IT Search Salary Report 2026

Introduction

Ireland’s technology sector performed well overall in 2025, with recruitment activity accelerating into 2026. Over the past year we have seen digital adoption continuing at pace, with Artificial Intelligence now firmly embedded across multiple industry sectors. Ireland’s start-up community also continues to show momentum. Despite tighter funding conditions globally, new ventures in AI, fintech, climate tech, and health tech remain a significant driver of innovation and job creation. Start-ups are expected to account for a significant share of new technology roles in 2026.

The most significant trend in 2025 was an increase in contract opportunities, which has historically been a good indicator of permanent hiring activity. We expect the contractor-first approach is expected to continue into 2026 for major technology programmes such as AI implementation, Regulatory compliance (NIS2 and DORA). Given the additional flexibility on working arrangements, the minimal downtime, and increased financial stability, we anticipate more professionals moving from permanent roles into contracting during 2026.

Ireland also continues to outpace the European average in narrowing the gender gap within technology. Women represented 24.4% of IT professionals in 2024, compared with 19.5% across the EU, a positive indicator of progress.

In terms of geography, Dublin accounts for 45% of IT roles, followed by Cork with 15% and Galway at 10%, with the remainder distributed across the rest of the country.

IT Search forecasts for 2026:

AI & Data: Hiring demand to grow by 12–15%, reflecting rapid adoption of GenAI, Machine Learning, and data governance frameworks.

Cybersecurity: Projected 12–15% growth in demand for cybersecurity talent, largely driven by regulatory frameworks such as NIS2 and DORA.

Cloud and DevOps: Roles in architecture, engineering, and orchestration will see 8–10% hiring growth, as companies continue cloud first adoption.

Software Engineering: Modest growth of 5–6%, particularly within scaling start-ups and product-focused businesses.

Technology Leadership: Demand for senior appointments (CIO, CTO, CDO, Heads of Data/AI) is forecast to rise by 6–7%, as organisations seek to align digital transformation with commercial delivery.

For this year’s IT Search survey, we gathered insights from 633 technology professionals in Ireland. Their feedback provides a picture of market expectations, career motivations, and what matters most to technology talent in 2026. Many thanks to all our clients, candidates, and partners for contributing to this research, and we look forward to supporting your success throughout 2026.

If you have any queries in regards to the salary survey or anything technology recruitment related, contact IT Search on +353 1 507 9276 or email info@itsearch.ie.