Best Career : Employment rate and Pay

FHFM50 · 06-06-2020 3:12pm #1

What would currently be the best career to choose in Ireland at the moment in terms of salary, employment prospects,stress,etc,...

I know you should follow what interests you but for the sake of argument say if an individual did not have specific interests and just wanted something with great pay,moderate stress and good job prospects what would it be?

Creamy Goodness · 06-06-2020 3:59pm

IT or Pharmaceutical. But as COVID-19 has shown nothing is a safe bet anymore.

The problem really is the best paying jobs are generally attached to high stress, time intensive jobs. You sacrifice what you can’t make more of (time) and your mental health for the highest paid jobs. Some people can hack it and some can’t.

FHFM50 · 06-06-2020 4:18pm

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

IT or Pharmaceutical. But as COVID-19 has shown nothing is a safe bet anymore.

The problem really is the best paying jobs are generally attached to high stress, time intensive jobs. You sacrifice what you can’t make more of (time) and your mental health for the highest paid jobs. Some people can hack it and some can’t.

When you say IT are you talking about Software engineering or something else?

Pharmacists are paid well but I've heard getting a permanent position is very difficult. Most work as locums.

Creamy Goodness · 06-06-2020 4:23pm

FHFM50 wrote: »

When you say IT are you talking about Software engineering or something else?

Pharmacists are paid well but I've heard getting a permanent position is very difficult. Most work as locums.

Software engineering or site reliability engineer are well paid but the latter requires on call work which can be a bit ****e.

Wompa1 · 06-06-2020 4:24pm

FHFM50 wrote: »

When you say IT are you talking about Software engineering or something else?

Pharmacists are paid well but I've heard getting a permanent position is very difficult. Most work as locums.

There are other areas of IT that are specialized and pay much better BUT unfortunately you can't get qualified with a degree or masters, Universities here don't and probably can't stay up on industry trends. You need a bit of luck to get an opportunity to learn on the job, build experience and then go consulting to make some good money. Requires about 80% luck.

the-island-man · 08-06-2020 2:51am

I am a Software Engineer with over 10 years professional experience in .NET technologies. I have spent the majority of them years trying to chase the money. I have hopped around a fair bit doing a mixture permanent and contract jobs. I have never taken a new job without it paying more than the previous one.

Eventually it has caught up with me. The current role involves more stress and confrontation than I would ever care to encounter.

I really enjoy working out how to design systems and debug issues but before you think about Software Engineering do consider the following two points:

Similar to most office jobs you will spend the majority of your working life sat at a desk.
Depending on what companies you join you may get put under pressure by managers\customers who don't understand or care about the complexities of Software Development

Finally no matter what career you think of doing before the money gets in your veins have a little listen to this piece by Alan Watts:

https://youtu.be/fYNShs6I4HU

OMM 0000 · 08-06-2020 7:19pm

Lots of ****ty answers here.

Medical field is best - dermatologist, etc.

Then probably finance - pay is good and bonuses are huge.

IT money can be good if you are good and you enjoy software development and working contracts. *Most people hate programming*.

If I were started over again, and could study anything I want, I'd choose medicine and work as a dermatologist.

Truthvader · 08-06-2020 8:30pm

Aircraft leasing. Can start off doing accountancy appreticeship and move on once qualified. Also through law. Stupid money

thomasdylan · 08-06-2020 8:36pm

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Lots of ****ty answers here.

Medical field is best - dermatologist, etc.

Then probably finance - pay is good and bonuses are huge.

IT money can be good if you are good and you enjoy software development and working contracts. *Most people hate programming*.

If I were started over again, and could study anything I want, I'd choose medicine and work as a dermatologist.

Dermatology is very competitive, there used to be only two Spr spots in the country. 585 points for medicine, then 5-6 years college, then intern, medical BST and medical memberships. Then applying for Dermatology spr which you won't get on straight away so a few years doing dermatology reg and research. Then Dermatology spr, then fellowship, then consultancy. It'd be a tough slog and 15 years of hard work to get there.

Technocentral · 08-06-2020 9:17pm

You are all wrong, if you look at a huge number of posts on this forum the Public Sector is the best, huge salaries and great hours and holidays apparently!

LollipopJimmy · 08-06-2020 9:20pm

FHFM50 wrote: »

When you say IT are you talking about Software engineering or something else?

Pharmacists are paid well but I've heard getting a permanent position is very difficult. Most work as locums.

