According to the Irish Times, a recent report from the Women of Ireland Fund revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on women’s economic prospects.
Many Irish women have been forced over the last year and a half to choose between their careers and their families, cutting hours or leaving jobs altogether to make sure their kids and homes are cared for.
Despite setbacks related to the pandemic, as the economy in Ireland begins to recover, new opportunities are arising for women to re-enter the workplace or make career changes that could lead to higher salaries and more room for growth.
This article breaks down some of the top high-paying jobs for women in Ireland, as well as the jobs that have the most growth potential and are the most rewarding.
If you want to learn about the highest-paying jobs in Ireland across the board, this article is a good one to check out. However, to learn about the top careers for women in Ireland, specifically, continue with this guide.
What Are the Top 10 High-Paying Careers for Women Working in Ireland?
Higher earning potential is one of the top reasons why women in Ireland are looking for new jobs. Considering the 14.4 per cent pay gap between men and women in Ireland, it makes sense that women want to go above and beyond to ensure they’re being paid well and fairly.
The following are 10 of the top high-paying careers for women in Ireland. If you want to maximize your earnings when you join a new field, these are all great options to consider:
- Job Description: CEOs are in charge of all major decisions and manage the company’s operations and resources.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the top high-paying careers for women in Ireland because it comes with a high salary and lots of opportunities. Currently, one in eight CEOs in Ireland are women, but that’s expected to change in the future.
- Average Salary: €163,000
- Job Description: Finance directors are in charge of all operations and decisions related to a business’s finances.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Women are starting to work in the finance sector more frequently in Ireland, and new chances are arising for them all the time.
- Average Salary: €139,000
- Job Description: Sales directors are in charge of all operations and decisions related to a company’s performance. They also manage the sales team.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Women are flocking to sales positions more than ever before, and many companies are looking to bring women into leadership roles like this.
- Average Salary: €130,000
- Job Description: General practitioners are physicians who holistic care to a variety of patients.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Many women are part of the medical field in Ireland, and lots of them are seeking higher-paying jobs like this more often.
- Average Salary: €123,000
- Job Description: Technical architects work with business executives to address high-level IT concerns.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: The tech industry is booming, and lots of women are seeking out tech careers for their high salaries and high growth potential.
- Average Salary: €103,000
- Job Description: Software development managers oversee development teams to ensure projects are completed accurately and on time.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is another high-paying career option for women in tech to aspire to.
- Average Salary: €101,000
- Job Description: Actuaries work with insurance companies to calculate risk.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: For women with a STEM background, a career as an actuary is a high-paying, highly fulfilling option.
- Average Salary: €95,000
- Job Description: Dentists clean teeth, fill cavities and help patients maintain good oral health.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Dentistry is another high-paying, fulfilling career choice for women who want to work in health care.
- Average Salary: €91,000
- Job Description: Product managers work with teams to plan and execute various projects to improve existing products or create new ones.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Women are taking on leadership roles more frequently, and product management is an excellent choice for those who want to work in the business sector.
- Average Salary: €86,000
- Job Description: Bakers prepare and sell a wide range of baked goods at in-person stores and through online shops.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the top jobs for women in Ireland because a lot of women here have a passion for baking and want to run their own businesses.
- Average Salary: €84,000
What Are the Top 10 High-Growth Careers for Women in Ireland?
In addition to a high salary, a lot of women are also concerned with finding jobs that offer growth potential and room for promotions. The following are 10 of the top high-growth careers for women in Ireland:
- Job Description: IT project managers oversee various projects to ensure they’re done on time and on or under budget.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the top jobs for women in Ireland because it combines a high salary with a leadership position in the growing tech field.
- Average Salary: €49,000
- Job Description: Software systems developers are responsible for designing and testing a variety of programs.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is a great career for skilled women who want to rise through the ranks of any tech company.
- Average Salary: €51,401
- Job Description: Technical support specialists assist with a wide range of technical issues for customers and employees at various businesses.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is a top career for women in Ireland who want to work in tech but need to gain experience.
- Average Salary: €52,460
- Job Description: Civil engineers design and oversee construction on roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure projects.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: There aren’t a lot of women in the engineering field now, but that’s likely to change in the future as more women pursue STEM-related careers.
- Average Salary: €46,500
- Job Description: Human resource managers are in charge of recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and managing employees for various companies.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the top Ireland careers for women with a high salary that also provides a lot of job satisfaction and room for promotion to other companies over time.
- Average Salary: €60,500
- Job Description: UI/UX designers make sure websites, apps, and other programs look good and are functional for all users.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: UI/UX design is a fast-growing career path in Ireland, so there are lots of opportunities for women to get in on the ground floor.
- Average Salary: €56,000
- Job Description: Nurses assist doctors and surgeons to support patients and ensure they’re properly cared for.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Many women seek out careers as nurses because they’re flexible, have good salaries, and provide room for growth and promotions over time.
- Average Salary: €44,000
- Job Description: Market research specialists work with various companies to gain insight into audience preferences, questions, and concerns.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Women in Ireland often find marketing careers fulfilling and have plenty of room to rise through the ranks in this field.
