Cost to Hire an Employee in Ireland (2026)

• Gross salary, usually paid monthly.
• Employer costs of about 12.9% at a €60,000 salary: €7,740 a year, of which the largest is employer PRSI (Class A, higher rate).
• An EOR fee, if you hire without your own entity. The providers in our Ireland guide publish starting prices of US$459–699 per employee per month.

Mandatory employer costs at a €60,000 salary (mid-level professional). Employee contributions and income tax come out of gross pay and aren't included.

Contribution ceilings mean employer costs can be a smaller share of higher salaries. Figures exclude the EOR fee.

• Employer PRSI: 11.40% (from 1 Oct 2026)
• Auto-enrolment (MyFutureFund): 1.5% employer (2026–28)
• Salary payments per year: 12 (or weekly / fortnightly)
• Minimum wage (2026): €14.15 / hour
• Paid annual leave: 4 weeks + 10 public holidays
• Maximum working week: 48 hours (average)

• Private health insurance (optional) (€1,500 / year): Very common benefit in Ireland; taxable as a benefit in kind.
• Employer PRSI is shown at the 11.40% rate in force from 1 October 2026. Further increases are scheduled for future Octobers.
• Employee PRSI (4.35% from October 2026), USC and income tax are deducted from gross pay and are not employer costs.
• MyFutureFund only applies to eligible employees (broadly aged 23–60, earning over €20,000, and not already in a payroll pension). Many employers offer a company pension with a 5%+ employer contribution instead.
• Statutory sick pay (5 days a year at 70% of pay, up to a daily cap) is paid by the employer and not included above.

Without your own entity in Ireland, an Employer of Record can employ your hire for a monthly fee. The alternative is setting up your own Irish company. See the comparison in our Ireland guide and EOR vs local entity.