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Data Governance Specialist Salary in Ireland 2026: Benchmarks, Range & Skills

The median Data Governance Specialist salary in Ireland is €61K in 2026, with a typical range from €56K to €67K. Pay has moved -2.0% year-on-year. Dublin currently leads city pay at €70K.

What does A Data Governance Specialist do?

A Data Governance Specialist is responsible for designing and implementing data governance frameworks, managing data catalogues and metadata with Collibra and Microsoft Purview, and ensuring GDPR, Data Act, and AI Act compliance across the data estate.

Day-to-day responsibilities

  • Developing and maintaining data governance frameworks and policies
  • Managing data catalogues and metadata repositories
  • Working with data stewards to define data quality standards
  • Conducting data lineage mapping
  • Supporting DPO activities with DPIA processes
  • Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
High demand+20% GDPR Compliance+22% Data Catalogue Tools (Collibra, Alation)+18% Data Quality Management

National Median Salary

61K

Ireland benchmark • 2026

Salary Range (P25 – P75)

61K
45K80K

Data quality & confidence

Confidence Score

17%

YoY Momentum

-2.0%

Median salary benchmark

€61K

annual - 2026

Typical salary range

€56K-€67K

25th-75th percentile

Year-on-year pay movement

-2.0%

vs 2025

Forward pay outlook

€60K

Forecasted market posture

Permanent Salary Benchmark for Data Governance Specialist

Permanent salary benchmarks for Data Governance Specialist in Ireland, from the low end to the top of the range, based on published market compensation data.

61K
45K80K

Low

45K

P25

56K

Median

61K

P75

67K

High

80K

Data Governance Specialist Take-Home Pay in Ireland (2026)

After Income Tax, USC & PRSI · single, standard PAYE

Entry

Take-home/year

€42,835

Effective rate

23.5%

Median

Take-home/year

€45,475

Effective rate

25.5%

Senior

Take-home/year

€48,643

Effective rate

27.4%

See the full band-by-band breakdown for Data Governance Specialist

Adjust for your actual salary, see each Income Tax, USC, and PRSI band, and get monthly and weekly figures.

Is a Data Governance Specialist hybrid salary worth the commute?

3-day/week office schedule · typical Irish commute assumptions

Break-even remote salary

€45,200

minimum to match 61K hybrid

Annual commute impact

€8,378

costs + time value lost

Hours commuting/year

138 hrs

at 60 min/day, 3 days/wk

See the full break-even analysis for Data Governance Specialist

Adjust commute costs, compare any two salaries, and find the exact remote salary you need.

Remote vs hybrid analysis

Data Governance Specialist career path in Ireland

4 levels · salary at each step · technical and management tracks

Hiring outlook

Growing

Data Steward salary

€38,000 - €55,000

0-2 experience

Senior Data salary

€80,000 - €110,000

5-8 experience

€38,000 - €55,000
0-2
€55,000 - €80,000
2-5
€80,000 - €110,000
5-8
€110,000 - €145,000
8+

Full career progression guide for Data Governance Specialist

Technical vs management tracks, salary at all 4 levels, top employers, and progression FAQs.

Career path guide

Data Governance Specialist market demand in Ireland

Hiring outlook · remote rate · top employers

Hiring outlook

Growing

Remote / hybrid

75%

of roles offer remote or hybrid

Salary growth (YoY)

-2.0%

market is compressing

Top hirers:
AIBBank of IrelandCentral Bank of IrelandHSEAccenture IrelandDeloitte Ireland

Full market demand breakdown for Data Governance Specialist

Hiring drivers, remote rate detail, full employer list, and demand FAQs for Ireland.

Market demand guide

Contract day rates available for this role

Median 575/week, see full breakdown, city rates, and take-home calculator

View Data Governance Specialist day rates →

Contract break-even

What day rate beats a €61K Data Governance Specialist salary after tax?

Break-even day rate

€277/day

to match 61K permanent net

Permanent net take-home

€45,475/yr

61K gross, single, 2026 rates

Sole trader, 220 days, single, no pension. Net figures are estimates; use the calculators for exact results.

Market Demand & Outlook

Hiring demand, top locations, and career outlook for Data Governance Specialist

Limited Market Data

Demand level

Low

Based on hiring signals relative to similar roles in this market.

Top hiring locations

DublinCorkGalwayLimerick

Career outlook

Emerging market

Data Governance Specialist demand should be monitored against newer benchmark cycles and employer hiring appetite.

Data Governance Specialist Salary by Seniority Level

Seniority bands are shown where independent benchmarks exist across experience levels for this role and market.

General

61K

56K-67K middle band

Mid

60K

58K-63K middle band

Senior

63K

61K-64K middle band

Manager

94K

81K-99K middle band

Junior

58K

56K-59K middle band

Skills That Command a Premium for Data Governance Specialists

Certain technical skills push Data Governance Specialist salaries in Ireland significantly above the €61K median. These are the most impactful skills to develop or highlight when negotiating.

