Teacher salary in Ireland after tax: the 2026 pay scale breakdown
Teaching in Ireland is a public sector career with a defined pay scale negotiated nationally. The pay looks decent on paper — but three levies (PAYE, USC, PRSI) plus pension contributions mean the take-home is considerably lower than the advertised salary.
Irish teacher pay scale: gross to take-home 2026
Post-primary and primary teachers in Ireland are paid on the same national pay scale with 25 incremental points. Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) start at Point 1 (€38,901 for secondary, approximately the same for primary). The scale tops out at Point 25 (€62,799), with additional allowances for Deputy Principals and Principals.
The 2026 figures reflect the October 2023 public sector agreement with a 2.25% sectoral rise applied in January 2026. There is also a "new entrant" premium of approximately €2,000/year introduced in 2023 which is built into the Point 1 figure.
| Scale Point / Role | Gross/Year | PAYE+USC+PRSI | Net/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point 1 (NQT entry) | €38,901 | ~€8,920 | €2,498/mo |
| Point 5 (~Year 4) | €43,276 | ~€10,250 | €2,752/mo |
| Point 10 (~Year 9) | €49,748 | ~€12,130 | €3,135/mo |
| Point 15 (~Year 14) | €54,419 | ~€13,810 | €3,384/mo |
| Point 20 (~Year 19) | €58,788 | ~€15,220 | €3,630/mo |
| Point 25 (top, ~Year 24) | €62,799 | ~€16,590 | €3,851/mo |
| Deputy Principal | €67,500–€72,000 | ~€18,200–€19,900 | €4,108–€4,342/mo |
| Principal (large school) | €90,000–€110,000 | ~€26,600–€33,900 | €5,283–€6,342/mo |
Figures above don't include pension deduction (typically 6.5% for integrated scheme members). Teachers on the Single Public Service Pension Scheme pay integrated contributions of roughly 3–5% of salary. After pension, take-home is approximately €100–€250/month lower than shown.
The "new entrant" pay problem
For years, teachers who entered public service after January 2011 were placed on a lower pay scale than their pre-2011 colleagues — a two-tier system that caused significant resentment and emigration. That disparity was formally abolished with the October 2023 agreement, bringing new entrants up to parity (hence the €2,000 approximate lift at Point 1).
However, many teachers who spent 2011–2020 on the lower scale lost significant cumulative income. The 2023 fix applied to future pay, not backdated compensation. A teacher who joined in 2013 and is now at Point 12 is now on the same pay as a colleague who joined pre-2011 at Point 12 — but the years at lower pay are not recovered.
After-pension take-home: what actually lands in your account
A Point 15 teacher on €54,419 with the Single Public Service Pension Scheme paying 3.5% contribution (€1,905/year):
- Gross: €54,419
- PAYE: approximately −€9,568
- USC: approximately −€1,434
- PRSI: −€2,177
- Pension: −€1,905
- Net take-home: approximately €39,335/year → €3,278/month
That's 60.3% of gross salary landing in the bank. The pension isn't lost — it's building a defined-benefit entitlement — but it's also unavailable monthly.
Teacher salaries in Ireland vs UK
- 🇮🇪 Ireland NQT (Point 1): €38,901 gross → ~€2,340/month (after pension)
- 🇬🇧 UK NQT (M1, England): £32,758 gross → ~£2,620/month (before TPS pension deduction); after TPS ~£2,380/month
- 🇮🇪 Ireland Point 10: €49,748 → ~€2,960/month after pension
- 🇬🇧 UK M6: £43,685 → ~£2,850/month after TPS
In take-home terms, Ireland and the UK are closely matched — Irish teachers earn marginally more gross at most scale points, but the similar effective tax treatment produces similar monthly figures. Ireland's advantage over the UK is more visible in the mid-to-senior range (Points 15–25), where the Irish scale pulls ahead of the UK's leadership spine entry points.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a newly qualified teacher earn in Ireland after tax in 2026?
An NQT on Scale Point 1 earns €38,901 gross. After PAYE, USC, and PRSI but before pension contribution, take-home is approximately €2,498/month. After pension contribution (3.5–6.5% depending on scheme), take-home is roughly €2,250–€2,340/month.
Do teachers in Ireland get paid during summer holidays?
Yes — teacher salaries in Ireland are divided into 12 equal monthly payments covering the full year, including holidays. Teachers receive their standard monthly salary in July and August. They don't receive extra pay for summer, but they also aren't docked for non-teaching periods.
What pension do Irish teachers get?
Teachers who joined public service before 2013 are in the "Integrated Scheme" — a defined-benefit pension paying 1/80th of final salary per year of service, plus a 3/80ths lump sum. After 35 years on a final salary of €60,000, pension would be €26,250/year plus a €78,750 lump sum. Teachers who joined from January 2013 are in the "Single Public Service Pension Scheme," which accrues on career-average pay, not final salary.
Is there a shortage of teachers in Ireland?
Yes, acutely in STEM and special education. The Teaching Council registers approximately 1,500 newly qualified teachers per year from Irish institutions, but emigration (particularly to Australia and the Middle East) and limited initial teacher education places have created shortfalls. Many vacancies are filled by teachers on daily casual substitute basis rather than permanent contracts, which significantly lowers effective annual income for newer teachers.