026). We found no Irish law transposing it as of October 2026, so the pay-history ban is not yet Irish law. Check for updates before your interview.

Even so, you do not have to lead with your current salary. You can answer with your expectations and explain why. Separately, the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 already requires employers above its size threshold to publish gender pay gap reports, which can tell you something about an employer's pay culture.

How to respond if you are asked about your current pay

Example answer we wrote: "I'd rather focus on what this role is worth. Based on the responsibilities and what similar roles in Cork pay, I'm looking for €55,000 to €60,000 base."

If you do share it, add context: "My current base is €52,000, but this role has a wider remit, so I'm looking for €58,000 to €63,000."

How salary works in Irish public sector interviews

For Civil Service and many public service roles recruited through publicjobs, each competition has a Competition Information Booklet that sets out the role, eligibility, the recruitment process and the remuneration (publicjobs: our recruitment process, as of October 2026). Pay follows published salary scales, so there is less room to negotiate than in a private sector offer.

That changes your preparation. Read the booklet's salary scale and its rules on where new entrants start, and be ready to confirm you accept the advertised terms. If an interview board asks about pay, keep it short: "I've read the scale in the booklet and I'm comfortable with it." For the interview itself, see our publicjobs.ie interview guide and, for health roles, our HSE interview questions guide.

Example answers in euro

These are examples we wrote. Replace the figures with your own research.

Early recruiter call, mid-level role in Dublin

"For a senior analyst role in Dublin, I'm targeting €62,000 to €68,000 base. I'm flexible depending on the bonus, pension and hybrid arrangements, so I'd be glad to hear the range you have in mind."

Tech role at a multinational

"Based on similar software engineering roles in Dublin, I'm looking for €85,000 to €95,000 base, plus the standard equity and bonus for the level. If the level is different from what I expect, I'm happy to revisit." For more detail on tech pay talks, read our software engineer salary expectations guide.

Graduate role

"I've looked at graduate programmes in this sector, and I'm expecting something in the region of €35,000 to €38,000. Training and progression matter as much to me as the starting figure."

Relocating from abroad

"I'm relocating to Ireland, so I've researched local pay rather than converting my current salary. For this role in Galway, I'm looking for €58,000 to €64,000 base." If you need an employment permit, check that the offer meets the permit's minimum salary; our guide for international candidates in Ireland covers the thresholds.

Pushed for a single number

"If you need one figure, €65,000 base would make this a clear yes for me, assuming the rest of the package is in line with the market."

Mistakes to avoid

• Quoting a monthly or net figure. Irish offers are usually gross and annual, so a net monthly number causes confusion.
• Converting a foreign salary. Exchange rates say nothing about Irish market pay. Research local roles instead.
• Using a range so wide it means nothing. "€50,000 to €80,000" tells the employer you have not done the research.
• Ignoring the package. Pension contributions, bonus, health insurance and hybrid working can be worth negotiating when base pay is fixed.
• Not practising out loud. Salary answers fall apart under a follow-up question. Rehearse the follow-up too: "That's above our range. Is there flexibility?"

CoPilot Interview's Mock Interview builds questions from your CV and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10 with what to fix and a model answer, so you can rehearse the salary question alongside the rest of the interview. The free plan gives you 15 minutes a day with no account. For everything else that is different about interviewing in Ireland, start with our job interview tips for Ireland.

FAQ

How do I answer "What are your salary expectations?" in Ireland?

Give a gross annual range in euro based on market data for the role and location, put your target near the bottom of the range, say whether it is base salary, and add that you are open to discussing the full package, such as pension, bonus and health insurance.

What is the average salary in Ireland in 2026?

The CSO reported average weekly earnings of €1,046.88 in Q2 2026 (preliminary estimates published 25 August 2026). That is about €54,400 a year by our calculation, but it is an average across full-time and part-time workers, so compare against your own sector.

Can an Irish employer ask about my current salary?

As of October 2026, yes. The EU Pay Transparency Directive bans pay-history questions, but Ireland had not passed a law transposing it. You can still choose to answer with your expectations instead of your current pay.

When does the EU Pay Transparency Directive apply in Ireland?

The transposition deadline was 7 June 2026. Ireland told the European Commission it would miss it, and in May 2026 the Minister said implementation would be phased. Until Irish legislation is passed, the date its rules apply to employers is not set.

Should I say a monthly or annual figure in Ireland?

Annual. Irish job adverts and offers usually state a gross annual salary, so give your range the same way and say whether it includes bonus or pension contributions.

Can I negotiate salary for a public sector job in Ireland?

Usually less than in the private sector. publicjobs competitions publish the role's remuneration in the Competition Information Booklet, so read the salary scale and the rules on starting pay there before the interview.