Pharmacists work as locums by choice, if you want a permanent Community Pharmacist role and are qualified you will get one.

OMM 0000 · 09-06-2020 1:07am

thomasdylan wrote: »

Dermatology is very competitive, there used to be only two Spr spots in the country. 585 points for medicine, then 5-6 years college, then intern, medical BST and medical memberships. Then applying for Dermatology spr which you won't get on straight away so a few years doing dermatology reg and research. Then Dermatology spr, then fellowship, then consultancy. It'd be a tough slog and 15 years of hard work to get there.

But when you get there... money is savage.

Geuze · 09-06-2020 1:13am

FHFM50 wrote: »

What would currently be the best career to choose in Ireland at the moment in terms of salary, employment prospects,stress,etc,...

I know you should follow what interests you but for the sake of argument say if an individual did not have specific interests and just wanted something with great pay,moderate stress and good job prospects what would it be?

Lecturer in an IoT.

Salary goes to 87k, 70 days annual leave, small class sizes.

It used to be the case that you didn't need a PhD, now it's desirable, that's the downside.

Geuze · 09-06-2020 1:15am

Truthvader wrote: »

Aircraft leasing. Can start off doing accountancy appreticeship and move on once qualified. Also through law. Stupid money

Yes.

See here:

https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-ali/aircraftleasinginireland2018/

Average earnings= 207k

krissovo · 09-06-2020 1:32am

FHFM50 wrote: »

What would currently be the best career to choose in Ireland at the moment in terms of salary, employment prospects,stress,etc,...

Change the question slightly and you will find a much better answer. What are the best employers in Ireland at the moment? The next next question is what are the best paid roles in those companies.

I am in in IT (non technical) and IT in a multinational is paying dividends at the moment as share prices are strong especially for anyone in cloud computing either software or infrastructure. Also stay at source (software house) rather than anyone who is a service provider or reselling services as these are scavengers but good for getting experience. Staying at source through share options and bonuses can increase your income by easily 50% in a good year or 10% in a poor year. These companies are strong during Covid and shares prices are good, even on the increase for most. Most respect staff and want to retain their talent, they also like Irish staff and known as being productive and good value for money.

wonski · 09-06-2020 1:43am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

But when you get there... money is savage.

It's a bit disrespectful to all doctors tbh.

If it's all about money then the medicine is the hardest route and, call me naive, but most are not money orientated, not in modern European countries. They just deserve it for the hard work, studying, and all risk associated.

To become a doctor, be it dermatologist or a heart surgeon, takes a bit more than just willing to learn. Unlike business studies etc.

Going that route for money will leave you and your patients dissapointed.

Lived near medical academy for years and met many future doctors, surgeons etc. The studying was no fun, compared to bunch of economists etc.

Clever bunch of lads and you have to be one to make it. And really dedicated.

Money comes later, very late sometimes.

OMM 0000 · 09-06-2020 1:48am

Doctors are in it for the status and money.

Sure, helping people is very rewarding.

But there's a reason you don't see many GPs charging EUR 20...

vikings2012 · 09-06-2020 8:17am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Doctors are in it for the status and money.

Sure, helping people is very rewarding.

But there's a reason you don't see many GPs charging EUR 20...

Let’s not forget to mention that a lot of senior doctors and surgeons in public hospital are also private consultants. A private consultation can be upwards of 150E.

RTÉ prime time conducted an analysis of the extent of public hospital medical consultation and doctors double jobbing. Some are certainly in it for the money.

https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2017/1121/921635-hse-hospital-managers/

09-06-2020 8:25am

Technocentral wrote: »

You are all wrong, if you look at a huge number of posts on this forum the Public Sector is the best, huge salaries and great hours and holidays apparently!

That's correct, especially at the lower and middle ranges. While the private sector offers high paying jobs in certain sectors, it is in expensive cities.

If you are looking to settle in a regional town or the country side, a teacher or a guard l can ive like kings with a much lower cost of housing. Private sector employees around them, working in local SMEs, simply do not have the same opportunity to job hop as in the cities.

Geuze · 09-06-2020 9:16am

salonfire wrote: »

If you are looking to settle in a regional town or the country side, a teacher or a guard l can ive like kings with a much lower cost of housing. Private sector employees around them, working in local SMEs, simply do not have the same opportunity to job hop as in the cities.

Yes, I often thought that.