GDPR Compliance

+20%

salary premium vs median

Data Catalogue Tools (Collibra, Alation)

+22%

salary premium vs median

Data Quality Management

+18%

salary premium vs median

Metadata Management

+16%

salary premium vs median

Data Lineage

+15%

salary premium vs median

Microsoft Purview

+17%

salary premium vs median

How Much Does a Data Governance Specialist Earn by City in Ireland?

Data Governance Specialist salary varies meaningfully by location. Dublin commands a +15% premium over the national benchmark (€70K), while Galway sits -5% at €58K. Location is worth factoring into any offer negotiation.

How does Data Governance Specialist pay compare to similar roles?

Reported in these agency salary guides

Why Data Governance Specialist Salaries Are at This Level

Data Governance Specialists in Ireland earn a median salary of €61K in 2026, with a typical range from €56K at the 25th percentile to €67K at the 75th percentile. This benchmark reflects published market compensation data for annual annual pay across the Ireland market.

Dublin currently leads city pay at €70K, which is 15% above the national benchmark. City coverage for this role includes Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, helping you compare local pay differences without needing separate city-role pages.

At experience level, entry roles start around €58K, senior roles sit near €63K, and upper bands continue to trend above the median. Demand is currently steady for this role based on recent coverage and salary momentum signals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Data Governance Specialist Salary in Ireland

1

What is the median Data Governance Specialist salary in Ireland?

The median Data Governance Specialist salary in Ireland is €61K in 2026. The typical range runs from €56K at the 25th percentile to €67K at the 75th percentile, based on published market compensation data.

2

Is Data Governance Specialist salary increasing in Ireland?

Data Governance Specialist salaries have moved -2.0% year-on-year in Ireland.

3

How does Data Governance Specialist salary vary by city in Ireland?

Data Governance Specialist salaries vary across Ireland. Dublin leads at €70K (+15% vs the national benchmark), while Galway sits at €58K. Use the city breakdown above to compare all locations.

4

What does a Data Governance Specialist take home after tax in Ireland?

A Data Governance Specialist earning the median €61K gross in Ireland will take home a net amount after income tax and other deductions. Use the PayMetric Labs take-home calculator on this page for an exact breakdown by tax band.

5

What experience level earns the most as a Data Governance Specialist in Ireland?

Pay increases significantly with seniority for Data Governance Specialists in Ireland. See the seniority band breakdown above for exact figures at each level.

6

Is a €61K Data Governance Specialist hybrid role worth the commute in Ireland?

On a 3-day hybrid schedule with a typical Irish commute (€15/day travel, 60-minute round trip, daily meal premium, annual wardrobe costs), your true net income at €61K is approximately €37,097 per year, compared to €45,475 net without any commute. The commute costs €8,378 per year in direct expenses and lost time. A fully remote role paying €45,200 would leave you equally well off.

7

What remote salary is equivalent to a €61K hybrid Data Governance Specialist salary in Ireland?

Assuming a 3-day hybrid schedule with typical commute costs, you would need a remote salary of at least €45,200 to match the true net value of a €61K hybrid Data Governance Specialist role in Ireland. For a 5-day fully in-office role, the break-even remote salary rises to €37,700, as the higher office frequency increases travel, meal, and time costs significantly.

8

How many hours per year does a Data Governance Specialist in Ireland spend commuting?

On a 3-day hybrid schedule with a 60-minute round trip, a Data Governance Specialist in Ireland spends approximately 138 hours commuting per year, equivalent to 17 full working days. Valued at the implied hourly rate for a €61K salary (€35/hr), that time is worth €4,880 annually.

9

How does the 2026 Return to Office trend affect Data Governance Specialist compensation in Ireland?

As more employers in Ireland reintroduce hybrid or full in-office mandates in 2026, the true value of a Data Governance Specialist salary depends increasingly on the number of required office days. At €61K, each additional day in the office costs roughly €2,593 per year in direct and time costs (moving from 3 to 5 days). Candidates evaluating offers should compare true net income rather than gross salary alone.

10

What day rate do you need to earn more than a Data Governance Specialist permanent salary in Ireland?

A Data Governance Specialist earning €61K permanently takes home approximately €45,475 per year after tax in Ireland. As a sole trader contractor at 220 billable days, you need a day rate of at least €277/day to match that net income. Anything above that rate puts more money in your pocket compared to the permanent equivalent. Use the Irish contractor calculator at /calculators/irish-contractor-calculator for a full breakdown.

11

Is contracting more profitable than a permanent Data Governance Specialist role in Ireland?

Whether contracting beats permanent pay for a Data Governance Specialist in Ireland depends entirely on the day rate you can command. The break-even rate is approximately €277/day (220 working days, sole trader), which is the minimum required to match the €61K median permanent net take-home of €45,475 per year. Day rates above this produce a higher net income; rates below it mean the permanent role pays more after tax.

12

How reliable is this Data Governance Specialist salary benchmark?

This benchmark is derived from verified market compensation data and is rated Limited Market Data. Confidence levels are calculated using salary source coverage, market consistency, data quality and benchmark strength.

13

Is Data Governance Specialist pay increasing?

The latest year-over-year signal is -2.0%. Growth is matched using the closest comparable prior-year role, location, seniority, currency, and salary type available in the salary intelligence tables.

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