Gender pay gap persists in Irish pharma and med tech sector

A new Central Statistics Office (CSO) analysis shows that median annual earnings for men in Ireland’s pharmaceutical and medical technology sector were 20.5 % higher than for women in 2025.

The report, covering the period 2019‑2025, found total sector earnings rose to €7.9 billion in 2025 from €4 billion in 2019, while median annual pay increased 22.4 % to €68,591. Male median earnings were €73,970 compared with €61,398 for females, meaning women’s 2025 earnings matched the median pay of men in 2019.

Employment grew sharply, from 60,537 workers in 2019 to 96,848 in 2025 – a 60 % rise – with 55,610 men and 41,238 women. Most staff (86 %) were employed by enterprises owned overseas, chiefly the United States, while 14 % worked for Irish‑owned firms.

Geographically, the highest share of workers lived in Co. Cork (17.3 %), followed by Co. Dublin (15.6 %) and Co. Galway (15.1 %). Median weekly earnings varied widely: Cork employees earned €1,395 in 2022, Dublin €1,316, Galway €831, and Donegal the lowest at €721, less than half the €1,486 earned in Carlow.

The sector’s export sales doubled to €211 billion by 2025, with international trade exports rising to €164.2 billion, largely to the US. Total assets held by the sector reached €436 billion, 85 % owned by US‑based owners.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Blackcurrant Great / Pexels.