Two IoT lecturers in Tralee, Athlone or Sligo, so 2x 87k at top of scale = 170k approx.

Nice.

CrankyHaus · 09-06-2020 9:30am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Doctors are in it for the status and money.

Sure, helping people is very rewarding.

But there's a reason you don't see many GPs charging EUR 20...

If they're in it for the money they wouldn't become GPs; they'd be Obstetricians or something like that.

3DataModem · 09-06-2020 9:51am

FHFM50 wrote: »

in Ireland

Ireland is too small a country to think very long term. What is successful here now may not be in future. IT? Lots moving to cheaper locations, coding becoming a core skill. Pharma? Maybe. Biotech? Who knows.

Think globally.

antimatterx · 09-06-2020 10:06am

I'm in tech (as a software dev), 2 years experience and I'm not on great money. I was going to job hop this summer, but COVID ****ed that for me. I'm staying put where I am, making some money, gaining for experience, and then I'll look for the nice pay bump.

My medium term goal is to go contracting.

Fred Cryton · 09-06-2020 10:14am

In my experience stress is caused by having to work with people who can't control petty emotions like jealousy, envy, status anxiety and who lose the head easily and become aggressive.

If you want a low stress life, get a job with people who are able to rise above those emotions or else get a job that doesn't require much human interaction.

Creamy Goodness · 09-06-2020 10:19am

antimatterx wrote: »

I'm in tech (as a software dev), 2 years experience and I'm not on great money. I was going to job hop this summer, but COVID ****ed that for me. I'm staying put where I am, making some money, gaining for experience, and then I'll look for the nice pay bump.

My medium term goal is to go contracting.

No job has great money after 2 years experience, relative to the amount of work put in at college, yes the monetary value may be higher (i.e. lawyer vs. IT grad) but there's a lot more effort required in one of those two in college. It's really only after you have moved into the senior, team lead, principal roles (speaking IT as it's my career) that you'll get great money but you're talking 10-15+ years experience.

COVID has put the brakes on practically everyone's plans to move at every career level. A buddy of mine is an IT contractor (mainly front-end), and before the 12th march he was batting away requests to ask him to work, after the 12th march he's become a full-time child minder for his kids as every single contract he had vanished overnight. Contracting is lovely when you get it set up right and prepare for the unexpected, can be a right pain in the hoop otherwise.

Jim2007 · 09-06-2020 11:13am

antimatterx wrote: »

I'm in tech (as a software dev), 2 years experience and I'm not on great money. I was going to job hop this summer, but COVID ****ed that for me. I'm staying put where I am, making some money, gaining for experience, and then I'll look for the nice pay bump.

My medium term goal is to go contracting.

Your about 20 years too late...

seamus · 09-06-2020 11:22am

Realistically the question you're asking here is less about what job and more about what employer. Someone can be qualified up to the neck in IT or pharmaceuticals, but still find themselves bouncing from one employer to the next as companies go to the wall.

If you're looking for the work that finds the best balance between pay, job security, work/life balance and retirability, then you want either public sector, or old, really big companies, like Bank of Ireland, IBM, Intel, KPMG, etc. These are private companies where you might be at some risk of losing your job if the economy goes tits up in the first decade, but once you become part of the furniture then you're set for life.

The issue here is practically always that you're trading job security for job satisfaction. But it depends on what you enjoy doing. There are some people who get job satisfaction out of 40 years of running payroll. And that's cool. In general smaller companies offer more in the way of challenging yourself professionally, but come with a larger risk of going under.

nutjobb · 09-06-2020 11:23am

For little stress and great money I would recommend a production operator in medical devices or pharma, ideally pharma as the moneys better.
I'm an engineer in my company and only making marginally more that an operators (incl shift allowance). I'm also on salary so no ot, while I know 2 operators pulling over 100k. These are extreme cases though who do as much ot as possible.

antimatterx · 09-06-2020 11:34am

Jim2007 wrote: »

Your about 20 years too late...

Why would that be? I'm 24:pac:

OMM 0000 · 09-06-2020 11:45am

CrankyHaus wrote: »

If they're in it for the money they wouldn't become GPs; they'd be Obstetricians or something like that.

GPs are loaded.

Let's not pretend you're not in things for the money if you don't choose to go for the highest paying role.

Lots of people (everyone?) go into finance for the money but most don't try to be CFOs.

