Indian Nationals Top Weekly Earnings Among Selected Nationalities in Ireland, CSO Figures Show
Dublin: Indian nationals recorded the highest median weekly earnings among the nationalities specifically examined in a 2025 analysis by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO), according to figures released in October.
The median weekly wage for Indian nationals was €862.14, compared with €814.30 for British nationals and €792.89 for Irish nationals. Across all employees in Ireland, the median weekly wage stood at €759.21, placing the figure for Indian nationals more than €100 above that for Irish nationals.
Indian women record higher earnings than men
Indian women had median weekly earnings of €916.88, compared with €801.56 for Indian men — a difference of approximately 14.4 per cent.
Among the nationalities specifically examined in the report, Indian nationals were the only group in which women’s median earnings exceeded those of men.
However, differences in the sectors, occupations, working hours and employment patterns of men and women may influence the figures. The data do not necessarily indicate that women and men receive different pay for performing the same work.
Median earnings edge down despite overall growth
Despite retaining the top position among the nationalities examined, the median weekly earnings of Indian nationals fell by 1.6 per cent from €876.04 in 2024 to €862.14 in 2025.
The CSO suggested that the decline could be linked to a lower proportion of Indian employment in higher-paying sectors, including healthcare, information technology and professional services.
Meanwhile, the average weekly earnings of Indian nationals increased by 0.3 per cent to €1,044, highlighting the distinction between median and average earnings.
Indian employment rises sharply
The number of jobs held by Indian nationals increased by 251.8 per cent between 2020 and 2025, according to the figures.
Their share of total employment in Ireland also grew, rising from 3.1 per cent in 2024 to 3.6 per cent in 2025.
The increase reflects the growing presence of Indian nationals in the Irish labour market, including in healthcare, technology, finance and other professional fields.
Why the distinction between median and average matters
Median earnings represent the midpoint of a wage distribution: half of the jobs in the relevant category pay more, while half pay less. The figure of €862.14 therefore does not mean that every Indian national working in Ireland earns that amount each week.
Average earnings, by contrast, are calculated by adding all earnings together and dividing the total by the number of observations. A relatively small number of high earners can influence the average more strongly than the median.
Sectoral employment helps explain the figures
The concentration of Indian nationals in sectors such as healthcare, information technology, finance and professional and technical services may contribute to their relatively high overall earnings. These fields include roles that require specialised qualifications, training and technical expertise.
The Indian community has a significant presence in Ireland’s healthcare workforce, including nursing and healthcare support roles, as well as in the financial and technology industries.
The CSO’s assessment that changes in the proportion of Indian workers employed in higher-paying sectors may have contributed to the fall in median earnings highlights how the composition of the workforce can affect national wage comparisons.
The figures should not, however, be interpreted as evidence that an Indian employee earns more than an Irish employee performing the same job. Differences in occupation, seniority, qualifications, experience, working hours and sectoral employment can all influence comparisons between nationalities.
The data also distinguish Indian nationals from Irish citizens of Indian heritage, who are not included in the Indian-nationality category simply because of their ancestry.
Similarly, the higher median earnings recorded for Indian women may reflect the types of roles they occupy, their working hours and their distribution across different sectors, including healthcare. Further analysis would be needed to determine how much each factor contributes to the earnings gap.
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