- Average Salary: €63,500
- Job Description: Interpreters translate from one language to another for businesses and individuals who need help understanding a different language.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Women can earn a decent salary as interpreters in Ireland, and they also gain unique chances for networking and travel.
- Average Salary: €48,791
- Job Description: Occupational therapists work with various individuals to help them learn or re-learn activities of daily living.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the best Ireland jobs for women with high salaries because it is highly fulfilling and there are lots of opportunities, including the option to open one’s own clinic or practice.
- Average Salary: €58,500
What Are the Top 10 Most Rewarding Careers for Women Working in Ireland?
Not only do Irish women care about high-salary and high-growth jobs, but many of them are also concerned with job satisfaction. If you’re interested in learning about rewarding careers for women working in Ireland, these 10 careers are great choices:
- Job Description: Physical therapists work with patients to help them recover after injuries, surgeries, etc.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the best jobs for women in Ireland because it provides a chance to care for others and earn a high salary.
- Average Salary: €54,000
- Job Description: Education administrators oversee primary and secondary schools to ensure they’re run properly.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is a great career for women who want to work in education but want to have more of a leadership role and earn a higher salary.
- Average Salary: €85,000
- Job Description: Psychologists work with clients to help them overcome mental health challenges.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is a highly rewarding career that provides a high salary and opportunities to help others.
- Average Salary: €61,500
- Job Description: Chief executive officers handle major decision-making and manage businesses’ operations and resources.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the top careers for women in Ireland because of its high salary and the fact that it allows them to guide a company toward a successful future.
- Average Salary: €163,000
- Job Description: Conservation scientists work with other scientists to find ways to support, protect, and restore the environment.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the best jobs for women in Ireland who want to feel that they’re making a difference to the planet.
- Average Salary: €52,704
- Job Description: Dentists clean teeth, fill cavities and help patients maintain good oral health.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Dentistry is a fulfilling career for women who want to work in health care and improve people’s health from the inside out.
- Average Salary: €91,000
- Job Description: Nurses assist doctors and surgeons to support and treat various patients.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Nursing is very fulfilling and provides women with a chance to make a difference in others’ lives.
- Average Salary: €44,000
- Job Description: Psychologists work with clients to help them overcome mental health challenges.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: Psychology pays well and is highly rewarding, especially when clients make breakthroughs and learn to change their lives for the better.
- Average Salary: €61,500
- Job Description: Software developers design and test a variety of software programs. They may work independently or as part of an agency.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This tech job is rewarding and gives women great experience that they can take with them to other tech careers in the future.
- Average Salary: €51,401
- Job Description: Surgeons consult patients, perform operations, and create plans to help those they’ve operated on recover as quickly as possible.
- Why Is It a Top Career for Women in Ireland: This is one of the best careers for women in Ireland because it’s highly fulfilling, provides a high salary, and allows them to break into a previously male-dominated field.
- Average Salary: €182,000
How to Get Started in One of the Top Careers for Women in Ireland?
It can be nerve-wracking to apply for one of the top careers for women in Ireland, especially if you’re making a career change or haven’t been part of the workforce for a while. If you follow this advice, though, you’ll have an easier time putting your best foot forward and making a great impression during interviews:
Refresh Your CV
When you’re getting ready to start applying for jobs in Ireland, it’s a good idea to refresh your CV (curriculum vitae). Your CV provides a brief overview of your work and education history and helps hiring managers to see if you would be a good fit for a specific position.
Most companies in Ireland prefer for CVs to be clear and simple. They should be typed on white, A4-sized paper and printed in black ink, and they shouldn’t exceed two pages.
Make sure you account for any gaps in your work history in your CV, too. It’s best to explain upfront what you were doing during periods when you weren’t working because hiring managers will almost certainly ask about it.
Dress for Success
When you land an interview for a job in Ireland, make sure you dress the part.
Most Irish workplaces do not have strict dress codes, but it’s still best to err on the side of professionalism. This shows that you take the job seriously and want to make a good first impression during the interview.
Practice Answering Common Interview Questions
Every job interview is different, but there are some questions that almost always get asked. The question about CV gaps is one of them.
Many women feel intimidated by this question, but it’s not as hard to answer as you might think. Practice explaining briefly and confidently why you took some time away from work.
You can also outline some things you’ve done in the interim to sharpen your skills, such as taking a class or keeping up with the latest industry news.
Apply for an Irish PPS Number
If you’re chosen for one of the best careers for women in Ireland but aren’t a local, you’ll need to apply for an Irish PPS (Personal Public Service) Number before you can start working. If you don’t already have an Irish bank account, you’ll need to open one as well so you can get paid.
Which of the Top Careers for Women in Ireland Is Right for You?
Of all the top careers for women in Ireland, which one seems like the best fit for you? Refer to the jobs listed in this guide so you can find an option that pays well, offers room for growth, and provides a high level of job satisfaction.
Do you need help learning about job openings in your area? If so, use the GrabJobs free job search tool today to easily find openings that align with your goals and needs.