FHFM50 · 09-06-2020 12:10pm

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've been struggling sometime now trying to decide what I want to do.

I enjoy subjects like Maths and Business.Not a big fan of reading. I tried software development but I just found it wasn't for me personally. The deadlines and lack of social interaction were tough

Fred Cryton · 10-06-2020 8:40pm

OMM 0000 wrote: »

GPs are loaded.

Let's not pretend you're not in things for the money if you don't choose to go for the highest paying role.

Lots of people (everyone?) go into finance for the money but most don't try to be CFOs.

You haven't a clue. GP's are on pretty moderate incomes, paying a huge amount of tax. There's also no pension contributions from their employer so they have to pay their entire pension themselves, basically another mortgage every month.

bob mcbob · 10-06-2020 9:06pm

FHFM50 wrote: »

What would currently be the best career to choose in Ireland at the moment in terms of salary, employment prospects,stress,etc,...

I know you should follow what interests you but for the sake of argument say if an individual did not have specific interests and just wanted something with great pay,moderate stress and good job prospects what would it be?

I assume you are asking this as you are starting out on your career so I would answer this question for you a different way. Rather than looking at what is hot career now - why not consider what will be a hot career in 10 years time and try and get in on it now. That way you will ride the curve in that area.

OMM 0000 · 11-06-2020 10:44am

Fred Cryton wrote: »

You haven't a clue. GP's are on pretty moderate incomes, paying a huge amount of tax. There's also no pension contributions from their employer so they have to pay their entire pension themselves, basically another mortgage every month.

Why do tons of GPs live in Blackrock?

Yeah, people on moderate incomes can live there! :rolleyes:

Geuze · 11-06-2020 11:23am

Fred Cryton wrote: »

You haven't a clue. GP's are on pretty moderate incomes, paying a huge amount of tax. There's also no pension contributions from their employer so they have to pay their entire pension themselves, basically another mortgage every month.

GPs are typically self-employed.

GPs in France charge 25 euro.

Although, to be fair, the GMS payments can mean that private patients subsidise the GMS patients.

LollipopJimmy · 11-06-2020 2:05pm

Fred Cryton wrote: »

You haven't a clue. GP's are on pretty moderate incomes, paying a huge amount of tax. There's also no pension contributions from their employer so they have to pay their entire pension themselves, basically another mortgage every month.

Newly qualified GPs earn about 75k, after a number of years this climbs to over 6 figures.

FFVII · 11-06-2020 2:37pm

Fred Cryton wrote: »

You haven't a clue. GP's are on pretty moderate incomes, paying a huge amount of tax. There's also no pension contributions from their employer so they have to pay their entire pension themselves, basically another mortgage every month.

GPs are contractors to HSE, their 6 figure pay is public info. What tax you think they pay on that?

Not including private patients, how many of them still stick the €50 in their pockets in this setting?

I'm probably paying more tax.

thomasdylan · 11-06-2020 4:39pm

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Newly qualified GPs earn about 75k, after a number of years this climbs to over 6 figures.

I don't think 75k is a huge amount for a GP to be on. Minimum of 5 years post-graduation experience (almost always a lot more) and on the specialist medical register. I make a good bit more than that with overtime as a hospital reg.

I'd imagine your high achievers in actuary, finance, IT are earning similar sums to 75k. There's a massive GP shortage now too.

H3llR4iser · 11-06-2020 6:18pm

IT is not the "goldmine" people seem to think - actually, the whole progression of earnings, compared to other career paths, is an "inverted U".

What happens is that the pay rate fresh out of college and for the first 2/3 years tends to compare very favorably to other careers. Very few jobs will have you starting at 35k-45k (50 with a big company) when you're 22-23 with no experience. The problem is that the initial advantage doesn't translate further down the line, as pay progression is usually very slow and pretty much hits a fairly unforgiving ceiling around 70/80k. You will probably get there in 10 years or so, and moving up from there will be next to impossible - unless you manage to move to one of the big players; The problem being, as you can imagine, that EVERYONE wants to work for big tech.

11-06-2020 8:59pm

Fred Cryton wrote: »

You haven't a clue. GP's are on pretty moderate incomes, paying a huge amount of tax. There's also no pension contributions from their employer so they have to pay their entire pension themselves, basically another mortgage every month.

What are you calling moderate? Give us a number.

newuser99999 · 16-06-2020 2:04pm

FFVII wrote: »

GPs are contractors to HSE, their 6 figure pay is public info. What tax you think they pay on that?

