Salary Guide

2026 IT Salary Guide Ireland | Technology Salaries | HERO

Technology hiring in Ireland is more selective in 2026, but employers are still competing strongly for experienced professionals in software engineering, cloud, cybersecurity, DevOps, data and AI.

HERO’s 2026 Technology Salary Guide provides permanent base salary benchmarks by role and experience level, helping professionals assess their market value and employers build more competitive offers.

The guide describes technology demand as high, with the strongest competition concentrated at senior and specialist level.

What is included in HERO’s 2026 Technology Salary Guide?

Below is a sample of the permanent base salary benchmarks included in the guide.

Technology role	0–3 years	3–5 years	5+ years
IT Director / CTO	€100k–€120k	€120k–€135k	€135k–€150k
Head of IT	€90k–€100k	€100k–€115k	€115k–€130k+
IT Project Manager	€65k–€80k	€80k–€90k	€90k–€100k
Technical Architect	€65k–€75k	€75k–€85k	€85k–€100k
DevOps / SRE Engineer	€40k–€55k	€55k–€75k	€75k–€100k
Full Stack Engineer	€45k–€60k	€60k–€70k	€70k–€85k
IT Security Analyst	€40k–€55k	€55k–€70k	€70k–€80k
Business Analyst	€45k–€55k	€55k–€65k	€65k–€75k+
Automation QA Engineer	€40k–€50k	€50k–€65k	€65k–€80k
System Administrator	€30k–€40k	€40k–€55k	€55k–€70k+

The full guide also includes software development, infrastructure, database, design, testing and technical-support salaries.

Which technology skills will become more valuable in Ireland?

The guide highlights several capabilities likely to influence future technology hiring:

Advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning
Deep learning and responsible AI
Edge computing
Internet of Things integration
Quantum computing knowledge
Advanced encryption
Extended reality development
Green IT and energy-efficient computing

The market is not rewarding every technology skill equally. Greater value is increasingly attached to specialisation and the ability to apply technology to a defined business or industry problem.

What is changing in Ireland’s technology hiring market?

Ireland’s technology market is becoming more selective.

Broad hiring has softened compared with earlier years, particularly at entry level, but demand remains strong for senior and specialist professionals.

The clearest divide is between:

Skills that are broadly available in the market
Scarce expertise connected to AI, cloud, cybersecurity, DevOps and data
Professionals who can connect technology delivery with business outcomes
Senior people who can lead architecture, transformation and technical teams

AI is reshaping where employers invest rather than removing the need for technology talent altogether. The strongest opportunities are increasingly going to professionals who can build, integrate, secure or govern AI-enabled systems.

HERO’s 2026 IT Contracting Rate Guide provides day-rate benchmarks for Ireland’s technology contracting market. [View the 2026 IT Contracting Rate Guide]

📥 Submit the form to get your copy of HERO’s 2026 STEM Permanent IT Salary Guide.

Looking to talk through your options? Contact us today to discuss your options. Alternatively, connect with us on LinkedIn.

Common questions

FAQs

There is no single average IT salary that accurately represents Ireland’s technology market in 2026. Salaries vary significantly by specialisation, experience, technical responsibility and seniority, so HERO benchmarks individual technology roles across defined experience bands.

A DevOps or Site Reliability Engineer in Ireland can earn between €40,000 and €55,000 with up to three years of experience, €55,000 to €75,000 with three to five years of experience, and €75,000 to €100,000 with more than five years of experience.

An IT Director or CTO in Ireland can earn between €100,000 and €120,000 at the lower experience band, €120,000 to €135,000 at the intermediate band, and €135,000 to €150,000 with more than five years of relevant experience.

An IT Project Manager in Ireland can earn between €65,000 and €80,000 with up to three years of relevant experience, €80,000 to €90,000 with three to five years, and €90,000 to €100,000 with more than five years of experience.

Some of the highest-paying technology roles in HERO’s 2026 guide are IT Director or CTO, Head of IT, Programme Manager and Software Development Manager. Experienced IT Directors or CTOs can earn up to €150,000, while Heads of IT can earn €130,000 or more.

In-demand IT jobs in Ireland in 2026 include Senior Software Engineers, Cloud Engineers, Cybersecurity Specialists, DevOps and SRE Engineers, Data professionals, Business Analysts, Systems Analysts, Technical Architects and AI or Machine Learning Engineers.

Technology hiring in Ireland is more selective in 2026, particularly at entry level, but demand remains strong for senior and specialist professionals. Cloud, cybersecurity, AI, data, DevOps and technical architecture continue to attract employer attention.

Related Information

Salary Guide