Hire compliantly in Ireland. Navigate PRSI, the new auto-enrolment pension system and an employment law framework shaped by both Irish statute and EU directive.
Capital
Dublin
Language
English, Irish
Average Salary
EUR 3,750
Payroll Cycle
Monthly
Employer Cost
11.25%
Paid Leave
20 days
Public Holidays
10 days
Tax Rates
20-40%
Detailed guides on the employment topics that matter most when hiring in Ireland. Independently researched, updated for 2026.
The average gross weekly earnings in Ireland reached €1,011.88 in Q4 2025 (CSO, published February 2026), equivalent to approximately €52,600 per year. The median is significantly lower at approximately €38,000 (€730.89/week, CSO EAADS 2024), reflecting Ireland’s ‘two-speed’ economy where multinational tech and pharma salaries pull the average far above what most workers actually earn. This guide covers national averages, sector breakdowns, how Dublin compares to the rest of Ireland, the gender pay gap, employer costs (PRSI, auto-enrolment pension), how Ireland compares to other European countries, and what these figures mean for companies hiring in the Irish market.
Read ArticleThe minimum wage in Ireland is €14.15 per hour from 1 January 2026, a 4.8% increase from €13.50 in 2025. Ireland now ranks among the highest minimum wages in Europe and is on a government-backed path toward a statutory living wage set at 60% of median earnings by 2029. This guide covers everything: the 2026 rate, age-based sub-minimum rates, how the minimum wage actually translates to take-home pay after tax, PRSI, and USC, how Ireland compares to other EU countries, sector-specific rates under Employment Regulation Orders, the upcoming auto-enrolment pension, and the full history of minimum wage increases since 2000.
Read ArticleNasdaq-listed fintech giant Payoneer makes its second EOR acquisition in 12 months, snapping up Irish Employer of Record platform Boundless.
Read ArticleA work visa in Ireland requires an employment permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE). The two main routes are the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and the General Employment Permit (GEP). From 1 March 2026, salary thresholds increased: CSEP requires €40,904 for roles on the Critical Skills Occupation List or €68,911 for all other eligible roles. GEP requires €36,605 for most occupations. No labour market test is needed for CSEP. Processing takes 4 to 8 weeks. CSEP holders can apply for Stamp 4 (open work permission) after just 21 months. This guide covers every permit type, salary thresholds, the application process, employer obligations, family reunification, and what it means for companies hiring through an EOR.
Read ArticleMaternity leave in Ireland in 2026 is 26 weeks of paid leave plus 16 weeks of unpaid additional leave (42 weeks total), with State-paid Maternity Benefit at €299/week for those who meet PRSI conditions. This guide covers the full entitlement, Form MB1 application, employer obligations under the Maternity Protection Acts, taxation, premature birth and stillbirth rules, the 2024 Act postponement option, and how Maternity Leave interacts with Paternity, Parent's, and Parental Leave.
Read Article
We independently review and rank providers based on their actual performance in Ireland, covering pricing transparency, onboarding speed, in-country support and contract compliance.
Ireland launched mandatory auto-enrolment pensions (“My Future Fund”) on 1 January 2026. Any provider that hasn’t built this into their payroll process is already non-compliant for eligible employees.
When you hire in Ireland, the new auto-enrolment pension, rising PRSI rates and active WRC enforcement create employer obligations that increase year on year.
| Key Employment Facts | |
| Minimum Wage | EUR 14.15/hour (from January 2026) |
| Probation Period | Typically 6 months (up to 12 with extension) |
| Standard Working Hours | 48 hours/week maximum (averaged over 4 months) |
| Paid Annual Leave | 20 days (4 working weeks) |
| Notice Period | 1-8 weeks (by length of service) |
| 13th Salary | Not statutory |
| Sick Leave | 5 days at 70% of wages (capped EUR 110/day) |
| Maternity Leave | 26 weeks (state maternity benefit, employer pay not mandatory) |
Good to Know: Ireland’s auto-enrolment pension (“My Future Fund”) launched January 2026 for employees aged 23-60 earning over EUR 20,000. Employer contributions start at 1.5% and rise to 6% by 2036. Statutory sick pay of 5 days at 70% (capped EUR 110/day) is minimal by European standards; most tech and pharma employers offer 20-30 days at full pay. Notice periods scale with tenure: 1 week (13 weeks-2 years), 2 weeks (2-5 years), 4 weeks (5-10 years), 8 weeks (10-15 years). Probation is typically 6 months but can extend to 11 months, staying under the 12-month unfair dismissal threshold.
When you hire in Ireland, employer PRSI of 11.25% plus 1.5% auto-enrolment pension keeps headline costs moderate. But annual PRSI increases through 2028 and pension ratcheting to 6% by 2036 mean costs are rising every year.
| Employer Contributions | |
| Contribution | Employer Rate |
| PRSI Class A (earnings above EUR 552/week) | 11.25% (rising to 11.40% from Oct 2026) |
| PRSI Class A (earnings EUR 552/week or less) | 9.00% (rising to 9.15% from Oct 2026) |
| Auto-Enrolment Pension (from Jan 2026) | 1.5% of gross (year 1-3) |
| Total Employer Cost | ~12.75% of gross salary |
| Employee Taxes | |
| Tax / Contribution | Employee Rate |
| Income Tax (standard band) | 20% (up to EUR 44,000 for single person) |
| Income Tax (higher band) | 40% (income above standard band) |
| USC (Universal Social Charge) | 0.5-8% (tiered by income) |
| Employee PRSI | 4.20% (rising to 4.35% from Oct 2026) |
| Auto-Enrolment Pension (employee share) | 1.5% of gross (year 1-3) |
Good to know: Ireland’s employer cost looks moderate at ~12.75% of gross, but that’s deceptive. The total compensation cost is driven by high gross salaries (Dublin tech roles command EUR 70,000-120,000), not by contribution percentages. A EUR 90,000 employee in Dublin costs the employer approximately EUR 101,250 in PRSI and pension alone, before any benefits. And with PRSI and pension both ratcheting up annually through 2028 and 2036 respectively, the cost trajectory is unambiguously upward.
Ireland has 10 public holidays per year. Part-time employees who work at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before a public holiday qualify for public holiday entitlements regardless of their usual schedule.
|
Date |
Holiday |
|
January 1 |
New Year’s Day |
|
February 2 |
St. Brigid’s Day (first Monday in February) |
|
March 17 |
St. Patrick’s Day |
|
April 6 |
Easter Monday |
|
May 4 |
May Bank Holiday |
|
June 1 |
June Bank Holiday |
|
August 3 |
August Bank Holiday |
|
October 26 |
October Bank Holiday |
|
December 25 |
Christmas Day |
|
December 26 |
St. Stephen’s Day |
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, employees are entitled to either a paid day off within a month, an additional day of annual leave, or an additional day’s pay. The employer chooses which option to offer. Good Friday is not a public holiday in Ireland, despite a common misconception. Employers who require staff to work on a public holiday must provide one of the following: a paid day off within a month, an extra day of annual leave, or an additional day’s pay.
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