Not including private patients, how many of them still stick the €50 in their pockets in this setting?

I'm probably paying more tax.

God you’re a moron.

Lumen · 16-06-2020 9:23pm

The most reliable way to earn large amounts of money is to harness the economic output of other people.

addaword · 16-06-2020 9:27pm

Lecturers in third level, most do very little, have great pay and salvage time off.

ChikiChiki · 16-06-2020 9:28pm

Truthvader wrote: »

Aircraft leasing. Can start off doing accountancy appreticeship and move on once qualified. Also through law. Stupid money

I'd say that airline industry is in a bit of bother and will see a massive retraction in demand. Can't see it coming back to normal levels for a few years or more. Accountantcy is a good area to learn all the same. Very useful across a broad spectrum.

ronivek · 16-06-2020 9:31pm

ChikiChiki wrote: »

I'd say that airline industry is in a bit of bother and will see a massive retraction in demand. Can't see it coming back to normal levels for a few years or more. Accountantcy is a good area to learn all the same. Very useful across a broad spectrum.

Is there really sufficient demand for aircraft leasing specialists in this country at the best of times? How many people could possibly earn a living in this sector?

ChikiChiki · 16-06-2020 10:15pm

ronivek wrote: »

Is there really sufficient demand for aircraft leasing specialists in this country at the best of times? How many people could possibly earn a living in this sector?

Over 50% of the world's aircraft leasing companies are based here. There are a lot of company's scattered around the city but I'd imagine incredibly tough to get into. Not entirely sure how big their workforces are.

rubber duk · 17-06-2020 12:20am

Don't forget the trades, carpenters, plumbers and electricians earn excellent money, the work can be very rewarding in non financial terms as well. Good ones rarely out of work....

ronivek · 17-06-2020 12:26am

ChikiChiki wrote: »

Over 50% of the world's aircraft leasing companies are based here. There are a lot of company's scattered around the city but I'd imagine incredibly tough to get into. Not entirely sure how big their workforces are.

Wow; had never even heard of that type of work being available here to be honest.

To answer the original question there is still plenty of demand for good Software Developers. However you would need to be quite good to get onto good money quickly; and future growth beyond the next few years is not necessarily assured.

CBear1993 · 17-06-2020 12:42am

Whats the study route into aircraft leasing? As in a postgrad / masters for someone who’s already in a career they hate..

Interesting no one has mentioned construction - whether professional or trades. I’m not advocating it, as I hate it with a passion at present.

Some lads stealing a living as site managers and a project manager aged 38 was on €95K on a job I was on before Xmas.. he was stone useless, I wouldn’t let him do up my garden. Made me angry being on €60K in my mid 20s. (Which I shouldn’t)

A lot of brown nosing and that goes on but you can jump the ranks very quickly in construction firms, whether it’s a contractor, consultancy, developer etc.
tradesmen who are good then start their own firm and have gangs of lads under them make a mint too.

But I do understand no young people ever want to go into construction, and I don’t blame them. A complete and utter corrupt sh*tshow of an industry, especially in Ireland . Some can hack it. But they aren’t people you’d want to work alongside or with. The majority in power are grade A wan*ers

Hairy Japanese BASTARDS! · 17-06-2020 12:49am

Teaching.
Start at 34k.
Almost impossible to fire.
No performance reviews.
Lots of holidays.
Guaranteed pay increase.
Earn up to 65k with no increase in responsibility.
Less than 40 hours working week.
Pension is gold-plated and safe.

rounders · 17-06-2020 1:06am

FHFM50 wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I've been struggling sometime now trying to decide what I want to do.

I enjoy subjects like Maths and Business.Not a big fan of reading. I tried software development but I just found it wasn't for me personally. The deadlines and lack of social interaction were tough

Sounds like you have simular interests as me. I'm working in systems consulting. No coding, instead I'm working with large companies getting them setup on our systems. A lot of social interaction working with lot of different customers and colleagues.

Pay is decent, just under 60k in my mid 20's but as mentioned, stress can be high. All depends how well you handle that stress when it really hits.

My advice if you're getting into this area, go for the software venders in the cloud (properly). Avoid Oracle, poor culture and legacy tech. If you're trained on legacy tech your value will decrease over time rather than increase with new tech such as cloud based stuff

Best Career : Employment rate and Pay

Comments