Pick a job
| Job | Paid to train | First salary | Scale tops out at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retained firefighter | Yes | €17,021 | €31,028 |
| Prison officer | Yes | €37,161 | €61,022 |
| Nurse | Final year only | €38,166 | €56,592 |
| Garda | Yes | €39,194 | €60,333 |
| Primary school teacher | No, you pay fees | €45,833 | €84,412 |
How public sector hiring works here
Public sector recruitment in Ireland runs on competitions rather than ordinary job adverts. A competition opens, it stays open for a few weeks, and then it closes for a year or more. If you miss it you wait. That is why every guide here says where the current competition stands and when it last closed, instead of pretending recruitment is always open.
The other thing worth knowing before you pick: some of these jobs pay you to train and some charge you. Garda trainees and Defence Forces recruits are paid from the first week. Teachers and nurses pay college fees and earn nothing for years. Over a two to four year training period that difference is worth tens of thousands, and almost nobody puts it next to the salary.
Before you apply
Everything on this page comes from official sources and was checked in 2026. Entry rules, closing dates and selection stages still change from one competition to the next, and sometimes overnight. Before you apply, read the official version yourself. That is the one that counts.
Looking for what the job pays rather than how to get it?