Gender Pay Gap Persists in Ireland, Modern Research Shows

New research from IrishJobs reveals a significant gap in pay expectations between men and women in Ireland, with men anticipating earning €11,000 more annually than their female counterparts. The findings, released ahead of International Women’s Day, highlight ongoing disparities in the Irish labor market.

Pay Expectation Discrepancy

According to the IrishJobs report, based on role, skills, and experience, men expect a median salary of €64,000, while women typically anticipate earning €53,000. This represents a 17% difference in pay expectations. [Source: RTÉ] [Source: Silicon Republic]

Current Salary Landscape

The research also examined current salary levels, finding that the median salary for male professionals in Ireland was €55,000 in 2025, compared to €44,000 for women. [Source: RTÉ]

Satisfaction and Pay Rises

A notable difference exists in salary satisfaction levels, with 79% of men reporting satisfaction compared to 71% of women. The average pay rise for men in 2025 was 6.5%, while women received an average increase of 5.4%. [Source: RTÉ] Nearly half of women (44%) who received a pay rise felt the increase didn’t fully reflect their performance, compared to 30% of men. [Source: Silicon Republic]

Confidence in Negotiation

The report highlights a disparity in confidence when negotiating pay rises. Over two-thirds (67%) of men feel confident negotiating, compared to less than half (47%) of women. [Source: Silicon Republic]

Broader Gender Pay Gap Context

According to data from Eurostat, the overall gender pay gap in Ireland has fallen to 8%, measuring the difference between median female and male income. [Source: RTÉ] Dr. Adele Whelan, a senior researcher at the Economic and Social Research Institute, noted that men are more heavily represented in higher-paying sectors like finance and tech, while women are concentrated in lower-paid sectors such as health, and education. [Source: RTÉ]

Methodology

The IrishJobs report is based on a survey of 470 recruiters and 670 candidates in Ireland, alongside an analysis of 1.3 million job adverts across the Irish labor market. [Source: RTÉ] [Source: Silicon Republic]